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Making Use Of Myself
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28-06-2019 10:47pm#1:cool:
Indoor starling boxes. Cut the holes and fitted the doors, today. Now, I'll put slat lids on them. Hanging straps on the back. Hooks and eyes on the front. Ready to go
Make half a dozen outside ones next. Sloping, water proofed tops.
That's my start; Till I can get another look at his farm and work out how to saturate it. He wants starlings. And I'm only too delighted to provide them!Tagged:9
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What Is this obsession that I'm running about, first Poisoning, now, catching and keeping birds captive???
Oh, and then, so proud of my behaviour, I come onto a public forum and announce myself?
I swear; If I said " I mounted my mare, last night and had a great ride. " This place would make me a pervert! Not a horse owner.
There's a big shop, in town? Every time I go in there, carrying my big shoulder sack, the boss sends one of his men to hover right at my shoulder. Asking, " Can I help you? " I know this, because, when the boss isn't around, the lads just ignore me.
If I saw the boss, across the road, with his teeth on fire? Guess what I wouldn't do?
Please, people, have some cop on? And before ye say, " I only asked! " and give me a yellow card? Just look at who 'Likes' what, when sly innuendo is directed at me. It's getting Old, frankly.
These boxes are to be hung under cover. In an open hay barn type structure. Up on the roof 'joist' beam. So, they'll be completely covered from the elements and won't need sloping or waterproof roofs.
Just spent my saturday afternoon, getting their roofs and latches on. Make something of that.
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He's Been At It, Again!!!
Ladies and gentlemen; I am So Completely poggered, I feel like Mike Tyson has been using my kidneys for a punch bag! Five Hours, hunched over a nine inch circular saw, operating exactly at groin level? That focuses the mind!
But, I did it. Another 8' by 4' sheet of 1/2", or what ever, exterior ply now looks like This:
That's the makings of Seven outside starling boxes! (And, as it happens, a crafty Robin box from a few off cuts! Just picked up the bits on top of the pile there and they screamed " Robin Box! ", right in my face. I'm So chuffed with that too!)
* Glowing With A Manly Glow! *
Right: Tomorrow, I cut the seven fronts in half ~ at a / angle. Then, I think I'll get the nightmare of hole cutting the holes through them out of the way.
Next? I drill, glue and screw all that wood together! I have enough, pre cut, slats for the roofs. I'll scrounge up some 'Vote For Me' posters, to tack on top, for water proofing. Later, I'll fit the hooks and eyes.
Finally; I'll have to get out to my friends farm. To survey it and work out exactly how many boxes he can take. And what colours to make them, so they don't jar the eye.
I'm absolutely Buzzing! This sh!t Defines me, now! It's what I Do!
I've got a Master Plan for the road into town too. So many farms .... :cool:0 -
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So ..... When ye Only drill bit snaps, right in the middle of fixing the doors on the Thirteen new starling nest boxes ye making?
As, I'm sure, Forrest Gumps mother would have said; 'Then, get ye power saw out and cut Eight more of those mo' fo's out of the three, nine inch planks ye just bought!'
Yeppers. Just for the record, good people; Three, 9" x 1" rough cut planks will give ye Eight boxes. Cost? About thirty yo. Probably what ye'd pay for ONE box, from some on line 'We're in it for nature' type scammers outfit.
That's minus the roofs. But, I cobble my tops together from off cuts, or maybe buy a 4" plank. Slap various bits on. Then, I water proof the whole thing by tacking on cut up pieces of those infinitely useful election posters, depicting utterly useless individuals0 -
Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 77,367 Mod ✭✭✭✭
Join Date:Posts: 76654
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There ye go, mate. 48mm / 1 7/8" hole saw.
Now, admittedly, this can prove the most daunting aspect, for a have a goer. That saw, and the mandrill, isn't cheap. Certainly not if ye only intend to make a few boxes.
But, it doesn't matter. If ye only want to make a few? Just use a coping saw to make the holes. Even do them at the top.
As ever; I'm more than happy to field any questions0 -
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Probably the worst part, for me?
