Birds Nesting in Your Porch Awning Again?
Here is an easy, inexpensive Do-it-Yourself project that will keep you bird free for many, many years. I will show you from start to finish, how to keep birds (ususlly, House Sparrows, aka English Sparrows) from building nests in your porch awnings.
The English (House) Sparrow; the usual culprit.
fig. 17
fig. 18
House sparrows seek out human habitat. They know
there's a lot of good, sheltered spaces in and around buildings. These birds are very
aggressive towards people and other birds. Some might even call them rude and
obnoxious. They will take over any bird house
that they can fit into. The Bluebird birdhouse, is one of the House Sparrows
favorite targets, because of the size of the entrance/exit hole. Even if the
Bluebird is already nesting in the birdhouse, the House Sparrow will bully its
way in and push and or remove the beautiful Bluebirds and eggs/young from the birdhouse
and setup their own housekeeping.
Alright! You're set now. Keep in mind
that if you are even a little leery, (lets say of climbing a ladder), get someone
to help you with this worthwhile project. You will not be disappointed, and
will save a good deal of money by Doing It Yourself.
Good Luck
Ralph
Thank You
Remember; Safety Is No Accident!
fig. 1
fig. 3
The aviation type shear is probally the easiest to use (yellow handle). The
older style Wiss "tin snips" can make a very long, straight and smooth cut.
Gloves are a must when cutting and handling any sheet metal. Leather gloves
can be used also, but cotton gloves will work just fine.
Remember the old saying "measure twice, cut once".
Depending on the height of your peak/valley (minus 1/4 inch), to
the bottom of the valley, you must add an amount for the base of the sheet metal barrier
(this is where you will attach the piece to the channel with your screws).
Mine is about 4 inches, but cardboard templet I show in the 1st pic below is 5
inches high. The second picture below shows how much I cut off the templet,
about 1 inch. You want to have that straight cut bottom edge of the aluminum,
up above the bottom of the channel. The cut edge can be very sharp.
Be safe! See 2nd pic below.
fig. 9
Once you have one 30 inch piece cut out, use that piece as a templet to mark
the remaining 30 inch pieces (saves time) or continue to use your cardboard
templet.
Cut the right end last peak in half as shown below. You may have to trim off
little pieces for clearance, as I did on mine.
fig. 14a
And...
fig. 16a
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The male
The female
English house sparrows photos by
K. W. Bridges www.botany.hawaii.edu/biology101/birds/campus_birds.htm
The House Sparrow or English Sparrow as it was formerly known,
in not indigenous to North America.
It was introduced from Europe in the 1850's. They have spread across the
North American continent, and are abundant in urban and agricultural habitats.
The reason I mention a good step ladder is the fact that ladders account
for about 100 thousand injuries each year. Some people believe that ladder falls
are always the fault of the victim. Many are blamed on a lack of common sense.
OSHA research, on the other hand, concluded that 100% of ladder accidents
might be eliminated with proper attention to the application of equipment,
and the proper training of climbers. Human failure causes most ladder falls,
but the preventable error is often administrative; not the fault of the victim.
fig. 2
fig. 4
fig. 5
fig. 6
fig. 6a
If you use a pencil when you mark the aluminum sheet(on the white side), you can
erase the cut lines. If you use a marker, you will probably have to paint your
finished work.
Well, Let's Git-R-Done!
Below is a picture of my awning, where I
started on the right side. You need to measure the valleys center to center. You must measure
the distance from the peak of the awning to the bottom of the channel (height), the
awning is resting on. My valleys are on 6 inch centers. My peak to bottom of channel
measurement is about 5 inches. I am using my measurments in this information.
Yours may be different. Always measure.
fig. 7
fig. 8
Use a piece of cardboard (I use the backs of paper tablets),
and make a template of the 6 inch valley and a half (you will use halves on the
right and left ends of the awning). Leave at least a 1/4 inch
space between the actual sheet metal barrier and the awning. The gap is for ease
of installation. See below.
fig. 10
Below shows the excess cut off, about 1 inch. Remember,
these are my measurements. Yours may be different.
fig. 11
Cut a strip of aluminum sheet metal, what ever your height
is (mine is 4 inches high or wide) by 30 inches long (the aluminum piece I used
as a demo below (fig. 12) is 5 inches wide by 24 inches long). Lay the template
on the sheet metal and make an outline of the templet. Slide the templet down
to the left and mark your pieces to be cut out. So you don't get confused on
which way to cut, put an X on the part of the sheet metal that's going to be
removed.
fig. 12
fig. 13
Installing the 30 inch long pieces is pretty straight forward.
Cut out 2 or 3, 30 inch pieces. Remember, if you use a 30 inch long piece
as a templet, that piece will be your last piece to install. Start on the
left side or the right. I started on the right.
fig. 14
The second piece you install can
overlap either under or over the first piece or you can just butt the pieces
together. If you butt them together you must cut the ends very straight
for a neater appearance. Also you will use more screws.
You will probably end up needing a piece that is considerably
shorter than 30 inches. See below. You should use it in the middle somewhere.
Also, overlap each piece as this will save screws (you will lose a little bit
of length on each 30 inch piece).
fig. 15
When the job is completed it should look something like this.
fig. 16
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Thanks for stopping by. Have a Great Day!
