Perhaps not a truly exciting story, as I haven't confirmed anything yet, but there are definite signs of use (i.e. wear and tear) around the edges of my nesting box that I only noticed after my housemate pointed out to me yesterday.
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Here's hoping it is the Pale-headed Rosellas it was intended for, but anything nesting there would be interesting.
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I'll keep you informed of further developments. :)
Waiting with baited breath, timmo!
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any action in the nest box, other than the evidence of damage around the entry.
Either nothing happened but a few pecks at the entry, or I was too busy and missed it all.
Oh well...next time for sure!
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Perhaps the peckings & scratchings at the entry will give your nest box that authentic look & thereby attract other species. Here's hoping.
So, the long awaited reply - I finally got up and checked the nest box on the weekend (involved ladder, harness, ropes for safety), just to see if it was clean and/or being used...
Once I got up there, with all the racket I was making, a small furry face poked it's head out to check what was going on, then vanished inside again, followed by a fast exit and 3m leap to the other side of the tree. It seems a Rosella-sized hole is also a suitable size for ringtailed possums...
This is OK though, as these guys get hassled pretty severely by noisy miners, butcherbirds, crows etc and are less able to defend themselves than brushtails. So birdbox #2 is built and awaiting painting and will be placed elsewhere in this or a nearby tree.
Photos to come.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
What a beautiful story, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Thanks Tim.
M-L
I didn't have the camera with me first time up so didn't catch the little fella in action, but did get "nest" shots...
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
A further post, since I found some more pics from about 6 weeks ago.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
These are great thanks for these photos!
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
The photos are great and very interesting. I guess the ringtail climbs in from the roof and grips the entrance with his claws as he does so, thereby splintering off the wood. Or maybe he's deliberately trying to widen it.
I assumed he was deliberately trying to widen it.
Having not been built for possums, it is probably a bit of an acrobatic act to get into it, as you've suggested.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Hi Tim Congratulations on the new arrivals hope mum and family are all doing well
Now that’s done……What I was hoping for, is some of your knowledge on the building of the bird box please.
My six year old grandson has put Pop up for a project at the local school to build a nesting box to put up in the tree’s I have a couple of Ideas but did not know too much about the design etc .
You have successfully built a nesting box so this makes you the man could you please help in the way of dimensions and maybe a bit of a plan or if you could give me a web sight to go to that might have a plan. If there is anyone else that has some input that would be just grand thank you. After I get a reply I will start another post on this subject Tim so as not to hijack yours.
Colbra
Colbra you could start with Birds Australia Information Sheet No 5. Its a pdf file but sorry I don't know how to attach it to this message. If you can't find it I can send it to you by email. Good luck in your search. You might do a search on anti-myna baffles as well. (This subject really needs an area of its own. Good information about the design of nest boxes and experiences is scattered around the website and not easily found by box builders).
Hi Colbra,
I'm happy to share the info I used.
The basic information i have used is from the Birds Australia info sheet on the following site:
http://www.sustainablebluemountains.net.au/localliving/more/files/Nestboxes.pdf
There appears to be an updated version on the official site:
http://birdlife.org.au/images/uploads/education_sheets/INFO-Nestbox-technical.pdf
Other info I used came from the book Attracting Birds to Your Garden in Australia by John Dengate
http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6147.htm
and from the book Birdscaping Australian Gardens by George Adams
http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6853.htm
Those were the main sources, but there were other internet sources.
The key points for me:
I'm sure there are other things, but they are the key ones I can think of.
Providing food and water sources and appropriate protection such as shrub cover for the species you want to attract will also help.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
The birdlife one is on our site here too (just hidden a bit - we have too much info!). Plans from these dimensions are in production now - hope to have them up on the site in a month.
Thank you Night Parrot, Tim and Holly for taking the time to reply to my inquiry.
I will be watching out for the plans that are coming in about a month Holly thanks for that information.
I have down loaded the PDF Birds Australia Information Sheet No 5. And reading through at the moment. Thank you Night Parrot for that information
Tim I have copied all those locations to my note book and will work my way through them when I finish reading Information Sheet No5 as mentioned above. So thank you for that as well as letting me piggy back on your post.
At the start of this post I was only intending to build the one box for my Grandsons school project as in lots of things I do they become a journey and I never know where they will end up so this is now the start of one of those journeys.
1…. I am going to build more than one box. And to start with put them around my Yard which is at the foot of Blackwall mountain at Woy Woy I have a lot of birds here… you may have read my little ramble a couple of months ago on this forum.
2…. I am a member of the Kincumber Men’s Shed and I am going to do a project there as soon as I finish the Toys Christmas Project.
I am not quite sure how I will run with it but no doubt a door will open once I start.
I n a week or so I will start my own post and keep all you grand people in the loop on things
Thanks All Col
PS Tim loved your photographs and you your presentation with it.
Thanks so much for your input Col,
Your post was inspiring, generous, gentle and a pleasure to read
It sounds like you have some exciting projects going on - I'm glad this has offered another idea to run with.
Go for it! And be sure to let us know how it's going!
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Yes I support Timmo's comments. The very best of luck to you Col on your projects.