Hi,
It is that time of year. The last few days have been getting ready for winter. Had to empty the rain barrels, get the last vegetables out of garden before the first frost. This get stored here that there....
And it is time to clean out the birdhouses and store them. This year I wanted to make a short movie to share with the grand kids of what it looks like on the inside of the birdhouse when the season is over.
Well you might not be my grand kids but I thought maybe a few of you might get interested in making some birdhouses next spring and maybe this might make it another interesting learning experience for your kids/grand kids. Hey maybe even for some of you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE730rz6NBo&feature
I'm upload another short video that shows more of the contents as I break it apart. The compost bin is its next stop.
Ed
Today in the yard (birdhouse clean out)
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The second video is almost done. It show more of what the nest actually looks like. For small birds they really work getting those branches all packed in.
As you will see when not packed by the birds it will not even all fit back inside the house.
I'd like to make a birdhouse with camera inside to see the activity someday. I made plans a long time ago but never did it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUNzSSOC5NE
Ed
As you will see when not packed by the birds it will not even all fit back inside the house.
I'd like to make a birdhouse with camera inside to see the activity someday. I made plans a long time ago but never did it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUNzSSOC5NE
Ed
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BuckeyeDennis
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 3813
- Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:03 pm
- Location: Central Ohio
I think that I have finally found an expert to advise me!
My problem is that Downy Woodpeckers are fond of boring holes in the cedar half-timbers on the outside of my house. They nest for a season or two. (Usually inside my bedroom wall, where the LOML and I can enjoy the cheep-cheeps from the babies early on springtime mornings. Sometimes much too early).
Then the wrens move in, same drill. I have NEVER cleaned out the wall cavity, from which I must believe that the birdies are quite capable of perorming that chore by themselves. I HAVE carefully plugged and repainted the cedar boards on multiple occasions. Upon catching a Downy red-handed -- er, red-crested -- boring a hole in my house, I have even stooped so low as to assassinate the cute/perky little thing with my trusty Remington 1100. All to no avail.
So the wife then reasoned that if we kept them supplied with ample suet, they would no longer have any desire to bore into our house. Several cases of suet later, I can report that suet is apparently, in the eyes of a Downy Woodpecker, no substitute for a good cedar board!
So now my wife has a new plan. The Downies like to bore their holes in pretty much the same spot every year, assuming that I get around to patching the old holes. So wifey now figures that I should build some nice birdhouses and hang them on the outside of my house, right over top of the woodpecker holes. Sounds like fun, and could even be made attractive.
Do you think it might work?
My problem is that Downy Woodpeckers are fond of boring holes in the cedar half-timbers on the outside of my house. They nest for a season or two. (Usually inside my bedroom wall, where the LOML and I can enjoy the cheep-cheeps from the babies early on springtime mornings. Sometimes much too early).
Then the wrens move in, same drill. I have NEVER cleaned out the wall cavity, from which I must believe that the birdies are quite capable of perorming that chore by themselves. I HAVE carefully plugged and repainted the cedar boards on multiple occasions. Upon catching a Downy red-handed -- er, red-crested -- boring a hole in my house, I have even stooped so low as to assassinate the cute/perky little thing with my trusty Remington 1100. All to no avail.
So the wife then reasoned that if we kept them supplied with ample suet, they would no longer have any desire to bore into our house. Several cases of suet later, I can report that suet is apparently, in the eyes of a Downy Woodpecker, no substitute for a good cedar board!
So now my wife has a new plan. The Downies like to bore their holes in pretty much the same spot every year, assuming that I get around to patching the old holes. So wifey now figures that I should build some nice birdhouses and hang them on the outside of my house, right over top of the woodpecker holes. Sounds like fun, and could even be made attractive.
Do you think it might work?