Honestly; I have a 9" Angle Grinder here. If I only knew how to weld, and was more mechanically minded? Some sort of Chop Saw jig would be fantastic!
Frankly? I'd just buy a roll of strapping and stand there and chop the whole lot into uniform lengths. Like these forty two. But, without the wrist ache!
Of course, for anyone wanting only even half a dozen boxes? This would all be part of the immense satisfaction
Anyway, next bit is vile too ~ for me. Carting all these finished boxes down to my stables. For storage. My mate can just back the jeep up to the stable and we'll pile them in.
Right now though, I need room in my kitchen. Because I have the urge to buy more planks!
Good to see the back of this lot then:
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Last post on here ~ unless anyone wants to ask anything. Else, it'll get repetitive
Saw this, yesterday:
I mean; What's a man to do? Got out of the rotting pit, today, and had at it!
Funny thing is: I had my usual, three planks. But, I managed to get Nine boxes out of them
Don't know what I did last time then.
Here's the other eight, thus far. Just for a bit of eye candy
Please note: I don't use new planks for the tops. I slice out the slats of pallets for that bit. Perfect for the job. Screw them on, cross ways. Then tack on old 'vote for me' posters, to waterproof them.
Might buy a fresh roll of galvy strapping now, too. Chop it into short lengths, to screw onto the backs of my boxes, so I can hang them from nails, in wood. Or, by cable ties, in case of steel joists. Hour should see a roll sliced up. Because ..... Well:Who's The Daddy? :cool:
Thinking of making myself a coffin, next.0 -
Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 77,367 Mod ✭✭✭✭ Join Date:Posts: 76654
Start with a tea chest, maybe.
Incidentally, those posters usually work very well as whiteboards as well. (Not that that's nature-related, though.)
Would you make some hedgehog boxes and some bat boxes, too? The shapes are different to what you've been making, but they'd be appreciated, I'm sure.0 -
Would you make some hedgehog boxes and some bat boxes, too?
In honesty? My hedgehogs have their own, established, little home. They've got a hole, next to the compost box. Other side of my Dog proof fence.
Unfortunately, being as the ditch is 'In Use', it's also a no go zone for me too. So, I'm unable to further examine, photograph, or set the trail cam on their hole. But, I do sling any edible scraps of goodies out there. " For The Wild Things ".
Bat Boxes? I've always read such mixed reports about those things ..... And, living in an old cottage, with 'proper' stables, the bats have their own, long used and traditional roosting places.
Even when I replaced a fascia here, I was careful not to be too fussy. Ensuring there was room for a bat to get behind it. So rewarding to have since witnessed one creeping up in there!
I do have a further 'Box' project up my sleeve though. (Other than my own one!) But, I plan to cover that one entirely separately.
Finally; I have - somewhere on my system - details of a newer TreeCreeper nest box. One I really must get round to; As I have treecreepers here. And, this box would allow me safe access to them.
For anyone interested? I'm sure a google around terms such as " BTO Treecreeper Nest Box " will bring it up.
It's, basically, two bits of wood. Separated by a frame of roof batten. As opposed to the old, 'Wedge' design. Sounds a belter. I've just been too focused on my starlings to ever have yet gotten round to it.
One, last, thing I Must get off my chest, about my starling boxes? I now use screws. Just had to get that in. For clarity.
Anyone thinking of buying a plank and knocking a few up? By all means, go for it and whack some nails in there. Only, I'm ~ provenly ~ cack handed, with a hammer. I seem to have to measure where to beat the nail. Then miss hit the bloody thing ..... :mad:
So, yeah; Making boxes on a near industrial scale, as I do? I actually find drilling and screwing far easier. I also love the 'connected' feeling of driving them in with my Stanley 'Yankee'! (Lesson to the youngers; Its battery never wears out!) 0 -
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Since this thread's been resurrected; I'll just take this opportunity to say that I'm taking a well enough earned breather, from the Starling boxes.
But, I have a completely new project up my sleeve. Something I hope to do, later, this week. I'm looking forward to it. Expect news
Meanwhile; Here's a shot of what I have in my stable!
Google " Starling Nest Box ". Try to find one for much under €30.00 a pop! Yet, I can make Nine of these, for €30.00.
