Just came across this. Their web site is Here.
Always had a soft spot for sparrows. Reached a pitch of obsession, about a decade ago, where I heard of the existence of a green type, found in Viet Nam. I was just about ready to jump on a plane and go out there, just to see one!
Anyway, as that site'll explain to ye, if ye interested; House Sparrows have had a shit time of it for some years now. We still haven't pinned down quite why. It's a fucker.
Best, it seems, we can do is to feed them and offer them places to nest and rear their young.
To this end, there's developed a newer fashion for what's called " Sparrow Terraces ". These are, basically, a single box with three compartments. Each having its own entry hole.
They're a bit of a PITA to make. Commercially available ones are of varying quality. (Total crap to mediocre) They also cost a small fortune for what ye get.
Fuck all that. I make my own boxes. I'm also making them for the local towns 'Community Committee' type outfit. They buy me a few planks. I swiftly knock them up all the nest boxes we can find a place for.
I was making a couple a day, for myself. Today, Dean O' fixed my power saw for me ~ I asked him; Did he walk on water too?! ~ and I thus managed to whack out seven boxes, in one, short, afternoon!
Here's my House Sparrow boxes, ready and awaiting:
See? And I can add more, as the need arises. All having front facing holes means I don't need a two foot gap between each 'end' box. Why waste that space, like row of 'Terraces' would?
Anyway, yeppers, I'm a bit obsessive about nest boxes. Now that I've finally got the hang of my own 'new' area, I've started putting boxes up.
To help me keep track of my own activities ~ and share with anyone else interested ~ I've opened a Yahoo 'Group'. Nest Boxes.
It's as much intended as a personal journal / calendar as anything. But, if anyone wants to learn more about Nest Boxes, or record and share their own experiences? Great! Feel free to join up and in.
I'm currently working on a photographic guide to how I build a basic box. I'd hope to have that up there within a week of now.
Meanwhile, I've slung up some 'Articles' on the various different boxes, for different birds. Few photo's of some of my own boxes, as they are, out there right now.
Anyway, this isn't an advert for the 'Group'. It's there, primarily, to store my own records. But, if ye'd like to see what I'm up to, in that department? Maybe talk about and adopt some ideas? Share ye own stuff there? Be my guest.
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