Just run across this picture of bird houses in the air

[Smallpatch]

and thought if any one is thinking of wanting bird houses up in the air then this is great if you can weld.  This type of set up makes cleaning and repairing the bird houses very easy to bring them down to the ground for maintenance instead of falling off a ladder like you might do.

 These are oil field pipe which is 1/4" thickness walls of both the 2 3/8" and also the 3 1/2"  walls which is the common sizes and very useful for a welder for everything I have here except the house was made with oil field pipe as the back bones of my dock, the dock walkways, the garage, the shop and the three decks around the house is all pipe as the starting points.

  The break over pole is about 20 foot long. You can see the bolt in the middle of the smaller pipe and  an extra pipe has been added down at the bottom of the swinging pipe to offset the weight of the platform and the bird houses on the top so when ready to lower the houses to the ground simply take out the bolt through the pipe down at the bottom after you have attached a rope to that end so you can gently let out some rope till  the houses touch the ground.  I had installed a large I beam on top of the retaining wall when we first moved herea few feet back from the water and this is what I welded the shorter large pipe to for the foundation of said breakover set up...

[HandyDan]

I like it!  I guess you just push it over into the lake to wash it?

[HandyDan]

I always had the idea of using a flywheel and starter gear from a car to make a crank mechanism to stand one of those up.  Never did though.

[Grandpadave52]

Thanks Patch. I know a few people in our area that have similar Martin house designs. Not sure of the pipe they used. Occasionally oil field pipe can be had locally but obviously not as abundant as in Texas. Reminds me, I need to get my Oriole feed station cleaned and put back out. Also need to try to get a couple Bluebird houses made and up this year. Finch and hummingbird feeders need a good cleaning. Hummingbirds arrive here in about a month.

[Smallpatch]

Humming birds get here about the middle of March so we put the feeders out a week before that!

 

I had 8 of these 8 room Martin houses up not long after we moved here. All it takes for the Martins so stay is have high up houses with glide paths for the young to jump out with no bushes or trees in the way for they learn to fly in that one and only first time out of the box, nest. The only other two things for them to stay each year is to have water, a lake or stream close by and lot of insects.

  If you have red birds and or tit mouses and a few finches in your area get some of the clear plastic cookie jars and hang them under an awning or porch and keep a supply of the black sun flower seeds as their feed. This is about all we get out of the plastic thingies and a few white wing doves but they are so dumb they can't find their way out the top once they are in there so a little help is advised to tip[ the thing over and thats about the only way out for them....It did take about 15 years for a female red bird to go in the feeders but after the first one went in and out now they feed out of them like their mates do. Use to the males had to feed the females as they would stand on the edge of the plastic jug but never go in!

  
The solid black male shows up first and looks the area over for a week or so then leaves and goes and gets his two tone black and grey mate and comes back in a few days. They stay until their young are raised then before summer is over they disappear.. The swallows which competes for the flying insects stays till late in the fall just before it freezes then leaves. 

  Hardly ever do we see any other birds going in and eating the black sun flower seeds. We do throw regular seed feed out on the ground for the other birds.

 Dan this is a little more fool proof than having to match up gears or things. You do have to tie a rope on to the bottom section for it is built so the bird houses are heavier and will swap ends so the rope slows things down. 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Smallpatch

[HandyDan]

3 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

Dan this is a little more fool proof than having to match up gears or things. You do have to tie a rope on to the bottom section for it is built so the bird houses are heavier and will swap ends so the rope slows things down.

 

Yeah your pivot point is up there on the pole.  I was thinking on the line of this style the sometimes use for flag poles.  Lining the gears up wouldn't be too hard.

 

[Smallpatch]

You are right but there is only a nut and bolt and spacer involved on this type. The oil field pipe is a tempered type and is hard to drill but can be done.

[Grandpadave52]

The humming birds typically show up here from May 10th to the 15th. Like you we try to have feeders ready about a week ahead. Last spring was warmer than usual. They got here around the 5th.

 

As for Redbirds (Cardinals), we have a pair ( male & female) that stay year around. I generally just feed them on the ground. Great idea on your feeder but here with all the rain or snow it would either be full of water or frozen. I do have a couple above ground stations they will use but seem to prefer feeding off the ground. Couldn't believe the price of black-oil Sunflower seeds. Three months ago, $16 for 40lb bag and that was up $2+/bag from last year. Last week, $22/bag. Blue Jay's like them too plus peanuts in the shell.

 

Mockingbirds showed up over the weekend so they'll soon be starting their never ceasing mating calls. I've seen a few Kildeer recently too. Robin's were late this year; almost mid March.

 

Here the nusinace birds are the Eastern Starling. Piranhas of the bird world. Eat everything in sight. Turtledoves are another. They are just lazy and not too bright either. We only get the Orioles for a month of two depending on how quick the heat and humidity begin. Usually have a few Indigo Buntings about the same time. Smaller than the Yellow Finches; brilliant blue in color. Often mistakenly call "blue birds." Blue birds are much larger plus don't hang out with others at the feeders. They prefer the open field areas and fence rows. Nesting houses on a fence post is best, but you have to have a hundred yards or so between them. Barn swallows arrive mid to late may. Pesky with their mud nests, but usually keep me company when I mow. Last, although a mammal is the 2-4 brown bats that hang around most summers. Plenty of mosquitoes for them and swallows to feed on.

[Smallpatch]

Dave you are lucky the black seed is 24.98 for 40 lbs at Walmart today and some brands are higher at same place.

[John Morris]

Moved from Free For All to Patio and Outdoors.

[Grandpadave52]

4 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

Dave you are lucky the black seed is 24.98 for 40 lbs at Walmart today and some brands are higher at same place.

Patch I buy mine at a farm supply store called Rural King. A chain primarily in the Midwest akin to stores like Farm & Fleet, Tractor Supply. They've always had the best prices. They'll price match if you find it cheaper somewhere else. I buy all my bird seed, cracked corn as well as suet there too. I'm not sure our Walmart carries black oil sunflower in 40 lb bags. 20 lbs is largest I'm pretty sure.

[Smallpatch]

When we moved here 22 years ago I set about of putting Martin houses up on poles and before long I had 8 houses up with 8 rooms to the house. One was built of metal and 7 were of the cheaper variety being made of plastic...Fast forward to now and only one house, the metal one is still up and in good shape but most of the Martins that were every where up in the sky have mostly gone to find metal houses.....so do as I say and forget about plastic anything outside and you will be money ahead so you can stuff it all in your casket when its time!!!????