Gilbertson PVC nestboxes

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  • #27640
    TimC
    Participant

      My first year as a Bluebird Landlord I stuck with traditional Gilwood, and Gilbertson wood designs and had good results. After attending the Michigan Bluebird Soc. gathering in Ann Arbor and seeing all the PVC boxes they were seliing I made 26 Gilbertson PVC nestboxes. I have given a few away and located nine PVC boxes on my bluebird trails; pairing them with wood boxes. I have eight more to locate.

      Last spring I didn’t have a bluebird siting until May 16 and then things heated up. So it’s early. I don’t have a firm opinion about the PVC versions but the birds seem to be avoiding them. I have one pair of Chickadees in a PVC box. That leaves nothing but a few pieces of grass in the other eight. Tree Swallows seem real curious about them but so far have not moved in.

      Anyone else have experience with the PVC versions? I know I need to be patient. Things will begin to heat up real soon; today it’s 82 degrees. That’s almost unbearable to this northerner.

      Tim C. WI/MI border.

      #27641
      tamsea
      Moderator

        Hey Tim.
        I love traditional Gilwood boxes. And my bluebirds love, love, love them. They are always the ones they choose first. I wish I could find someone that sells the Gilwood.
        I’m not a fan of PVC boxes. I have one. The only bird that uses it is TRES. I feel they are too small and I don’t like how I have to disconnect the entire PVC to do nest checks. And if I need to replace the nest for some reason it’s hard to do. Or even removing a dead baby is hard.

        Tammy

        #27642
        TimC
        Participant

          Yup. I’m a bit partial to the wood boxes as well Tammy.

          I don’t know if I’ll build any more PVC designs. It depends how the nesting season goes. The new design of PVC box that MBS had is much improved over earlier plans I’ve seen. And I built the second batch of 14 PVC boxes based on the newer design. I’m not sure when the design changed but I’m thinking in the past couple years. There are still plans available for the early version.

          Give some thought to getting a cheap wi-fi endoscope for monitoring nests. You’ll see everything you want to see with very little intrusion into the birds nesting world. I occasionally open the boxes if needed, but, I almost always just take a five second peek inside with the endoscope, snap a photo or video if I see something cool, and back away from the nest box to jot down any notes I want to take. The endoscope works wirelessly with a smart phone and the photos are stored in my normal gallery of photos. I’m doing a bunch of boxes and it makes it a quick task to check them all.

          Tim C. WI/MI border.

          #27643
          TimC
          Participant

            Tammy, which Gilwood do you like? There’s what I think they call the “slot box” which has a wall to wall opening on the front top. The other box has a U shaped, oversize entrance with a wire to restrict Starlings and such.

            Tim C. WI/MI border.

            #27650
            tamsea
            Moderator

              The U shaped. My bluebirds love those things!!! But I have 3 slot boxes on my trail made by someone at the Nebraska Bluebird Society (I think, I can’t remember now) and bluebird on my trail choose those first every year!

              Tammy

              #27654
              TimC
              Participant

                I’ve built a number of the Gilbertson U boxes. Yes they seem to like them. I’ll try some slot boxes next time I decide to make some sawdust. I get scrap lumber from a saw mill down the road. So far it’s free. Free is good!

                • This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by TimC.

                Tim C. WI/MI border.

                #27657
                TimC
                Participant

                  My first successful PVC nest box…
                  Last evening
                  Mom sitting on her eggs last night

                  Yesterday morning
                  Yesterday morning... six eggs!

                  • This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by TimC.
                  • This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by TimC.

                  Tim C. WI/MI border.

                  #27662
                  blue diamonds
                  Participant

                    Nice pictures! Six eggs is fantastic. I think your PVC box is a big hit. I have never used one, but the biggest concern I have heard is they are a little tight. Seems like the birds like them. Good luck.

                    Judy – Michigan

                    #27664
                    TimC
                    Participant

                      Thanks.

                      The MI Bluebird Soc. was really pushing the Gilbertson pvc boxes. From what I saw displayed there were as many pvc boxes as wood.

                      It’s my first experience with the pvc version. I was skeptical when I first saw them. Right now, the six eggs may say something about space requirements. As one speaker at the MBS Fest said, “As soon as you think you have Bluebirds figured out they throw you a curve”.

                      Tim C. WI/MI border.

                      #27726
                      tamsea
                      Moderator

                        @Judy I agree they are really too small but it seems to work OK.
                        @ Tim. Love your photos. Endoscope is a cool tool. I mentioned reasons why I like to have my eyes on the birds in another post so you can read that but when they are bigger they tuck themselves besides and under each other and so visually counting them is hard.
                        REally nice photos!

                        Tammy

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