Coffins? We're discussing all that on the DIY board!0 -
So, I mean; What's a man, alone, to do? Out with my big, pump action and I've been screwing so hard, all afternoon and evening, I'm now soaked in sweat and completely done in! Finished though!
What ye reckon? Man's got to make use of himself. Right?
That is definitely the biggest bloody next box I've Ever made. Or would like to. Because, I'll have to get that bad boy onto a narrow little flat roof I happen to have. (In honesty; I'll probably hook a rope through it and Drag it up there)
It's made entirely of 19mm exterior ply. It's 22" high. 20" wide and 11" deep. Two full sized baffles, inside. It's basically half a sheet of ply. But, that's good though. Because it means, if ye screwed ye loaf, ye could get two out of a sheet.
(God, I ache! So absolutely shattered, I can barely even think straight! The job just ran away with me. I could easily have cut it today and screwed it tomorrow. I just couldn't stop. I got a right moody on!)
Not exactly certain what to do with it next. It needs weather proofing. Only, paint's so bloody expensive. And what colour?
But, I Do have a practically full tin of Johnstones Wood Stain, in Natural Oak. I bought that for the cover I made for my Belfast sink. That now looks absolutely bloody gorgeous! God, did I choose the right colour! Pity to waste it .....
Then, because it'll be outside facing all that nature can throw at it? I have a pot of Yacht Varnish here. Reckon that should do the trick.
Anyway; This is the Industry Standard Piney Box. I got the plans from the Vincent Wildlife Trust. They've been making and trialing them for years.
Use rough plank, as they suggest, for those two internals and I'm bloody Sure ye'd get two out of an 8x4' sheet of 18mm. Pine Martens don't run around with little tape measures on their belts. They're glad to take what they can get.
PDF of the Vince plans.0 -
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I really Love my Yankee!!! In fact, my top two tools are, absolutely, my big Stanley 'Yankee' and my power saw. I make starling nest boxes on an almost 'cottage industry' scale. I just couldn't cope, without the driver and saw.
Thing about the pumper? I like the Connection with the job. Me and the tool, dependent on each other and pushing to get the work done I've had cordless drivers. (Note the past tense!) It's like a factory job. My Yankee never runs out of charge. And he'll still be pushing in screws, long after I'm pushing up daisy's.
Good thinking, about the plastic covered roof too. I have a good stock of 'vote for me' posters in stock. That lid fits tighter than a drum. But, ye can't be Too waterproof.
Still absolutely shattered, here. Too knackered to even eat. Think I'll have an early night, then spend a few days just brushing stuff onto this box. Clean out of planks. Stable's backing up with starling boxes I need to get out to a farm. Saw needs a fresh blade.
Hmm. Do wonder if any of those off cuts would do to make this Tree Creeper box I'm gagging to try though? 0 -
I've used them for various things myself. Great as shuttering for casting a curved edge on a bit of concrete path as well. Politicians cost us a lot of money, we may as well get something back from them eh?I have a good stock of 'vote for me' posters in stock. That lid fits tighter than a drum. But, ye can't be Too waterproof.
Use screws with big washers though as the plastic is liable to catch the wind. And use a dab of silicone with the screw and you'll have a totally waterproof roof.0 -
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Put the first coat of stain on it, today. Took it into my work room and put it on a stand. Easier to work on, and no Dogs getting near it.
I must say; I'm in love with that stain! Might well buy a big tin and use it on my paneling. Strip the under coat off and start over. That in love with this gorgeous, honey tone.
Roof? Yeah. Have ye looked at their cutting plan? It's atrocious!!! Skipping between inches and mm. Strange hieroglyphics that mean nothing to me. I just, basically, went for a bloody great box. Put those partitions and holes in.
Their lids look flat, in the photo, though. I was gonna rely on yacht varnish, and the fact that my lid is the 'shoe box' type. But, no; Now ye mention it? Plastic seems good too.
I'm pondering, now. Letting schit sink in and marinate my mind. We get horrific Tin Testers here. Not really likely. But, nor would it be impossible that the next hurricane could shift, even This weight.
