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Slot NestboxesIn addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website:
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 10:14:12 -0500 This is a forwarded Message....maybe someone on the list can help her? According to a recent article in our Atlanta newspaper, the Ga DNR says that finjrd"at"peachnet.campuscwix.net Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 15:35:09 -0500 (EST) On Mon, 26 Feb 2001, Tina Phillips wrote: According to a recent article in our Atlanta newspaper, the Ga DNR says that Dear Lyn and others, A wildlife biologist for GA sent me the Feb 23 GA DNR press release that
includes info (below) on how to get the plans. Also, the DNR nongame ====================== HELP GEORGIA'S EASTERN BLUEBIRDS FIND A HOME FORSYTH, Ga. (February 23, 2001) -- With bluebird nesting season on the rise, Georgian's can help these brilliantly plumaged birds find the perfect home, announced the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). These beloved birds have always charmed us with their tameness, beauty and most of all with their fondness for nesting boxes. Typically, bluebirds depend on naturally occurring cavities in snags for nesting, but due to a shortage in these cavities for all nesting bird species, bluebirds have become almost totally dependent on humans for their nesting sites. "This is an excellent time to start putting up man-made bluebird boxes because the birds are already looking for nesting sites in Georgia," said Terry Johnson, Program Manager of DNR's Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program. The DNR Nongame Program office offers an excellent fact sheet on constructing and erecting bluebird boxes along with diagram instructions for both the traditional round hole box and the slot box. "Research has shown that the slot box design is very well accepted by the bluebird," said Johnson. "We have also found that they work well at sites where people are having problems with house sparrows, an introduced species that may compete with other cavity-nesting birds." The design of the slot box allows for more sunlight to enter the cavity of the box than the traditional round hole box, a less desirable feature for house sparrows. It is important to erect bluebird boxes in an open habitat with sparse trees
and low vegetation, such as old fields, pastures and orchards. Many "If you feel you may not have enough open space in your yard, go ahead and put up a bluebird box because you may encourage other cavity nesters such as the Carolina chickadee or tufted titmouse to take up residence in your newly erected home," said Johnson. To request a copy of the DNR's newest information sheet Constructing and
Erecting the Perfect Home for Your Bluebirds funded by the Nongame Program's
Friends group The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R.N.), send a First
Class, $0.34 stamped, self-addressed #10 letter sized envelope to: Bluebird
Nesting Box Plans, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources
Division, Nongame-Endangered Georgians can contribute monetary donations to help fund the Nongame-Endangered
Wildlife Program by donating to the Wildlife Conservation Fund on the state
income tax checkoff. This tax season, you can GIVE WILDLIFE A CHANCE. You can
take part in wildlife conservation by Another option to support nongame wildlife in Georgia is to purchase a
wildlife license plate for their vehicles. More than 700,000 wildlife license
plates have been sold in Georgia, raising over $10 million for wildlife
conservation, recreation and education projects. In bird conservation and
hundreds of other projects, DNR is putting tag dollars to work for wildlife in
Georgia. For more information contact: Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 09:04:21 -0600 Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas ANOTHER 4" of rain yesterday Slot boxes in long term and sometimes in short term tests have not repelled House Sparrows. When they stated (from the Georgia DNR letter) that the slot allows more light in than the standard nestbox and this deters sparrows remember that sparrows are weaver finches and often nest in open branches of trees or even shrubs. They were using several wide open barn swallow nests attached to the lodge where NABS convention was held last year. They often will nest in open rain gutters or "slots" where sheetmetal building walls come together. IF you are having house sparrow problems then trying one of the many different styles of slot boxes IS a good idea but also be sure and mix in some 4" PVC pipe nestboxes along with various sized wood boxes. If you try slot boxes then Andy Troyer's design is one of the best but it is also one of the shallowest ones. It often is a combination of factors