No shit! Even Pat' agreed that this one was one of those things ye just couldn't have believed, had ye not seen it. And Pat' knew, very well, the background situation. Which I'm about to try and explain to you, in words and photo's.
The winds, here, have been quite awesome, of late. The Northerly turned to an Easterly. The easterly, having tested every sheet of tin in the county, turned Southerly, for another try. It's blowing a six, out there, as I type. But, it's been far worse. Murderously so.
Now, I have a cow shed. It's a bit bigger than the average, urban UK garden shed, of course. This thing's about thirty foot long. Probably pushing fifteen foot deep. Same high, at the back.
It used to have a Dutch Barn butted against the back wall. Running the length of the shed. Hay would have been stored there. Only, due to simple old age and dereliction, that collapsed a few years ago.
Thing is, it had this three or four foot high skirt of corrugated iron where the side of the barn butted to the cow shed. And, when the barn dropped, this skirting broke in two and laid on the asbestos roof of the cow shed.
Amazingly, it didn't crash through it and actually caused only a minor bit of leaking.
I hope that shot's clear enough? That's the roof of the shed, with half the skirt laying on it. The far corner's still attached to the upright it was fixed to.
Here it is from the other side of the shed. See how close it is to my starling nest boxes? I've been meaning to get it brought down. But, it's a fucker of a job in 'winter' ~ winds and rain 'n all. Not to mention tractors chewing the paddock up.
Come 'summer'? Starlings are long since back in residence in those boxes and I don't want to disturb them! What's a man to do?!
Well, in the case of this ones twin, on the right side of this skirt? That's easy. Just sit back and await the Leitrim Miracle! Take a fucking look at This ....!
Would ye fucking believe that?!? I barely could! Pat' was completely amazed at it! That's about fifteen foot of corrugated iron skirting. It's been picked up by a south wind.
It's been lifted on that same wind. Then, miraculously, it's been fucking Thrown off the roof ..... Missing a row of four starling nest boxes hung directly beneath it on that wall!!!
Here's another view of it. How this load of scrap and rotten timber ever missed those nest boxes is just mind boggling. Just thank fuck it did!
Now, I really Must get the other one sorted out, safely. I consider this The Gypsys Warning. Can't go expecting a second miracle.
Afternoon Mucker,
ReplyDeleteTop luck that at least the starlings aren't homeless.
Where abouts do starlings nest if not in boxes as the last few days I've seen some gathering materials in the garden.
If I was to put some up at the back of a single garage next year how many could I put up?
Cheers
BBEjit
Sorry about the delay there, mate. I was out. Planning more nest boxes! :D
ReplyDeleteFound places for four more tit boxes ~ which I have ready and waiting. Then, Nolel's cow shed can take four more. I'll have to make those tomorrow and rush them out there.
Starlings without boxes? Hole in a tree is their natural site. But, around man? They like getting behind rotted out fascias and stuff.
Generally speaking, the higher the better suits them. (Or, maybe that's because most fascias Are that high?) But, I've had them nest here, at six foot!
And this illustrates my point perfectly, see? They had no where else to go. Nested in my roof at six foot. Now, I'm going to repair all that fascia.
Anyone else did that and the birds would be homeless. Mine won't though. Because they abandoned that third rate site the moment I put up first class boxes!
Back of a single garage? Three. Possibly squeeze four in. Only, put them up now! Why sit on ye hands? I've literally seen a pair in the tree. Made them a box, there and then. They were investigating that box as I walked away and took it over. All inside a couple of hours!
You need to join the Nest Boxes Group, on Yahoo. PM me at Jims and I'll give ye the link.