It'll be on a narrow, flat roof, remember. Pitched roof behind it. Gable in front. Not a lot of space to spare. Protected from the sun by the gable. But; Could that west / east roof form a wind tunnel? Dunno. Aerodynamics isn't my thing.
But, yeah; You've inspired me to consider a pitch, on the plastic roof. My weather comes from the west. I'm thinking of putting a batten on the lid, to form a slope of plastic. Cause a run off, like on my starling boxes.
Only, they just run to the front ~ as nest boxes pretty much always do. But, this one's a bit different. I want it to be perfect, for my situation. And, if I could add something to the V design? Wouldn't that be something else?
I'm erring to the west side / end. Sloping toward there? Rain would run off toward the side of the box. Wind would slide up and over it.
:eek: Eureka! I've been constantly milling over this 'Hurricane from the west' nightmare. It's just clicked!
I have these rodenticide holding box tethers. Used to tie boxes down. Drill them into a wall and crimp steel trace between them and the box? Talk about a face palm moment! Why didn't I See that?!
Okay. Time I'm finished, with the SDS drill and my old equipment coming out? This baby ain't going No Where! Hurricane all ye like!
Love bouncing ideas around. Sussing it and sharing it is what it's all about. That's how we progress and get things better.0 -
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Got a new toy! :cool:
This 45mm Bad Boy should take the stress out of punching those holes for my starling boxes! " Forstner Bit ". Suggested by the lads on the DIY board.
I've also bought myself a Drill Pillar Stand. Figure, if I'm to spend the rest of my days making the things? Might as well tool up to make them properly and with ease
No planks in store, this week. Mentioned to my mate though that I have a couple of dozen boxes, finished and waiting to go out, in my stable. We need to get up and take a look at his farm. Then, I'll take as many as the place will hold. (And my camera! Let me forget my camera and I'll kill myself!)
Still got a little hospital job though. Be tinkering about, tomorrow, as the rain lashes down outside
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Just an update on this project: I stained it, with my Johnstones 'Natural Oak' ~ just to get rid of that 'This is obviously plywood' look.
Then, with a view to weather proofing it, I got a tin of Yacht Varnish. And here, people, is where I Really want to speak to ye! Use That stuff down the shed. Then, run far away from it!
My god! I used it in my back room. Then, opened the door, twenty four hours later. I could have done with a Respirator!!! :eek: Forty Eight hours and it's Still vile in there. Even with the window wide open. Jeez ....!
That aside though; I looked for a small, cheap pair of hooks and eyes? I thought I'd use them to secure that 'shoe box' lid, in case of the inevitable hurricane.
Couldn't find any. And that proved a bonus. It dawned on me that all I need do is push a screw through either side, so that they just bite into the wood of the actual box
No wind will pull that off. And, when am I ever likely to want to lift that lid myself, anyway?
Best of all though? Yesterday, I bit the bullet and went up the ladder to the roof channel where I intend to put this box. The box is eleven inches deep. And I was getting horrible notions about just how wide that channel is! What if it didn't fit?!
Delighted to say, the channel's Sixteen inches! Perfect! That means there'll be a five inch gap, between the entrance holes and the gable end wall. Absolutely Made for a little piney bitch to pop through and feel secure as all hell!
So, there we have it then. Just got to wait for that obnoxious varnish to dry hard. Then, I'll be fitting a cellular plastic cover to the roof. Then, it's back up the ladder and install the thing. Anchoring it with wire traces ~ simply because, as said; It's to be placed directly in the face of the prevailing winds. Sideways on to them. But .....
Right now though, I'm waiting for my neighbour to fetch me some fence wire. Today, I've started on yet another project. But, this one'll have to remain between " Open Your Eyes " and me 0 -
:cool: Glowing with a manly glow!
Used to exchange notes with a bloke, Mick W. He's a fellow Nest Box Nut. Only, Mad Mick used to make bloody great Barn Owl boxes, out of pallet wood. Then, he'd shove them high up in big trees!