that help repel house sparrows as there is not a perfect box. When I started bluebirding I used top opening boxes and if I had House Sparrow problems I removed their nest and simply removed the roof until the next week and VERY often House Sparrows would have a nest on the very next monitoring trip. Floyd Van Ert invented a house sparrow trap for slot boxes (fits and works in all other "standard" boxes) and it is a VERY hot selling item as no one else has a sparrow trap to insert and work in one of these slot boxes. If sparrows were not a problem in slot boxes then there would be no need for this trap! Floyds site is http://www.hometown.aol.com/fvanert Same goes for the PVC sparrow resistant boxes! Floyd and also Steve
Gilbertson both have good sparrow traps for these boxes. Using different I personally believe that every trail monitor should try at least three of
every style of "Perfect" nestbox that has been designed! That way we would http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=4333 The above link shows an incredible picture of "loss of habitat" from space. You can see your area of the country. The US section was taken over a two year period in the early 1990's on cloudless new moon nights and the United States section was a compilation of 231 satellite orbiting passes. This program was designed to track loss of quality farm land in the US but was expanded to the whole world and the text and research with this photo is eye opening for conservationists everywhere! KK Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 16:36:08 EDT Hi all, Just thought I would tell you about a something I am enjoying about the slot box in which I have bluebirds nesting. I used these this year because I had to be away when nest building would begin and wanted the bluebirds to have an escape route if a House Sparrow came during that time. Well now the nestlings in the box are 17 days old and started looking out yesterday. You all know how with the normal hole they peer out one at a time and this is fascinating - well the slot box gives double the fascination. They peer out TWO at a time. It's wonderful to watch and I even wonder if it is rather reassuring for them to see the world for the first time with a sibling by their side. I am anxiously awaiting the next step - fledging - but I doubt that they will fledge two at a time! Jane Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2002 13:56:43 -0400 I am searching for plans for a bluebird box with a slot opening. Does anyone have the plans? Thank you From: "Dan McCue" dmccue"at"usit.net Michael, et al --- Just make the box the way you would anyway and leave an 1 1/2 inch opening at the top of the front and no hole. That's the way I do and they love it. Sparrows would rather have a hole but some have told me that they will build in a slot box. I use my own design of a traditional NABS box. DM ... Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2002 13:54:25 -0500 (Central Daylight Time) Plans for the slot box may be seen at: http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/nestbox/efta.htm Phil Berry Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2002 13:05:11 -0700 (PDT) Hi All, 1. The slot height is critical; as specified on the drawing 1 3/16" is the
maximum height to be used. REASON: the widest part of a bird is at the wings. A
greater slot height will allow larger birds to get into or reach deep into the
nestbox. Have a good day Bob Sitarski a.k.a The Doctor Jackson County Indiana,& Clay County Illinois From: "Jim McLochlin" bluebirdbox"at"cox.net In addition to the Efta slot box I also have the Johnson Slot Box drawings on my web site. This is the primary box design used by the Southern Interior Bluebird group who hosted so superbly the recent NABS convention in Penticton, B.C. The boxes are used there by mountain and western bluebirds. Here is the direct link: http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/nestbox/johnson_box.htm Jim McLochlin Date: Sun, 07 Jul 2002 13:11:04 -0400 Haleya Priest Amherst MA From: "carol fitzpatrick" gdfitzmich"at"msn.com I noticed some posts regarding slot boxes and just wanted to say thanks to slot entrance box pioneers Wayne Davis for his Kentucky box slot entrance nest box and Steve Gilbertson for his innovative PVC slot nest box. I have used both of these, especially the PVC box and can truly say that with the sparrows my neighbors are breeding, I would not be able to have bluebirds on my 3 1/2 acre parcel without them. I have talked to the neighbors but they just don't seem to get it. They also have 2 1/2 to 20 acre parcels so it's really a shame. Will keep trying to educate them and using my wooden boxes with Huber traps inside for the sparrows. WARNING: House sparrows WILL use PVC boxes but prefer the wooden ones first.
