Go back to HOME - PVC GOURD RACKS
Go to OUTDOOR SPEAKERS
Go to WILDFLOWER MEADOW
You are now at BoVilla
**************************************
BoVilla Ventilation and Perch System
None of what I've done below is necessary to set up your BoVillas other than putting in a PVC 90 degree fitting on the top or high on the back for ventilation, especially if you already have martins. Also, using tunnels is only a preference of mine; they give more depth and protection from owls and other predators. I don't have martins yet, so I am simply trying to make them so that when/if I do get martins, I won't have to do anything to any of my various housing/gourds later, other than attach C-PVC pipe owl guards. I might be wrong, but from what I've read several times, I've concluded (right or wrong) that there's a strong possibility that martins prefer natural gourds because the male and female can both cling to the interior as a perch, especially the male at night and both when the nest is full of large babies; therefore, I am placing perches inside all my BoVillas and SuperGourds. I will also have natural gourds, but once I have martins, I plan to have only the more easily maintained plastic housing/gourds and getting rid of all my aluminum housing.
EDIT March 10, 2007 This might have been a dumb idea, and I do not recommend anyone's doing to their BoVillas what I've done below.
CLICK THE SMALL THUMBNAIL PICTURES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Great horned owl in back field on BoVilla Bovilla in front yard \ EDIT Four new additions put in mid-April, 2004
If "a picture is worth a million words" is true than the first and second ones of the great horned owl sitting on my BoVilla in my backyard field should suffice to explain why I like the BoVilla so much. There are many owls in my area, and this one has visited several times during the daytime. My BoVillas will offer the purple martins a safe place to live and raise their young. Once I get martins, I will attach a CPVC pipe with fittings to form an owl guard on each of the front perches shown below.
My favorite kind of BoVilla is the one that can have S&K Washburn tunnels added to them as well as quickly changed, interchangeable round and crescent entrances put on them by simply removing four nuts, removing the round-hole entrance, putting on the crescent entrance and replacing the four nuts. Below you will see how an owl guard can be added quickly to the front also by using the same CPVC pipe/perch and CPVC fittings. The BoVilla itself is 8"X11"; with the tunnel added it becomes 8"X14" + another inch for the rain-cover top on the entrance plate (see third picture up from bottom of this page).
A second kind of BoVilla that is manufactured has both a round hole and a crescent already cut into the front. You simply plug up the hole that you don't want the purple martin to use; however, you cannot add tunnels to them. A friend of mine has a set of eight of them, and I am adding the vent/perch system to hers also. You can see them in the background of some of the pictures. She also has a set of eight of the kind I especially like. They now have tunnels and the ventilation/perches added to them, but I suggested her putting canopies over the top of the round holes; she will do that when she gets them home.
One last note: According to Louise Chambers of the PMCA, the interior perches MUST be tight against the back wall. Lots of martin fighting occurs inside, plus babies flap around a lot. i.e., you don't want more than 1/8 inch space; otherwise, a wing could get caught.
DIRECTIONS ARE ON THE PICTURES. CLICK THE THUMBNAIL TO ENLARGE IT SO THE TEXT CAN BE READ.
Preparing to drill Vent/perches Perches in place Two types of BoVillas Bolts Caulking (see Revision)
REVISION 3-18-04 NOTE: In the last picture titled
"Caulking", I used and advised your using Dap Alex
Plus caulking; DON'T because it cracks and could cause leaks,
especially on any piece that might move, like where the BoVillas
attach to the block. Use white, all-purpose Lexel instead; read and
follow the directions carefully. Lexel is the only product on the
market that comes close to permanently adhering to polypropylene,
but even it doesn't bond; however, if in a few years you see a
problem, you can put on more, and it WILL adhere to the old Lexel.
Lexel can be ordered from S&K also. Wear rubber gloves while
using the caulk gun with Lexel, it's VERY sticky, and don't expect it
to be as easy to smooth out as what other caulks are. i.e., my
caulking job with it was messy to say the least, but then I've never
caulked before and didn't know how to do better. I put the Lexel
over the cracked Dap Alex Plus, and it solved my problem of
cracked caulk quickly, but it takes three days to dry (well worth the
wait).
Flooring for BoVillas
* * *
Landlord may expand from 4 villas to 24 or more. Pole is a winch
type, with large perched top 3/8 aluminum solid rod 36”.Pole consist of four
triangular sections 54” long, made of aircraft aluminum complete with 18”
ground sleeve.
12” long spacers allow room between levels for inspection and nest
checks.
Villas have FOUR inch, clean out/nest check, with threaded cap.
Landlord drills a many air vent holes as required for local climate
using drill center holes located on all four sides.
Use ¼ inch drill to locate porch inside and outside at the level
you wish. Drill centers are located on ¼ “centers.
Place entrance at the level, off floor, you feel works best, between ½ “and 3” .
Entrance will be available with SREH, ROUND 2 1/8”Hole AND BLANK for experimenters.
OPTONAL ENTRANCE TUNNEL
A3’ by 5” tunnel 6”
long fits the entrance of the villas.
Special lengths of tunnel for can be purchased for the martin landlord
experimenters.
Outside and inside surfaces are grooved for great traction so our
favorite martins will not slip.
Porch surface is 3”x5”; grooved for sure traction mounts in two locations.
.090 thick.RPVC with UV protection.
****************************************
Updated March 10, 2007