Bob Buskas bungalow

scandia · Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:37 pm

Does anyone know how heavy they are? I am thinking about slowly phaseing out my gourds. Because of the colder weather in Minnesota and it would be nice to have more cavities with nest trays as my colony gets bigger the gourds are proving to be more work than something with a nest tray ( for nest changes ). Right now I have 2 t-14's each have 4 gourds under them, 1 ss 24 and one 12xl with mixed gourds troyer horizontals super gourds with troyer tunnels and some excluder gourds. I have the horizontal stainless steel arms on the 12xl I wonder if i could put the bungalows on that or if it would be to much weight?

Don · Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:58 am

I have something similar as shown in the picture. They fill every year. The tube houses are made of sewer pipe and are easier to clean. This design was publixhed recently in the Update. I use scrap rug for the nest insert. They are cheap, easy to clean, and easily replaced.

Bob Buskas · Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:58 am

The Bungalows with the nest tray built out of 1/2 inch ply wood weigh about 6 pounds. So a dozen Bungalows are pretty much the same weight as a North Star 12 compartment house. Personally I don't worry about the extra weight over gourds. I just build the pole and winch hangers a bit heavier. I use a 2 1/2 inch x 1/8 inch wall square tubing for the pole, and 1/2 inch all thread rod for the hangers. I have had some very bad wind storms with hail here over the years, and all stood well. Actually, the Bungalows sway less than gourds in the wind, another plus in my opinion. The winch raises and lowers them easily. The Martins love them. I like the nest trays....... so easy to manage. I think you could lighten them more if you were to build them out of cedar. Too expensive here.

scandia · Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:31 pm

Bob thanks for the reply I do have a pile of cedar that my brother brought back from washington state when he was coming back with an empty truck. Its 3/4" thick rough on one side I have access to a planer so I could plane it down or leave it thicker for extra insulation? I will be ordering your plans soon?

Bob Buskas · Thu Dec 22, 2011 10:27 pm

Right on.......plane it down or maybe try both ways, thats what I always do. Can't learn anything if you don't experiment a bit. Please keep us posted on how things turn out. I will look forward to your order in the mail and will help out as best I can. Sounds like fun

DAVE · Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:02 pm

I got plans from Bob about 2 years ago, they are great. I built mine out of cedar planned to half inch .Got some one eighth ply wood from Hobby shop for nest boxes. Mine weight just under four pounds. My only problem is the wind pushes then around quite violently and the Martins have a rough time landing. Also the Starlings like them to, but they can't get in. But do fight with the Martins. The Martins always WIN.

bwenger · Fri Dec 23, 2011 10:07 pm

Looks like you have a nice colony started for Minnesota. Hopefully some of your birds will start other colonies and get that population back up.

Good luck in 2012.

Bill

scandia · Sun Dec 25, 2011 2:40 pm

Bob I know about trying more than one way I built my own gourd rack a few years ago. I found out i would have saved money buying one already manufactured? but it was a little self satisfaction when it was done. That gourd rack has been retired now only used 4 years reason was it had a round pole and I could not lower it during bad storms I always worried about it blowing over. Now I have learned buying plans to build something some one else has already perfected is the way to go and I still get to build something

Dave thanks for the tip lighter the better. Did you figure out a way to keep them from swinging so violently maybe they could be mounted differently?

bwenger the martin population in minnesota needs a lot of work. I have seen improvements in the last 4 years I have worked with 4 other colonies with great success 2 were new colonies that were started one public site that has a t-14 that was almost full this year in its 3rd year. and another at a private residence that is in its second year of having martins. Also worked with 2 existing colonies that I converted to starling proof entrances that are doing great.

This work has been done as a member of the mn purple martin working group led by Kelly Applegate. He was my mentor that I found through the pmca on the mentors page. he helped me start my colony in 07. So now I can help other people. my goal is to help start one new colony in my area a year. So thanks go to the PMCA and Kelly Applegate.

bwenger · Sun Dec 25, 2011 6:22 pm

That's good to hear about your colonies. One colony per year ia an aggressive goal, but if the weather stays good, and you can do some supplemental feeding when conditions are necessary, it could be done.

Kelly's a good guy, and very knowledgeble about martins, so continue to get members to follow his instructins, and to join the MN Martin Association.

Good luck in 2012.

Bill[/list]

barry resvick · Wed Mar 14, 2012 12:11 am

Hi Scandia!
i recently picked up some of Bobs Plans as i live just a couple hundred miles south of his farm.If i can some day manage to get my present condo filled with tenants then for sure i will be building his bungalow.They would probably end up being a little heavier then the gourds but iv seen them and iv never seen anything that was easier to do a nest change or nest check on.The slide out trays are the cats meow.A neighbor and myself are going to put some together this summer.Bob has a super colony and knows his stuff.If your looking for a good B&B feeder,check his out.Hes even figured out how to keep the robins out.