So you can't just set them and forget them. Carol Fitz Oxford, From: johnbrocks"at"juno.com Someone stated that a slot house should have a 1 1/2 inch slot. I believe this is too big and will allow young Starlings and Cowbirds to enter. I have 3 centimeter slots (about 1 3/16 inch) on 26 houses and have no problems with Starlings and Cowbirds. Fledged about 67 Bluebirds so far this year. Of course even a smaller opening will not keep out House Sparrows and Wrens. John From: "Dan Hanan" danhan7"at"earthlink.net Hi! I keep trying different nestbox designs for Bluebirds and I prefer drop down doors on the front of my boxes. I also mount the boxes on top of emt steel posts via the use of a clamping arrangement. One idea to get plenty of box ventilation in the Texas heat is to use two slot entrances: one slot above the door and the second on the opposite back wall. My questions are: 1. Do slot entrances work as well as 1.5" diameter holes for Bluebirds? 2. What would be disadvantages of double slot over a single slot bird box? Any comments that you might have would be appreciated. Dan Hanan From: klubea"at"comcast.net Has anyone used the slotted bluebird houses. www.coveside.com has them?? I
did get a slotted swallow from somewhere else which i'am about to put up. Was
wondering if they do deter sparrows. The box i'am talking about is more shallow
which supposedly sparrows do not like. Seems there is more talk about the
gilbertson and or peterson boxes but nothing on slotted bluebird houses. Hope
someone out there has good answers. To: bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu On Tue, 04 Mar 2003 15:56:03 -0500 klubea"at"comcast.net writes: ... I have some of the slotted boxes and the house sparrows will some times look at them, but so far have not use them. Maynard Sumner
http://mibluebirdsociety.tripod.com Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7 Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 10:14:20 -0500 Haleya Priest Amherst MA However, I did find a male bluebird pecked to death in the the slot box last year. Let this be a reminder that NOTHING is HOSP proof. "Resistant" yes, but "proof" no!!! :-) H From: "Godwin, Kenneth" Kenneth.Godwin"at"BellSouth.com Kentucky Slot boxes help keep the cavity cool in July summer heat I began using Kentucky slot boxes exclusively after reading Wayne Davis' book three years ago: "Bluebirds & Their Survival" - Wayne H. Davis (Davis developed the Kentucky Slot Box) It makes more sense in Georgia's hot southern climate. It could be argued that it also makes sense in the North too: it only takes one hour in a box with an inside temperature of 106 degrees to fry an egg. I prefer Wayne Davis' Kentucky slot box for several key reasons: 1. The slot at the top adds to the venting of heat rising within the box.
Acool box in July is mandatory for brood #3; most any box design will suffice
thermally in April. PS: A Peterson with a wide roof & 5" front overhang and facing south casts total shade on the bottom of the box; That's not necessarily a claim that can be made for most rectangular boxes. I use 2x6 scrap lumber because it is 1.5 inches thick for its higher "R" value (insulation). I add reflective sheet-metal (flattened aluminum gutter, frozen lasagna pie tin) over foam to add insulation and to add 3 to 4 inches of overhang all around for more all-around shade. Reply two of two; this version as plain text without the sketch. Ken Godwin, From: "Godwin, Kenneth" Kenneth.Godwin"at"bellsouth.com I'm very interested in all design ideas. I'm on a shoe-string budget (deck screws and saw blades), so I build everything, and use recycled dumpster scrap. Thanks for the leads. To return the favor, please critique my slot box design. I welcome all your ideas. Did you get the sketch? You're in Canada! Temperature issues include harsh winter nights and a box's value as a roost refuge. So I continue to advocate the R-value of 2x6 lumber for boxes. Economy? 2x6 is so thick, simple pine is durable, so no exotic cedar or redwood is needed. One remark yesterday said "the... slot box is shallow..." To that I say I prefer to build deep boxes to keep chicks deep below predators' reach. Raising the chicks would be an uncomfortable compromise. If I had to compromise to counter a sparrow attack, only then would I raise the floor. I would add filler 4x4x1.5 blocks to raise the floor to make the cavity more shallow. That way I have max flexibility. I have not yet had a sparrow attack. But I doubt that my luck has any thing to do with the design of my box, so I would never make that kind of claim. If easier for you, can I find Hughe's and Troy's in the TBN reference resources? Thanks!!! Ken