I can't speak to Downie Woodpeckers - we have them around here (along with the similar Hairy Woodpeckers) but I've never heard of them doing what you describe in these parts. My brother-in-law, however, used to live down by Yosemite and they have acorn woodpeckers that would drill holes in their siding and stick an acorn in the hole for storage...pretty soon the entire side of his house was covered with several hundred holes with an acorn stuffed in each. They only did it on one side of the house, so he finally covered that wall with hardware cloth - not perhaps the prettiest fix but it brought an end to things (at least on his house...he probably just made them move on to the neighbors house instead). I never did find out what he did about the siding and all the acorns - I assume he must have replaced it as it was a major water leak potential thanks to all the holes.
BTW, as far as your problem and proposed birdhouse deployment fix is concerned, my guess is they will ignore the birdhouses. If you do your homework and build birdhouses matching the desired specifications of the species in question then it might work but birds are fairly particular about where and how they nest, so you'll definitely want to read up on the specifics of a downy woodpecker nest box or bird house.
BTW, as far as your problem and proposed birdhouse deployment fix is concerned, my guess is they will ignore the birdhouses. If you do your homework and build birdhouses matching the desired specifications of the species in question then it might work but birds are fairly particular about where and how they nest, so you'll definitely want to read up on the specifics of a downy woodpecker nest box or bird house.
'78 Mark V 500 #27995 (my Dad bought new)
'82 Mark V 500 #96309
Two '47 10E's (serial#4314+6149) - one a dedicated drill press and the other a lathe
Two 10E/ER in parts slowly being restored…#26822 and #????? (SS plate missing)
SPT's: Bandsaw, Belt Sander, Strip Sander, Jointer, Jigsaw, Biscuit Joiner
'82 Mark V 500 #96309
Two '47 10E's (serial#4314+6149) - one a dedicated drill press and the other a lathe
Two 10E/ER in parts slowly being restored…#26822 and #????? (SS plate missing)
SPT's: Bandsaw, Belt Sander, Strip Sander, Jointer, Jigsaw, Biscuit Joiner
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Ed in Tampa
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 5834
- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:45 am
- Location: North Tampa Bay area Florida
Sorry for the delay in responding, I've been out of town for a while. Having said that I have to admit to know nothing about your issue. I have heard a story somewhere along the way noting a similar problem. Don't recall ever seeing an answer. Looks like you have some research time ahead of you.BuckeyeDennis wrote:I think that I have finally found an expert to advise me!
My problem is that Downy Woodpeckers are fond of boring holes in the cedar half-timbers on the outside of my house. They nest for a season or two. (Usually inside my bedroom wall, where the LOML and I can enjoy the cheep-cheeps from the babies early on springtime mornings. Sometimes much too early).
Then the wrens move in, same drill. I have NEVER cleaned out the wall cavity, from which I must believe that the birdies are quite capable of perorming that chore by themselves. I HAVE carefully plugged and repainted the cedar boards on multiple occasions. Upon catching a Downy red-handed -- er, red-crested -- boring a hole in my house, I have even stooped so low as to assassinate the cute/perky little thing with my trusty Remington 1100. All to no avail.
So the wife then reasoned that if we kept them supplied with ample suet, they would no longer have any desire to bore into our house. Several cases of suet later, I can report that suet is apparently, in the eyes of a Downy Woodpecker, no substitute for a good cedar board!
So now my wife has a new plan. The Downies like to bore their holes in pretty much the same spot every year, assuming that I get around to patching the old holes. So wifey now figures that I should build some nice birdhouses and hang them on the outside of my house, right over top of the woodpecker holes. Sounds like fun, and could even be made attractive.
Do you think it might work?
Ed
Ed in Tampa wrote:Ed
How did you make that bird house. I looks like 2x6 that you bored out, is that right?
How big is entrance hole? How big is the cavity?
How high do you hang it?
The birdhouse is made like a bandsaw box. The front and back are sliced off the assembly then the "round" inside is cut out. The front is drilled for the entry and attached with screws for clean out.
I'll have to measure to be sure but in general a 2 x 6 is about 5-1/2" so the inside hole must be say 4-1/2" x 5-1/2". Hole size is either 1" or 1-1/8". I'd say it less then 10' off the ground as I use a 7' step ladder to hang and remove it.
I think I did the making of the bird house on one of the shopsmith web sites and when I have time I'll try and find it if that would be helpful.
Ed