Donation from Wilbraham Junior Women's Club

I received a donation from Wilbraham Junior Women's Club the other day! That was so nice and generous of them!

 

 

New Concept Art for Birdhouse

I added some new updated concept art to my proposals. I did a lot of research on the design and will make a little scale model to show the builder to discuss any structural details.

New concept art with shingles and detail

Cutaway view showing how the birdhouse comes apart for cleaning. Note the 2 giant penthouse suites up top!



Proposed new location for birdhouse away from the waterline

Sketching ideas!

Another letter of support!

Thank you to the Wilbraham Department of Public Works for their wonderful letter of support!

Birds Nesting other then Purple Martins

I was granted further support and approval from the Department of Public Works in Wilbraham MA the other day. Hurray!

I was asked a really good question- "What if Purple Martins don't want to nest there?"

Good question! I found an answer!

"Because purple martins have become accustomed to and dependent on artificial nesting sites over centuries of association with humans, anyone putting up purple martin houses must be prepared to monitor those houses to keep them suitable. Both European starlings and house sparrows can aggressively compete with purple martins for nesting sites, and constant checking of available houses is necessary to remove unwanted nests and give the purple martins better opportunities to thrive."

(Source: http://birding.about.com/od/birdhouses/a/purplemartinhouses.htm by Melissa Mayntz)

Melissa Mayntz has been birding for more than 20 years and is developing her urban backyard into a certified bird wildlife habitat.  Melissa's birding has taken her from the Midwest to the Southeast to the West and internationally to Mexico and the Caribbean. She has observed hundreds of bird species and has been published in Bird Watcher's Digest.To support bird conservation, Melissa is a member of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Nature Conservancy, and the National Audubon Society."

When I was little I remember a bunch of different birds nesting together. I thought it was a nice community. I hope they weren't competing for space! I hope they can all get along!

  

Bailey visits the pond

 I took my mom and puppy Bailey to see the pond and he really had fun with the leaves!



Paint Donated! Thanks Ecos Paints!

Special thanks to Ecos Paints for their donation of white and a gorgeous colonial blue eco-friendly paint! I promised them photos and updates as soon as the Birdhouse is up in April 2014!

 

The company sends you these nifty color swatches you chose! I liked the CARR CURRENT 0598

 

http://www.ecospaints.net/

 

Ecos Paints is a manufacturer of water based organic paints and varnishes. At ECOS Paints, we created paints, varnishes, and other finishes that genuinely contain zero VOCs. Made in sunny Spartanburg, South Carolina, we are the world's best selling water based, VOC Free paint. Solvent-free, Glycol-free, Eco-friendly, Allergy-safe finishes. Totally free of all pesticides, herbicides and toxins.

• 12,500 times purer than paints with less than 5gm per liter (0.5%) of VOCs (yes, more than twelve thousand times better!)
• Ultimate Purity: VOC Free, Glycol Free, Solvent Free, Odor Free
• No dubious chemicals: EN71 compliant
• All ingredients declared
• Non Yellowing and Entirely Non-Toxic
• Minimize Your Carbon Footprint : Act on CO₂
• Same Day Shipping (normally)

Safe for Allergy, Asthma, Chemical Sensitivities

Contains:

• Water, natural plus manufactured binders (all water-based, all non-toxic)
• Pigments (yellow ochre, red ochre, various - all non toxic)
• Mineral fillers - limestone, clays (non-toxic)
• Thickeners & builders - wood cellulose & resinous (all non-toxic)
• White pigment - titanium dioxide (food grade - non-toxic)
• Levelers (all non-toxic)
• Waxes & texture powders (all non-toxic)

Does not Contain:

• Solvents and white spirit, turpentine, terpenes, ethereal oils, VOC'S glycols, coalescents,
• Animal products
• Heavy metals, - lead, cadmium, mercury etc ECOS is EN71 compliant
• Formaldehyde and formaldehyde donors, acrolein
• Vinyl chloride
• Phthalates
• APEOs.
• Acrylic Softeners

Commitment to Environment
            We use containers which are 100% post-consumer recycled, and 100% recyclable. Our shipping boxes are also recycled and recyclable. We use recycled materials wherever possible and recycle whatever we can. Energy usage is kept to a minimum and we even recycle our processing water. We strongly encourage our clients, friends and neighbors to do the same. 
            
            The use of paints worldwide emitted something in the order of 20 - 25 million tonnes of VOCs into the atmosphere last year* and despite measures and legislation to reduce this problem, will continue to do so for the forseeable future, year on year. By using VOC-free paints, you are helping to do your bit to save the planet, reduce air pollution, and reduce this needless waste of our valuable finite resources

Egret seen at Pond!

Egret seen at Pond! Oct. 1, 2013. I have never seen an Egret there!

So exciting!

 

 

First Volunteer On Board!

 

Volunteer "Team Bird"

 

I will need help digging the hole for the post and keeping it in place while the Quickrete hardens sometime in April 2014. I will also need help posting flyers for the actual "Opening Ceremony" in April for the unveiling. 

 

I have my first official volunteer!

Thanks Andy!

 

If anyone else wants in on "Team Bird" and added to the mailing list let me know. If you email me I can send you this badge for your social media!

Purple Martin Bird

This is the type of bird I am hoping the birdhouse will attract! This is a Purple Martin- Isn't the bird beautiful?

Update! Project Greenlighted! Logo Created!

UPDATE! EXCITING NEWS!