Hi Ken, Let me know. Regards, From: "Godwin, Kenneth" Kenneth.Godwin"at"bellsouth.com Hi, Myma, I've used lots of sheet metal scraps, aluminum and steel. The strategy is to provide a 'sombrero" roof rim/eve 3-inches wide sides and back, and 4 to five inches out front. At 2:00PM, facing south/southwest, the entire box should be in shadow. A recycled aluminum gutter flattened can yield a 12x12 sheet that fills the bill pretty well. In the desert, you may be more interested in the VERY brightly reflective pie-tin aluminum from large lasagna pans. Also, coke-can walls [inside surface up] are very good because shingles made from them curl up slightly so you get conductionconvection cooling along with radiation reflection. Just the roof, not the sides. If, however your desert morning sun-light is blasting the walls of your box for too many hours past what is beneficial, you might consider 'shingling' the east (and west) walls too. Let me know how it goes. My Blues not mind the bright materials. Man-made materials do not seem to attract Hawks to come down to investigate as some articles stated as a concern. When I dumpster-dive for 2x6 lumber, I look also for the 5/8ths or 3/4 inch Styrofoam exterior wall insulation. Ken From: klubea"at"comcast.net One question? what is the distance of the opening of the sloted bluebird?? Is
it 1 1/2 inches??? What's the smallest the eastern bluebird can get into??? From: klubea"at"comcast.net Do swallows use the slot bluebird nestbox. Thinking of removing a reg
bluebird and putting a slot up for when the swallows get here? Already have
blues in one box that wintered over. Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 14:02:03 -0500 Subject: Re: swallows/slot boxes From: Maynard R Sumner m-r-sumner"at"juno.com On Sat, 08 Mar 2003 08:34:45 -0500 klubea"at"comcast.net writes: ... Some times the swallows will use the slot box for me in Michigan. Maybe get one a year. Maynard Sumner From: "fitz" smokem"at"chartermi.net I have around 20 PVC slot nest boxes at various sites that blue birds as well as tree swallows readily use every year. I have to use PVC because there are so many HOSP around here and they don't take to the thin wall and shallow interior of the PVC as readily as they do to wooden boxes. I also mount the boxes low to the ground, not higher than 5' to the top of the box. HOSP will use PVC's but they seem to prefer wooden ones. I don't know how much difference the slot entrance makes to them, but I have read that they like to squeeze themselves into a cavity so maybe the slot is less desirable to them since it's a larger hole. As for the predator guards, I use the Kingston stove pipe which is mounted on the metal pole to stop climbing predators. I also use 4" overhangs on the front of the PVC boxes. I've never had a problem with starlings or blue jays reaching in and taking nestlings. HOSP like a tunnel entrance so if the predator guards you use are the wooden ones over the entrance holes of your wooden nestboxes, then you may be inviting them in. I believe you've stated before that you have many HOSP but that you can't bring yourself to kill them. I don't think simply removing their nests over and over helps deter them. I think it takes extra efforts to successfully help Bluebirds when there are HOSP around. Perhaps you could buy a VanErt trap, then catch and cut their flight feathers as Fawzi Emad does. Linda Violett deals with HOSP problems extensively on her trails and would be a good source of information. They are good examples of people on the Bluebird-L who help bluebirds while not helping HOSP. Protecting the bluebirds from house sparrows is the most important thing in my book but it might take extra effort to assure their safety if we are going to try to attract them to our yards and neighborhoods. Otherwise they shouldn't be enticed to places where they risk being killed. Carol Fitz Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 14:16:01 -0700 (PDT) Four boxes on my trail are Gilwood; 24 are NABS-style. I have found that EABLs build their nests up to a certain distance from the bottom of the hole. The result is that with the Gilwood box, I must disturb the nest by pulling it forward to see if there are eggs at the bottom of the nest. Also, if there is a problem with squirrels enlarging the entry hole, there is no commercially available metal hole protector that I know of for the Gilwood box, as there is for 1.5" holes. Tony Berg, Williamsburg, VA Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 10:49:19 -0400 Hi List, From: hubertrap"at"webtv.net (Joe Huber) HI LIsa, If your slot box opens from the front you can leave the front hanging open and fasten on another front with a trap on it. when I experimented with slot boxes I built a spare front with trap built on it. The very first attempt to nest was a HOSP so it was used right away. That done away with any belief that HOSP didn't use a slot box. I didn't build any more after that. You may have to build your own trap front for this box but they are not hard to make. Joe Huber Venice Fl. From: Nancy/Fred Leetch [mailto:leetch"at"wcnet.org]
