Date: 5/13/25 3:20 am From: Alfred Maley <alfredmaley...> Subject: [NHBirds] Jump Day, Bear-proof Posts
Yesterday, May 12, was Jump Day for the first of two Wood Duck nests in the
yard this year - 12 insufferably cute ducklings made it safely and headed
off with their mother to the Sawmill Swamp, several hundred yards away.
Bear-proof Posts
I’ve placed duck boxes, the ratla, and bat boxes on 4x4 p.t. posts,
available from any lumber supply store. The trick is how to anchor them so
they won’t fall over and yet can be removed if necessary for cleaning. I
use 8x8 full chimney blocks to start with, place a PVC deck post sleeve
(available from HD) in the center of the hole in the chimney block and then
fill in around it with concrete. The post can then be inserted in the
sleeve (and removed) easily. There are subtle variations on this scheme to
account for drainage and how to flash the post with aluminum, etc. that
can easily be described with photos.
The highest post so far was a 20 foot post set in four stacked chimney
blocks that can easily support a ladder propped against it.