After my presentation to the Wilbraham Conservation Committee they green lighted the project, gave me full support and recommended grants and local organizations to pursue to fund the project. I was excited they made a decision so quickly and were impressed by my research.

Here are some logo variations I made for upcoming flyers I will be posting around town and for the letterhead and cover for my proposal.

 

Funding and Budget for Project

Funding:

I am kindly asking the Wilbraham Conservation Commission to allow the allocation of funds for the Birdhouse project in the sum of $900.00 for materials, labor and advertising. The birdhouse will be built in the winter to be ready for the spring. I will approach various companies, non-profits and private individuals in the area that support community and environmental projects.

Materials:

Cedar wood …………………………………………...$100.00

Cedar Shingles…………………………………………$10.00

Cedar Post 6” x 6” x 12’……………………………….$40.00

Quickrete……………………………………………….$10.00

Cedar Seal……………………………………………...$15.00

Screws ………...……………………………………….$15.00

Latch Hinges…………………………………………...$10.00

Eco Friendly Paint……………………………………...$50.00

Engraved plates………………………………………...$30.00

Labor:

Building - 40 hrs. x $15/hr ……………………………..$600.00

Painting- 6 hrs. $15/hr…………………………………..$90.00

Advertising Dedication Event:

Photocopies of flyer…………………………………….$30.00

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      SubTotal:………………………………………….........$1000.00

      Donations:

Eco Friendly Paint……………………………………...- $50.00

Women’s Junior League of Wilbraham………………..- $50.00

TOTAL………………………………………………….$900.00

Do you want to volunteer to dig a hole and hold the new post while the Quickrete (fast acting concrete) dries?

Please contact me Danielle at Dldesmar@hotmail.com or message below!

Benefits to Town and Action Plan for Project

Benefits to town and neighborhood now and future:

The new birdhouse would benefit the park greatly and attract visitors. Purple Martins are now rare in this area. Many birds were dispersed by the 2011 tornado and microburst. The new bird house would make the park a more desirable meeting spot for hiking clubs and bird watchers and add beauty to the area. Volunteers on Bruuer Avenue and Eagle Scout members from troop 359 will clean out the nests and it will be cared for by future generations. The nesting boxes will be numbered so if any volunteers or scientists want to use it for research projects it will be beneficial. They would be able to track how many birds and what species have been nesting that would be available to them.  A free website/blog will be put up to update people on the project progress, birds returning and tracking how many.

Action Plan:

I am asking Permission to dig a hole for the post and place a new bird house community on top in a better location to be seen and appreciated by all in Wilbraham. The post and new house will be moved into a new location in the sun closer to the flag pole clear of trees and shrubs. Birds and bats can co-exist nicely so the current bat houses pose no concern. I recommend the Wilbraham Conservation Committee leave up the original birdhouse as it might be home to squirrels and rodents. The tree next to it will not disturbed or cut down. Poison Ivy is also abundant in the area around the post.

The new birdhouse will be built by Wilbraham and Bruuer Avenue resident Jim McLaren. There will be improvements on the old design. The new one can be cleaned out every year to encourage the Purple Martins to come back. The approximate dimensions will be 3’L x 2’W x 2’H. It will have 22 rooms with a sturdy roof that is water and mildew resistant. The color will be primarily white with colonial blue trim to match the historical neighborhood. The birdhouse will not pose a problem to the lawnmower and a small radius of long grass around the base would be visually appealing.

 

                                    Proposed new location away from trees and water rise line

                                   Image from the Purple Martin Conservation Association
                                                  http://purplemartin.org/main/mgt.html

                                           Bruuer Pond unusually high water level in Spring of 2000

Dedication:

A dedication day would be in April when the birds start nesting. Flyers will be posted in local shops designed by myself, an experienced graphic designer donating my own time to invite the entire town. I plan on having a ribbon cutting ceremony for the special event.
 

There will be an engraved plate at eye level on the post to say: Dedicated to the Future Generation of Nature Lovers (date)

-Extraction of proposal paper to Wilbraham Conservation Committee September 23, 2013

State of Birdhouse Now in 2013

                
                       I am requesting to have the birdhouse rebuilt and mounted on a post in a new location free from vegetation and easier for the birds to access. I was raised in Wilbraham since birth in the same house behind the pond. I recently moved back to Wilbraham after being away for almost 9 years and was disheartened to see the birdhouse falling apart. This birdhouse/apartment was my favorite part of the pond and the subject of many Girl Scout projects in my youth.  I am asking the committee for permission to start this project and to help allocate the funds of $900.00 for the benefit of the neighborhood and town for future generations of nature lovers. The birdhouse will be built by a local woodworker and placed at the pond  in April 2015 just in time for nesting season.

-Extraction of proposal paper to Wilbraham Conservation Committee September 23, 2013

History of Birdhouse/Condo at Sevey Park at Bruuer Pond

 

In Sevey Park at Bruuer Pond on Main Street in Wilbraham, MA there is a large, white birdhouse built on or before 1976 that has 36 rooms for birds, mostly for Eastern Purple Martins. Because of its age, it added historical value to the park. This birdhouse has fallen into disarray and poor shape. It is rotten through, is being overtaken by plants and the roof has caved in.

-Extraction of proposal paper to Wilbraham Conservation Committee September 23, 2013

 

Do any residents of Wilbraham know anything more about this birdhouse?

Perhaps the original builder?

Who put it up?

Any other photos?

Any awesome birds seen there?

Please email Danielle at Dldesmar@hotmail.com or post a comment below!