Turkey on the Deck and Recycling a Mailbox
Well, the shot below is not exactly what one would want to see...
I don't know... It just seems like turkeys are such large and intimidating animals. But that might just be me.
Beyond that, what do you do with a mailbox that has twice suffered the insult of a town snow plow?
Throw it out??? Naw! We recycle... We'll make a birdhouse out of the carnage... I'll take the thing apart, wire-brush, re-paint, and use joinery biscuits and water-proof glue to fix the broken bottom. Sure, I'll have to pound on the metal a bit, and punch a bunch of ventilation holes. But in the end it will make for a fine avian domain. In general, I'm thinking about drilling a small access in the door of the box for the birds, and using epoxy to secure a little wooden perch on the door face. We could use stout cable ties to close the thing shut (and still allow for easy cleaning when the time comes). Finally, we'll mount the house in just the right direction on a 10' or 15' 4X4 or 4X6. It may look funky, but I'll bet you dimes to donuts that the birds are going to love it.
Ahhh... Happy birds and befuddled neighbors... What could be better?
See you by the feeders,
CapeCodAlan
Cornell Ornithology Laboratory: Inside Birding
Cornell Ornithology Laboratory: All About Birding
Comments
Last I heard, it is not wise to attach a perch to a birdhouse because other birds could alight and do damage to baby birds.
Maybe that has changed lately.
Posted by: Josie | March 4, 2010 11:09 PM
Hi Josie,
First, thank you for your comment.
As for the perch, I have heard the same thing. My concern is that the edge of the thin metal will cut the bird's toes... (Perhaps a thin strip of wood on the inside?) Truth be told, the mailbox is so deep that the birds will probably nest far from the small opening, so large predators will not be able to reach the young.
Thanks again,
CCA
Posted by: CapeCodAlan | March 5, 2010 1:29 PM
the turkey is familiar here on our little acre+located foothills of the sierra nevada-and my beatup mailbox is painted yellow,planted with tulips planted on a cedar stump out by the old pump house.we use alot of recycled,discarded pails washtubs ect, great results. many birds, deer,squirrels,skunk on rare visits.now and then a mountain lion,just enough to remind us creatures were here first.! enjoyed your blog very much-felt as a kindred spirit!
Posted by: galajean | March 5, 2010 4:32 PM
Josie & CCA
The National Park Service has published several good articles on birdhouse design criteria. Among the advice is not to provide perches, as you suggested.
However, I'm yet to "prove" that advice true, and this coming Spring season, I intend to test it.
As for the kind and sensitive concern for tender bird's feet to sharp metal, I don't think Allen needs to worry about it too much.
Waiting the outcome of the upcoming Spring mating season. My birds, here in Florida, have already started the beginning of the mating season. Keep us informed on what you are doing and the results. I've got birdhouse experiments out in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida. This will be a very important season for me. So, your information will also be very important, starting now.
Cheers,
Harry "Gipper" Morris
Posted by: Harry "Gipper" Morris | March 6, 2010 12:29 PM