When I asked him how in hell he got a wooden structure the size of a wheel barrow up into a tree, on his own?! He just said: " I just do it. " :eek:
Well, Mick's been my inspiration, today. I'm not one to sit here, reading google all day. Nor was I content to sit around, pouting as I waited for my neighbour to appear and get roped in. I got up off my arse and Just Did It!
And, there she is, at last! Solid sealed round eyes. They're attached to twisted wire traces. Those are crimped onto special anchoring pins, left over from my rat catching days. They'll Never come out of the concrete.
There we have it, so. I decided the lid itself was enough, without any glaringly white plastic. And, she's sat on two batons, wrapped and fixed in DPC plastic. That's one snug and Secure piney box now! It'll out last me, for sure.
Finally, just to put a bit more context on it. Here's a shot from across my front porch roof. Showing how the box is situated far away from any activity. Right next to the wild ground above:
Peaceful Pine Martens0 -
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No problemmo. Here's one:
Ye drill a four.eight mil. hole. (Hell, I use my 5mm SDS bit!) Tap the (bent) pin in with a hammer. Presto!
Only little snags are that ye Then need the wire trace. The Ferrells to clamp them with. And the special pliers to make that crimp.
Now, obviously, as a professional? I went to my usual suppliers and paid 'Professional' prices! :eek: I'm pretty sure ye could source the wire, ferrells and pliers elsewhere.
The pins themselves? I can show ye them. Not Cheap! But, they do a hell of a job.0 -
No problemmo. Here's one:
Ye drill a four.eight mil. hole. (Hell, I use my 5mm SDS bit!) Tap the (bent) pin in with a hammer. Presto!
Only little snags are that ye Then need the wire trace. The Ferrells to clamp them with. And the special pliers to make that crimp.
Now, obviously, as a professional? I went to my usual suppliers and paid 'Professional' prices! :eek: I'm pretty sure ye could source the wire, ferrells and pliers elsewhere.
The pins themselves? I can show ye them. Not Cheap! But, they do a hell of a job.
Just happen to already have ferrules and crimping pliers that I use on little projects from time to time. Yes, I'll shop around. See if I can pick some up on the cheap. Cheers!0 -
Can ye see what I see ~ Every Day?
And, one sweet day, in Spring, I'll be sat there watching a Blackbird or Song Thrush bringing nesting material to it! Who knows? Possibly even a Robin?
It was completely by chance that I put it right there. Then, glanced out one day and thought; " Dear god! Now, I'll be staring at that, every day. I'll probably watch the bird checking it out! "
For it is written! " Blessed is he who gets off his arse, once in a while. Away from Google and actually Doing Something."
Yes, it is! Look!
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Ye thought I'd gone quiet? :cool:
Scheming, people. Always scheming.
{OMG! And, with that, I stood up to take a glimpse at my trap? I noted there were Three baby rats, sneaking out to grab some free grub. Then, as one crept towards it; A chaffinch hopped forward and pecked it on the nose! Sent it scurrying back to the bank! God, I love my life!}
Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah: Scheming. Too busy scheming to check in my book. Thus, I only brought home One plank! I needed two. Cut into 63" lengths.
Such an utter PITA. Because now, look, I'm left stuck with only half my bloody work bench made! Look:
Ye get the idea though? My nest box making power tools, all lined up and bolted to the top planks? I'll be able to reach down. Take a door from the under bench. Put a hole in it, using my drill pillar. Then, pop it onto the pile that'll be building up on the other end of that bench! Poetry in ~ the economy of ~ motion!
Angle grinder holder? Chop up the galvy strapping ~ to hang the boxes by ~ like a Boss!
Tormenting thing is; My brother seems to delight in sending me emails, 'just mentioning' his latest, top of the range power tool. Rotten swine's just hit me with how he's now got a Ryobi Nail Gun! :eek:
I went from nailing, to drilling and screwing. Because I'm a lobster. Takes me longer ~ and far more stress ~ beating nails in, anything like straight. Literally faster to drill the holes and push screws in with my Stanley " Yankee ".
But, a Nail Gun ....! Wow! I watched a professional coffin maker using one, the other night. I could make a simple jig. Slot the cut planks in it. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! I'd be knocking out nest boxes like a Ford production plant!!!