From Fred in NW Ohio: In the small booklet "Bring Back the Bluebirds" by Andrew Troyer there is a plan for a nestbox that is intended to be less attractive to the HOSP. It has smaller than usual interior dimensions and a slot opening which should allow more escape opportunities if needed. I have not read any nestbox Messages recently that ever mentioned this model. Has anyone had experience with it? From: Ann Bigger [mailto:abigger"at"charter.net] I have 12 boxes out of 60 built from the plans that is referred to in Andrew Troyer's book so far empty but most of my boxes are empty being we are so far north. Just one box has mother setting on 5 eggs ;-))))) Ann Bigger--Michigan From: Doogelbery"at"aol.com Does anyone have the dimensions of the bluebird house with slots at the top for entrance instead of a hole entrance. At the very least I would like the slot opening measurement. Thank you. Doug in Kensington, MD From: "Cher" Hi Doug, The measurement for the opening on the Rita Efta Slot Box is 1 3/16 - sketch of the complete box here: http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/nestbox/efta.htm Hughes slot box plans here: http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/nestbox/hughes.htm Cher From: Mary Beth Roen [mailto:mbroen"at"hotmail.com] Doug, My slot boxes are from the Bluebirds Across Nebraska organization. The slot is 3 3/8 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches high. Mary Roen, River Falls, WI From: Cher [mailto:bluebirdnut"at"a-znet.com] Anyone have anecdotal evidence regarding Bluebirds' acceptance of slot boxes -- Bluebirds that are used to standard and/or Gilbertson's boxes? I replaced one of my worn nestboxes mid-season with a Heath slot box. It was replacing a box that went begging this season, anyway -- the Blues were nesting across the way in one of a pair of Gilbertson's boxes, tree swallows inhabiting the other -- and the box the worn one was paired with was occupied by TRES as well. Anyway, the Blues went back to their original Gilbertson's box for their second nesting. They checked out the slot box between broods, but I never saw them enter it. Now the youngsters are making regular visits, and they are all over the insides and outsides of the Gilbertson's boxes. This morning they were landing on the slot box, hanging off the front of it, and peering inside -- but I've never seen them actually enter the box. They seem truly puzzled by it. It's not as if it's critical to the Bluebirds' survival for them to accept this box -- it's only one of four -- two pair obscured from each other by the house -- but I hate having a box that nobody's going to use. Any ideas? Cher From: Maynard R Sumner [mailto:m-r-sumner"at"juno.com] Cher, I have 4 slot boxes and all 4 are used each year. They will not keep all house sparrows out, but it is a big help. Maynard Sumner Flint, MI From: Mary Beth Roen [mailto:mbroen"at"hotmail.com] Hi Cher and all, This past summer, I had a pair of EABLs nest in the Gilbertson box in my back yard. For their second nesting attempt they chose a Bluebirds Across Nebraska slot box that was paired with the Gilbertson. However this attempt was unsuccessful, due to avian predation. They renested in the Gilbertson box and were successful again. Mary Roen, River Falls, WI From: Elizabeth Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] Cher - I just picked up a used copy of Wayne Davis's "Bluebirds and Their Survival." (1995 - jacket said he was a prof of biology at U of Kentucky.) HOSP were an issue in his area and he had mostly slot entrance boxes on his trail. For those who aren't familiar with it, the entrance on a slot box is just that - a slot up under the roof (usually ~1 1/8" opening below a flat roof). It is a simple design and easy to build. Davis indicates in that book that in some studies, when slot boxes were paired with standard boxes, bluebirds selected the slot boxes 70% of the time (McComb et al 1987). Richard Tuttle found that bluebirds chose his slot boxes in 80% of his paired-box tests, while TRES chose the standard boxes. When Davis alternated styles on his trail, bluebirds used more slot entrance type boxes and left many standard boxes empty (Davis 1991). HOSP, on the other hand, showed a strong preference for the circular entrance (Davis 1989). He also felt the slot box was advantageous because a predator or HOSP can not easily close off an escape route for an adult bluebird it has trapped in a box (similar to the two-hole nestbox theory). He thought the slot entrance provides better ventilation than a circular box. Finally, he thought that because it is not as easily recognized as a bird house, it may deter vandalism. His experiments were at the U of Kentucky. He notes that the same results were not seen in Iowa and New York, and that slot boxes there did not perform as well as other styles. In those tests, the Peterson box performed better than either the standard or slot entrance boxes. (Berner and Pleines 1993) Some slot boxes (e.g. Coveside I think) are sold with an extra piece of wood you can put on the floor to make the box even shallower to further discourage HOSP. When they give up on the box, you remove the block of wood to make it more attractive to bluebirds. (Note that he also provides instructions for paper milk carton boxes and plastic gallon jug boxes .... which are generally not recommended.) A good nestbox comparison study is at http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/bbrp/nestbox_comparison_studies.htm which Dean Sheldon sent in. If there's anything more recent, I'd be interested. It shows results for a 1994 study in Newark OH, with highest number of fledglings listed first to lowest, in the: Peterson Oval, Peterson slotted, Kentucky slotted, ODNR (looks like a shallow NABs box), Peterson Round, with NABS standard box in last place. The notes say that the poor success rate in round hole boxes was