This week's project...

John Rumm scribbled

Duck island next ?

Might not be a daft idea... every year, we get a pair of the most stupid ducks come and camp out on our pond. Every year they lay their eggs on the top of the wall that surrounds it, such that they are either eaten by the first bit of passing wildlife, bake in the sun, or simply roll off and smash; give them an island and they may manage to reproduce... still not exactly selection of the fittest!

In message , John Rumm writes

Nice:-)

Word of warning to the unwary.

White Doves breed and are very much attached to their place of birth. Initially 2 becomes 4 seems innocuous but 4 to and 8 to 16 brings hard words from annoyed neighbours.

Of course more rural dwellers may appreciate a source of protein:-)

Sounds like he was ripped off. What indeed was the point of building an outdoor item out of non waterproof materials.

What exactly is the point of these things in any case, surely not self respecting dove would use such a device? Brian

Mallards lay 10 or more eggs in a clutch. The odd mishap will not affect their survival:-)

A friend of mine managed to persuade "his" to move on, seems they're more attached to food provided elsewhere than place of birth ...

Hmm... we had in infestation in an old hay loft. No food provided.

But they cost £1645. Best just hide it in the expenses as a pond feature.

We've had one nest behind the "Bear's britches" outside our front door for the last 2 years.

Quite possibly - the original was not cheap either. The design was also at fault since there was no flashing to protect the roof joints - so there was always going to be water ingress at the angle changes. Since the original roof was just made from softwood feather edge, it also started to cup and that just made matters worse.

A layer of roofing felt under it would have made a world of difference.

Don't know - not really my thing.

How do you get in to tie the chicks leg to the frame?