Scheming. Scheming. Scheming .....0 -
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Noel turned up at my gate, this evening Let me just introduce ye to Noel:
Picture an absolute parody of a Leitrim Farmer. Muck boots. Flat cap. Tractor drivers waistline. Yep. That's Noel, nailed in one.
But, he's also one of the Best, completely natural, self taught Naturalists I've ever met! He probably doesn't know the names of more than half a dozen birds. But, he bloody well knows where they nest! He recognises their calls. And he's Deeply caring and committed to nature.
I only tend to see him a few times a year. Normally when he's after something! I thought, tonight, he was bringing back the carrying cage I'd long since lent him?
Should have known better than that. Noel is like a Black Hole. Anything sucked in by him is never likely to be seen again!
No. Better than some old cage back. Much better! He's asked me if I've ever heard of a " Bat Maternity Box "!!!
Upshot is that; I have the plans to hand. I have most of the materials knocking about here. And, obviously, I'd Love to make Noel a Bat Maternity Box. He has ten of my starling boxes at one of his farms. I'm free to wreak havoc at his other one. There's not a lot I Wouldn't do for this guy!
Only fly in the ointment is this bloody woman! 'The Bat Expert'. Seems she's insistent that Noel site such and such a box, in such and such a window ~ on his abandoned cottage. And this, that and the other infinitely detailed nits are to picked by her.
In the death, I just said to Noel: " Look, I'll make ye a deal. I'll make ye an industry standard, all singing, all dancing, Bat Maternity Box. We'll stick it where we bloody well like. "
" Or; If this woman Insists on it being exactly such a size. Stuck precisely in That window. Not right a little, or left a little? Let HER pay for it and build it! "
But, it seems, that would lose Noel the Grant. I'm like; " But, isn't that grant something stupid, like 50c a nest box? I thought I'd seen ..... "
NOOooooooo! Says Noel. It's a Lot more than that! Comes to pass HE's had to pay some guy €500.00, (I'm sure he said he even had to go to Longford and pick this guy up?!) to come and do some sort of check?!
I'm thinking like; Jesus wept!!! No Wonder Noel loves me slathering my ~ Free ~ nest boxes all over his place! :eek:
Anyway; There it is. I'm ready, and More Than willing to make Noel his big bat box. What a cracking little string to my bow that'll be! " Stigura: Maker of Finest Bird, Bat and Pine Marten Boxes ~ and a coffin or two. "
Best bit is though; I managed to slip it in that Noel should mention, to any of the farmers he knows, down this side of the road, that I'd like to put my starling boxes up on the north facing backs of Their cow sheds! Just like Noel's.
Does the scheming never stop?! :cool:0 -
Dunno where Noel's got to. Consulting his 'expert', I imagine?
Anyway, I got woke up by a phone call, this morning. Decided to get up. Then found myself absolutely bored out of my tiny little mind!
Devil finds work, 'n all that :cool:
Can Ye Guess What It Is Yet?
The Clues Are Here.
Got to add a Signal to it, yet. But, I'm all in now. Happy to sit here and chill with a well earned beer. Might even catch a crafty forty winks Finish it off tomorrow.0 -
Another successful day! Probably another larroping, or two, of fenceguard and I'll have this baby deployed by the back gate:
That design comes courtesy of Mark Hovell ~ The Godfather of Ratcatchers. My first edition copy of his " Rats and How To Destroy Them " (1924) is my post prized possession
That's a version of his " Terrier Signal Run Trap ". That little train signal drops? I know I have a customer. Originally designed to save horrifying the lady of the house. Mark went on to develop Signals so that one could check a trap from outside a building, etc.
I like the signal principle because there's nothing quite like sipping ye tea as ye stare out the back door and suddenly realising that arm's down ~ when it wasn't, three minutes ago on this bright and sunny morning!0 -
Game On!!! :cool:
And there's a Q Tip in there too. I've dipped it in a special oil. One that's attractive to rats, yet doesn't excite Dogs or birds.
That little, wooden bar will now become a 24 / 7 source of distraction and fascination, for me, then
And now? I'm bored, again! No more projects to crack into Noel's lady got back to me, asking for the Bat Nursery Box plans I had, yesterday. Don't know where that goes now.