influenced by tree swallow competion, which strikes me as odd since my TRES went nuts over the Peterson boxes and were pestering the heck out of one bluebird pair trying to get it from them. Anyway, the article has good advice on it (sounds like Maynard :-) - "The nest box that works best ON YOUR TRAIL is the one to use, but we should always be willing to test new or different types." For slot box plans, see The Bluebird Box (Audubon Society of Omaha) website: Plans for Hughes design are available at http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/nestbox/hughes.htm Plans for Rita Efta's design are at http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/nestbox/efta.htm Bet from CT From: danhan7"at"sbcglobal.net [mailto:danhan7"at"sbcglobal.net] I have two NABS style nest boxes with horizontal oval entrances (1.375” high x 1.75” wide) instead of 1.5” round. The boxes were painted over the last winter and so soiling of the outside of the box is now noticeable. The boxes have been through the first nesting cycle and are showing soiled areas beneath the entrances on each side of the entrance, but none centered directly beneath. Is this soiling indicating that the birds are perching at the “corners” and twisting their bodies sideways so as to align their bodies with horizontal oval? As a slot box has a wide horizontal entrance, has anybody observed how Bluebirds enter slot boxes? Are they entering with their heads straight up or are they twisting their bodies to the side for an easier entrance? If Bluebirds are twisting their bodies to the side to enter slots, is this a factor in their choice of nestboxes? Bluebirds have chosen four out of my five horizontal oval and slot entrance boxes so far this year and it does not appear that they do not like them. At this point, I don’t see a reason for the horizontal oval but I do see advantages for the slot box. A slot box is easier to make and has better ventilation for Texas heat; a double slot box has even more ventilation. Does anybody have thoughts or comments about birds entering slot boxes? P.S. I don’t have any Starlings and their associated problems. From: Doogelbery"at"aol.com [mailto:Doogelbery"at"aol.com] Dear Group, From: JBrindo"at"aol.com [mailto:JBrindo"at"aol.com] Hi Doug, Last year I had a box located near a horse barn where I had nothing but house sparrow problems. I was given a slot box and placed it in that location. Within a few days I had bluebirds building a nest and weeks later 5 nestling fledge. So far this year I've booted house sparrows out several times from that same box. If you would of asked me last year I would have said it made a huge difference. Not so this year, so far. From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net] Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 8:47 AM Subject: Re: Slot hole blue bird house Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas From: Mary Beth Roen [mailto:mbroen"at"hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 1:31 PM Subject: Re: Slot hole blue bird house Doug, Here is a link to plans for slot boxes from Bluebirds Across Nebraska web site. I have several of their boxes and have had some success with them, however, the inside space is small and they are not very deep, only 4.5 inches. I would make them deeper. http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/nestbox/hughes.htm Mary Roen From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] Doug DesPain sent me photos and plans of a double-roof slot box design he just got approved by NABS. Photos and plan are here: http://www.sialis.org/dandr.htm Bet from CT Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 08:09:56 -0400 I'm looking at this plan as well as a few others to replace an aging box. Since I am building only one, I will likely not buy a full length of Hardiplank for the roof cover. What would be an acceptable substitute? Bob From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler" <txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: DANDR slot box design Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 07:47:18 Very often lumber stores will have ends that break off of Hardi-Plank that There is a product used in restaurants and bathrooms known in the building Again it is best to check with builders and pick up their scrap. Sign From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net] Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 9:58 AM Subject: The DANDR slot box design from a building inspector point of view Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas AGAIN we completed 50+ TB-1 simple nestboxes in less than two hours and EVERYONE had a smooth working door. Not all the bottoms were recessed exactly 1/4", not all of them had exact 1/2" top gaps under the roof for ventilation, NOT all of the boxes had flat roofs, few of the pivot nails were at 1" down from the top of the side like I told them ETC.:-) Slot box design: I actually like this design. The problem is opening/slot height is critical to prevent a Starling or Red Headed Woodpecker sized birds from entering through this slot. Not all people have problems with starlings though so worry about the following if you want. This box shows a 1&1/4" high