Making our PMs go postal (in a good way)

[Guest]

The question first: Why is it that I have never seen, nor heard of, someone using an inexpensive metal mail box as an option for PM nesting? Is it illegal in the US to modify a mailbox for other purposes?

The reason I ask is that during a recent trip to one of our nearby super-mega hardware stores, I was struck by the low cost (~ $6.00) and sturdy construction of some of the smaller mailboxes. It would not take long to convert a mailbox into a very nice PM...gourd-thing. Postgourd?

Has anyone ever done something like this before?

Thanks.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Yes, I have seen many photos of those, they make very good martin house, and they are kinda cute, I think so at least...If you need martins, you can put up the flag..smile

[Guest]

Here is a picuture of a Purple Martin houses made out of mailboxes. Here's the website where I found it.


Mounted in clusters, Tom's inexpensive mailbox martin houses are equipped with plastic nest cups (right) and recessed, starling-proof entrance holes (left). The mailbox door permits easy checking of martin nests.

[Al Denton]

Yes, like Emil says. I've seen really nice setups and racks using mailboxes posted here before. I'd like to use some myself someday. My flags would be in the up position

[e p jones]

Along the St. Lawrence seaway in Brockville, Ontario, we had PMs nesting in an unused plastic "tube" normally used for weekly newspaper delivery. No modification at all; no problem!

[Joe Zorn]

You know, on occasion, I have seen mail boxes up very high, +10 ft or more, with "AIR MAIL" printed on the sides.

I just thought it was someone's joke on the Post Office.

Good Idea!!

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies, and I agree, I think a mailbox will be my next project, instead of buying a gourd.