Built my first bird house
It's a pretty big house too, designed for predatory birds. I am trying to attract Kestrel to live in it. And planning on placing the home near my upcoming Cherry trees. I'll need some protection for my berries and I think a Falcon like bird would do well possibly. I've noticed when theres Hawks and other predatory birds are in the area other birds tend to flee. And last year a Hawk got a bird around the time my Blueberries were ripening. And due to that the birds that usually eat my berries were not around to eat them.
I followed a design that has a door on the side for easy cleaning between breeding seasons. It had a latch and hook to secure it when not in use.
I cut a three inch hole in the front of it. Pretty big hole but needed for Kestrels. I secured the walls with exterior 2 1/2 screws.
The latch was tight and maybe I put the hook eye too far out. But it still latches, just had to bend the hook eye a little.
The roof has a few inch overhang giving some shelter from the rain. Planning on adding some caulk to where the back board meets the roof.
I notched the corners so if water did enter it can then exit as well. And will help the box breathe a little. Theres also a little space between the wall tops and the roof. It helps the side door to open and it was recommended in the design for ventilation.
The bird house has a raised floor to help keep the home dry. It's a little over an inch up into the home.
This home was built with one 1" x 10" x 10' pine board. And then used a few exterior screws, 2 nails for a hinge. And had to buy a 3" hole saw. Next up is to secure it to a pole and get it up 10'-15' in the air within a month so it's ready for Kestrel breeding season.
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That will be perfect housing for kestrels! And spot on with a solitary pole nice and high they will feel safe nesting there! Good luck and great job!
Ah good, I followed a guide by "The Wildlife center of Virginia".
Ill post updates when its up on the pole, thanks alot!
Are you going to build more and attach them to trees around your property?
We have a lot of birds around our neighborhood. I wish we could put some in the woods behind our house. Sadly, it's not our property; it's just wild woods on property owned by someone who lives in Florida. We can't even do anything about the poison ivy that keeps encroaching from the woods into our yard. The only thing we've been able to do is to get permission to cut back the tree branches that were weighing down on our fence.
I live on one acre so I do not have enough property for multiple Kestrel homes. If I wanted more than one I would need to place them a half mile apart as they are territorial.
Im building a bat house too, and maybe if I can build an Owl house that would be cool too. Hard to say if an Owl and Kestrel home only a few hundred feet from each other will be an issue or not.
Ah damn that really sucks, im constantly pulling up poison ivy. I find the saplings in the summer and try to stay on top of them. Hope the landowner comes to their senses and lets you clear it out.
My husband happened across a formula online that kills poison ivy. I don't know the specific ratios, but it's a vinegar and liquid soap formula. Of course, it kills all the ground vegetation you put it on – grass, weeds, and all. But, if you dump it on the poison ivy roots, the plant dies all along the vines; it just turns into a burned-brown looking mass.
Great handiwork looks real good I hope the Kestrels Liekit and move in
Thanks alot I hope they do too
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That's a really interesting idea. I've used ladybugs before to help keep aphids and such off my veggies, and I definitely really support the "all natural" approach. Nature has a way to take care of itself, and it's awesome to see you using it!
Another great #pypt share. Thank you!
Thanks alot it should be an interesting experience for sure. Going the natural way is the goal.
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