slot all the way across the box front and MANY on this list have reported Starlings entering the Peterson Oval hole and it is 1&1/4" wide and far shorter in length that this slot. In Purple Martin Houses they are actually getting a few starlings to enter the Crescent entrance hole that is only 1&3/16" tall cut from a 3" radius circle. Roof boards tend to warp over time and this will increase or decrease the height of the slot. A nice touch for slot boxes is to use a 1/4" or even an 1/8" round over bit in a router and "round over" both sides of the front so the birds entering the box won't scrape their breast bone on this sharp edge of wood. (Look how many times Tree Greenwood counted the bluebirds feeding their young in an hour!) We round over the edges of nearly ALL the furniture in our houses and all of our hand tools that we touch or rub up against with our bodies so we should sand or round over entrance hole edges and the slot entrance holes for our birds. If you are going to use a double roof there really is no need to use a 1X8" He makes the box parts out of a 1X6 board (actually 5&1/2"). He is paying for a 1X6" board and then takes a table saw and rips down and throws away a piece of wood 1&1/2" wide by 28" long to make a nestbox that has 15 square inches of floor space. Without buying any more wood he could leave this scrap on the box parts and make a 4"x5&1/2" bottom with 22 square inches of floor area and THROW away the table saw ripping time. Nails and screws, glue: I really LIKE the aluminum nail used for a latch pin and the downward angle of the pin hole is great. Using glue and nails and screws is good if not great for a home built nestbox. I will not use glue on nestboxes that I have a group of children or even adults help build. You cannot control a group of people with glue bottles and teaching them to use a caulking gun with panel adhesive that will not come out of clothes or hair is even worse. I would not rely on glue to hold a nestbox together that is only "pinned" with 1&1/4" long brads going through 3/4" thick wood. They are only holding at the most into the wood 1/2". I use a minimum of 2" long nails for 3/4" wood and in my own boxes that I shoot together I use 2&1/2" Pivoting the box front down is better for observing the nest. BUT you need to make the bottom board recessed 1&1/4" MINIMUM so that there is clearance between the pivot points and the box front and the box bottom....A group of people putting together fifty of these kits will NEVER be able to measure and hold and nail this bottom in correctly so the box opens smoothly. They will NEVER be able to hold the top slot at precisely 1&1/4"! Again this is fine for someone in a shop that knows how to read and can use a square. IF you pivot the front UP you can now gain 1" in box depth without buying anymore wood as you don't need the bottom recessed but 1/4". I tell the children and adults to measure down from the top of the pivot side 1" for the pivot nails and we use the top board to "square" across the pivot side and mark the second pivot nail location with a nail scratch mark. Using finish nails for pivots in the bottom corner of the side boards and front boards makes you have to lay out the lumber so that there are NO knots at ALL in these locations. The sides are angled which is OK but again you have to lay out the boards as you cannot reverse or flip over a board and avoid a knot. With flat roof designed nestboxes you can reverse a part or flip it top for bottom if a knot is in the way of a pivot nail location. If you used this same amount of wood with a flat roof design you could gain another 1/2" in box depth. (Anyone know how to figure a 100 degree pitch on a 5&1/2" wide board with a framing square?:-))) Pull out tray: I will GUARANTY you that if you put this kit out that the adults would find someplace on these boxes to NAIL in that part:-)) 10 degree bevel: Again I am into speed and hate to change a saw blade angle. This would be a good box style to add to your yard but I would make the bottom a little bigger and make it deeper for my yard. It is fun to experiment and add different styles. I like to give the birds different choices but location seems to be a bigger factor in them using a particular yard. KK From: Bruce Burdett [mailto:blueburd"at"verizon.net] I have two questions about this DANDR box: From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net] http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270110040184&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:2 Dr. Wayne Davis used this one style of nestbox along with many other styles over the years in his studies of nesting preferences of the Eastern Bluebirds and other birds at the University of Kentucky. (I believe I have the right university, I hope.) Anyway this sounds like we have really a pretty neat pair of children who are going to use the money they make selling these bluebird nestboxes to buy themselves a computer. If you want to try a slot nestbox and you also want to try to experiment with a nestbox with the "see through" hardware cloth bottom you might want to check out this nestbox and read the story of these children. Keith Kridler |
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