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Post by sammi on Jul 27, 2019 8:35:55 GMT
Can I just second that Matt. Looking forward to seeing what next season brings.🤞
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Post by matt on Aug 9, 2019 11:22:58 GMT
Thanks Sammie and Springtime! I am just about to start work on the first side view box, and have a new camera for it ready to go. Should be fun - again! Hoping for a better outcome, obviously, but we have so many more birds in our garden now since the wildlife area and pond that I am quietly optimistic (as usual!).
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Post by WildlifePaul on Aug 9, 2019 15:55:11 GMT
Looking forward to seeing your side box you make Matt!
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Post by matt on Aug 9, 2019 16:10:26 GMT
I've started today Paul. I updated the 3D model to work with the wood widths I could buy, and have now bought and cut the wood to make 4 boxes before rain stopped play (I have to use my chop saw outside). I'll be giving a couple away as presents to the family, but should end up with 2 for myself as well, which will bring me up to 5 boxes in total - enough for now, I think!! (before I end up like you ). Edit: having said that, I might have to make a starling box as well..
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Post by WildlifePaul on Aug 9, 2019 16:39:11 GMT
I've started today Paul. I updated the 3D model to work with the wood widths I could buy, and have now bought and cut the wood to make 4 boxes before rain stopped play (I have to use my chop saw outside). I'll be giving a couple away as presents to the family, but should end up with 2 for myself as well, which will bring me up to 5 boxes in total - enough for now, I think!! ( before I end up like you ). Edit: having said that, I might have to make a starling box as well.. Made me laugh I think you are well on your way to becoming like me I just see it as giving them choice to be honest, I think it will work out good for you next year Matt. You said your bird numbers are up you are also giving them different choice and adding more boxes, I think it will only help you. I hope you get a rooster this Autumn / Winter aswell, It would be a first for you wouldn't it?
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Post by matt on Aug 9, 2019 16:46:39 GMT
Paul our garden has gone from nothing (literally, almost) to this in two years (pond is hidden behind the aging wild flowers): Yesterday as I was sitting in the office I counted three bluetits and a great tit, as well as loads of sparrows, all foraging at the same time amongs the trees and flowers, or bathing in the pond. That is so different to last year, so it does give me some hope! You are right, I've never had a rooster despite having three boxes up over last winter. Would be nice to get one this year.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Aug 9, 2019 17:00:11 GMT
Looks like a heaven for wildlife Matt, Should be extremely proud of that!
I'll be very shocked if you don't get a nest next year, They would be foolish not to nest in your garden.
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Post by karenupnorth on Aug 10, 2019 7:08:16 GMT
Good luck with the new boxes Matt, I look forward to seeing them, your garden is great for all wildlife, good job!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2019 9:57:41 GMT
I've started today Paul. I updated the 3D model to work with the wood widths I could buy, and have now bought and cut the wood to make 4 boxes before rain stopped play (I have to use my chop saw outside). I'll be giving a couple away as presents to the family, but should end up with 2 for myself as well, which will bring me up to 5 boxes in total - enough for now, I think!! (before I end up like you ). Edit: having said that, I might have to make a starling box as well.. wow! thats a lot of work Matt, I thought I had my work cut out replacing 2 faulty cables and installing 2 more plus a sparrow box!
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Post by matt on Aug 10, 2019 18:49:53 GMT
Too right Benn! Actually I wasn't going to start for a while, but we were struggling for a present for a friend's 40th tomorrow who is apparently into birds (a bit) and has a new house, so I thought I'd make him one. Once I got the wood in there was enough for 4, so.. Here's the first one, anyway: Dimensions are a little different to the diagram I posted over on Amanda's thread. I decided to make life a but easier for myself by just using widths that were easily available, so the box is made with 175mm (nominal) for the front and back, 125mm for the floor and walls and 200 for the roof. Note that the actual sizes are smaller because the wood is planed - the floor depth is 118mm, for example. If anyone wants the new diagram let me know and I can post it. Internal floor dimension is 80x118mm which is pretty close to Paul's original measurements. Plenty of room up top for camera and gubbins. Not 100% sure on hole position - maybe it could go further to the right. It is 125mm off the internal floor height though, which is the main thing, and is 28mm. Wood is all 25mm nominal (21mm in reality), which is thicker than my old boxes and hopefully offers better insulation. Still deciding whether to paint. I think I'd like to but looking for recommendations on suitable (non toxic) paint (outside only).
