Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => General Discussions => Topic started by: Anonymous on January 13, 2008, 03:24:10 PM

Title: Bird Box Building
Post by: Anonymous on January 13, 2008, 03:24:10 PM

Hey there all, just thought I'd share a couple of pictures of the finch boxes I'm making for the backyard.  They're incomplete as it stands right now, I have to go buy a couple of jig saw blades and some weatherproofing stain but I think they'll come along and be done by Wednesday or so!  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... 1/BBPieces (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attilas-2007-Shots%21/BBPieces) - Bird Box Pieces

http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... ots%21/BB1 (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attilas-2007-Shots%21/BB1) - Front View

http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... ots%21/BB2 (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attilas-2007-Shots%21/BB2) - Side View

Attila

Title: Bird boxes
Post by: Napper on January 13, 2008, 09:01:07 PM

hey !!

I prefer to use Cedar fence board..  1/2 inch thick by 5 1/2 wide it comes in various lengths.. easy to work with and you don't have to stain it

Napper :D

enjoy yourself..


My next project of that type will be a Bat box..  similar to a Blue bird box  but narrower... See ya

Title:
Post by: Anonymous on January 16, 2008, 12:24:38 PM

Bat box eh?  That sounds like it could be pretty interesting.  Would it be small or large, given their propensity for caves??

My boxes are almost done, I just have to drill the entrance holes and the weatherproof them.  I've drilled 5 drainage holes in the bottom to ensure that any moisture can escape quickly.  Oh, and in case you're wondering, one is to go on a fence or hanging from a tree, the other will be affixed to a fence post, hence the need for the two holes on the backboard.

Any advice/comments/criticism is welcome...:)

Cheers, photo is here --> http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... AlmostDone (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attilas-2007-Shots%21/BirdBoxAlmostDone)

Attila

Title: Bat boxes.
Post by: Ron Luft on January 16, 2008, 02:29:15 PM

Hey, Attila. Check out the bat boxes in High Pk. There are a number of them, most easily found are some that are around the Nature Ctr. on Parkside (Tennis Club). They are quite different in design from bird boxes in that they consist of vertical 'slots' between walls and a simple roofing shingle on top to keep out rain. 12 - 18" wide the thickness of a thumb or so. You'll see what I mean. Good luck.

Title: Cool!
Post by: Anonymous on January 16, 2008, 05:48:24 PM

Ron, thanks for the advice, I'll be sure to check them out this weekend when I get some free time.

Finally done my finch bird boxes, minus a couple of screws for one of the hinges and some stain to weather proof it.

Have a look -->  http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... _Untreated (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attilas-2007-Shots%21/Finished_Untreated)

Attila

Title:
Post by: Pat Hodgson on January 18, 2008, 12:58:44 PM

I've used hole saws for making bird house entrances.  They work very well but are a bit pricy and of course each can only do one size.  I'm curious as to why you are calling these finch houses - are you referring to house finches?  Apparently they will use cavities but mainly do not per my references.  Bird house entrance hole size has great impact on what can/will use the box.  In the city you are 100% guaranteed to get starlings if the hole is too big.  Some people in my area have been successful with chickadees using boxes.

Title:
Post by: Anonymous on January 18, 2008, 02:01:09 PM

Pat,

I'm calling them finch boxes due to their size.  They are only 5"x5"x5" with the entrance hole being 1 1/4" in size.  The site that I printed the construction illustration off of described them as being finch boxes, so that's what I'm going with...to be quite honest, my 2 main hopes for the boxes are that something, anything ends up using them and also that the squirrels won't chew away the hole and raid what's inside...any suggestions on how to prevent that from happening would be great.

Attila

Title:
Post by: Brian Bailey on January 18, 2008, 07:34:00 PM

I have seen steel rings for mounting over the hole to stop it from being enlarged by unwanted species.  Wild Birds Unlimited sells them, but I doubt they're widely available elsewhere.

BB

Title: BBB
Post by: JTF on January 19, 2008, 08:55:10 AM

One thing I like to do is put a small square piece of mesh/chicken wire on the inside of the front so the little hatchlings can climb out easier. This is not necessary, but I have seen some nest boxes a little too deep.

Title: Interesting dweller...
Post by: Anonymous on April 16, 2008, 11:46:53 AM

Never thought that I'd see a pair of these at the box, but it appears that they have nested inside like some of the ones around Pat's neighbourhood.  I'm keeping my distance from the box, and hopefully we'll have a successful hatch this spring.

Chickadees @ Box ->  http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attil ... _Birdhouse (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Attilas-2007-Shots%21/Chickadee_Birdhouse)

Title: Hey Attila
Post by: Napper on June 01, 2008, 04:44:38 PM

Hey :!:

Between Reno's and the Nascar race today

I built a Feeder for our new place up North today.

Have a few little things to finish but is pretty much complete.

Tools used,  Table saw, Mitre Saw, Air nailer, wood glue

Material,  Cedar fence board, Lucite



http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/feeder-project/DSC_3085_1
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/feeder-project/DSC_3084_1
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/feeder-project/DSC_3077_1_copy
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/feeder-project/DSC_3079_1?full=1
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/feeder-project/DSC_3075_1



:))

Title: Feeder day 3
Post by: Napper on June 02, 2008, 09:19:19 PM

Day 1  cut and glued fence board   1 hour

Day 2 completed most of exterior 1 and 1/2 hour

Day 3 Added some minor decoration  added hole for  feed transfer and tested it in the field  1 hour

conclusions: minor design changes are required..  Mod 1 cut mortise for Lucite plastic.. (it shatters with air gun direct nailing)

Mod 2 cut Hole for seed transfer prior to assy..

Next step, move to permanent location add rodent proof deflector, mount on pole

Napper :o

http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/feeder-project/DSC_3088_1?full=1
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/feeder-project/DSC_3086_1?full=1
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/albums/feeder-project/DSC_3087_1.sized.jpg


Gotta go Stanley cup Playoff intermission :)

corrected  the woodworking term it is a Mortise not a tenon

Title: Feeder
Post by: JTF on June 02, 2008, 09:36:00 PM

Great job, looks real nice indeed.

Title:
Post by: Anonymous on June 07, 2009, 06:56:19 PM

Seems I'm going to get some young chickadees out in the backyard soon...!  The parents have been feeding them non stop and everytime they're at the box we can hear the chicks chirping from more than 10 feet away.

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/ChickadeeHouse2.jpg)

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/ChickadeeHouse1.jpg)