I'm skint, just now. Can't afford any planks, this week. And, I have thirty Starling Boxes waiting to be shifted from my stables anyway.
Scheming ... Scheming ... I Need to be a busy bee! :eek: :cool: Here we go again!!! 0 -
Here ye go!
Always wanted one of these. Just for the craic. B&B Box. Bees and bugs
Two blocks of thoroughly rotten old wood there. Drilled into as far as my bits would go ~ without coming right through. It's wet, now. But, I'll get some stems, straws and sticks to pack it out with too.
Forward sloping, plastic poster protected roof. I've recessed everything well back too, because we get some dreadful westerlys and I don't want the tiny things exposed to that. It'll go on a south facing wall, see?
Well; My back aches. My shoulders ache. I'm sweaty and generally all in. As a man should be. (Matron!!! :eek:)
Really am right out of materials now though Made that out of a couple of off cuts I spotted in my work room. Need a new project now, until / if Noel comes back, asking me to make that Bat Nursery ~ and bunging me half a sheet of ply and eight feet of roof baton. I have the rest put aside.
Like to make my coffin Need to source some unwarped planks for that though. Tough one!0 -
Whooooah!!! What a coup!!!
Today, I visited Tommy's, to check how many Starling Boxes his place may be able to take. This is the guy for whom I have Thirty boxes stashed in my stables?
I haven't been to his farm for years. Last there to knock out a rat infestation for him. Thus, I only had the vaguest recollection of the structures. In fact; I'd say he's had much of the old place razed, and has rebuilt modern, new sheds. And it's heaven on earth! Almost like he planned it with starlings in mind!
Sadly, I never took my camera, as I didn't know I was going there. But, hell yeah! His set up's Perfect! I see No problem with it sucking in Thirty boxes!
And; They'll All be Inside!!! This is staggering! His boxes will, absolutely, outlast the pair of us. So Many Starlings!!!
Let me just run some figures by ye: Starlings tend to have two broods a year. 5/6 eggs first. Then 3/5 the next round.
Over the last decade, I've built my core of personal boxes up to two dozen. I actually keep no records of individual boxes and rates. But, I now ring 50 - 70 chicks a year from them.
I can't count, in my head. But, would it not be fair to say that Tommy can expect about 70 - 100 chicks a year?
What ever. Slash that number, by / due to 'infant mortality', once they leave the boxes. I've no idea where that leaves us. I can only tell ye that, a dozen years ago, when I started putting my boxes up, here? I head counted the local flock as forty birds.
Year or two? I was chuffed as hell to be counting Eighty. This year? When I tried to tell BWI / BTO I was looking at 250 / 300 starlings lined up along hundreds of yards of our power lines? They're like: Naah. Don't be silly. We just don't get that many starlings in Eire!
They tell me a Lot. Like; We have No Grey or Red Legged Partridges, in Leitrim. Goshawks don't breed here. 250 - 300 Starlings? Viewable from ye gate?! GTF!
I just invited them to come here. Actually Set Foot In Leitrim! See for themselves. I'm not holding my breath :rolleyes:
Anyway, there we have it. Thirty more boxes going out! Tommy's place is out of my way. But, in return for the 'free pest control' these birds will do for him, he's more than happy to come and get me, twice a year, so I can ring them.
Everyone's a winner! 0 -
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Coen Witty Doughnut wrote: »Who in BWI or BTO gave that response?
It automatically flagged up, on Birdtrack. I left my open invite in the comments.
I've also been personally informed, one to one, we don't have RLP in Co. Leitrim. This after I'd sat and watched one walk past me, at fifteen foot, to start pecking around in my neighbours cattle crush. But, no; BWI assured me there are NO RLP in Leitrim.
I mentioned this to a friend. He said; " RLP? Yeah. Couple of lads up the top of town reared 200 in a barn. Day of the big shoot was an utter shambles! Not one of them got hit! "
I've given up with Birdtrack now. As ye rightly say; The BTO are getting my ringing returns. It's not rocket science. But, there it is.0 -
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