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Post by WildlifePaul on Aug 10, 2019 19:01:18 GMT
Looks good Matt! 1 down 3 more to go Don't know if you seen in Amanda thread but Cuprinol Garden Shades is a good paint for boxes, I use it on all mine.
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Post by matt on Aug 10, 2019 19:25:02 GMT
Cheers Paul - perfect! Will grab some tomorrow. Too late for the gift box but at least I can advise the recipient!
I've actually cut all the pieces for the 4 boxes, which is the hard/time consuming part. Now I just need to screw the others together and work on the camera mount and light setups. Hopefully I'll get things up a little earlier this year - maybe September if I'm lucky.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2019 10:23:05 GMT
Very skilled work Matt!
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Post by natalie on Aug 11, 2019 22:13:23 GMT
Hi Matt did you ever get around to posting details of you’re camera set ups?
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Post by matt on Aug 12, 2019 7:26:41 GMT
I didn't, Natalie, but I will make a new thread for this season's bird box builds and include full details of the camera then.
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Post by suep on Aug 14, 2019 14:25:05 GMT
Brilliant looking box Matt - start of a new business? That and landscaping - should keep you very busy . Seriously superb work on both counts. Sue
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Post by elle on Aug 25, 2019 21:39:56 GMT
Hi Matt I’m with Sue on this making a business out of it, somehow I don’t think garden nature will be too happy though I do hope you get something nesting next year Matt, and garden looks beautiful, I’m so envious Elle xx
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Post by matt on May 25, 2020 11:24:03 GMT
THere's nothing happening, of course, but I thoguht it might of interest to know that the birds are still visiting one of my boxes every couple of days, and looking increasingly mite-ridden and haggard as well - so they are obviously working flat out on a nest somewhere! Interestingly, this morning both of them came with one waiting outside the hole, and it even looked like the male was trying to call her in!
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 25, 2020 11:36:26 GMT
Aww look at it I've never had a blue tit look like this during breeding season, I've always put it down to giving them an easy life with mealworms. But mine always look like they did when they started I think it can only be the help of mealworms, Can't be nothing else can it really? We have got a little scruffy one now using the mealworm feeder in the back tree though, I knew wasn't "my" birds because they are in perfect condition but the new one thats started using it looks like that one Matt, I can only imagine she's had tough time feeding a brood. Seems like your most viewed box that one though Matt, Is it in the place of the one you got a nest in first year?
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Post by matt on May 25, 2020 12:20:36 GMT
Yep, same position Paul but a different box. Definitely seems like a popular spot, so I will put the concrete one there next year. The first year I had a nest our female looked absolutely destroyed by the end, but she had to do most of the work by herself after the male disappeared a few days after hatching.
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Post by suep on May 25, 2020 16:04:22 GMT
Poor little poppet Matt, looks ragged and worn out. Maybe hiding in your box for a bit of peace and quiet . Bless, hopefully have had a brood and now need to rest and get rid of mites or whatever and get fighting fit again. Sue
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Post by hfriel on May 25, 2020 19:09:48 GMT
Gawd Matt... she looks in a bad way, I’ve never seen a BT look like that before.
She could could be searching for food, like spiders, Mine feed their young spiders quite a lot
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Post by matt on May 25, 2020 20:01:38 GMT
Gawd Matt... she looks in a bad way, I’ve never seen a BT look like that before. She could could be searching for food, like spiders, Mine feed their young spiders quite a lot Here's a pic from two years ago, same time of year. Not suggesting this is the same bird, but it certainly got into a similar state - it was pristine at the start of nesting. Not sure why they seem to get into such a state round my way!
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Post by hfriel on May 25, 2020 21:08:56 GMT
Oh Matt that’s shocking!! I think springwatch would be very interested in some of your footage too...
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Post by karenupnorth on May 25, 2020 21:27:52 GMT
My Chico was just about bald at one point
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