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kent B
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Posted: Mon Sep 27th, 2004 12:21 am |
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When mounting new bat houses you may want to use 2x lumber on the post to mount the bat house to.
The reason for using the 2x mounting board would be the heat in the 2x would help maintain a higher temp in the bat house after the sun goes down.
If there was a source for scrap 2x lumber you could use 2x the lengthof the bat house to mount the house on.
Otherwise use a 2 x 10 or 2 x 10 at the top of post to mount bat house to and a 2 x 6 at the bottom.
the 2 bys should help keep temps higher at night.
This is one of the reasons I have began using only 2x lumber for the houses exteriors, back , sides , and roof.
I cut 2 x 10 and 2 x 8's at a 45 degree angle with the slant down to overlap the next board. This way I can construct houses 3 ft long with 2 x 10 and 2 x 8's.
I also use 3/4" and 1 " lumber for baffles for the same reason, maintain a higher nighttime temp.
Long term bat houses made of 2x material should last many more years than using plywood.
The main reason I want to use old farm silos and flat bed semi trailers for bat houses is they will outlast anything that is now being used, 50 years or more. Also maintaince and vandalism should be miminal.
Kent Borcherding
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Joe Spencer
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Posted: Mon Sep 27th, 2004 08:05 pm |
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YA agreed Kent! nothing like more thermal mass to buffer temps.. Thanks. Now that winter is upon us here maybe we'll hear some good news from our aussie friends here at the forum which are hoping for occupancy in bat houses Down Under. 
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Leonard Kerry
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Posted: Wed Sep 29th, 2004 02:49 am |
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Hi Joe and Kent.
You're right Joe. As you guessed, I'm hovering here in the background!
I'm being very patient and holding-off the evening visits with the bat detector until the second half of October which I think might be the earliest I could expect to have occupants. Their's no sign of droppings yet but as the roosts are in a relatively exposed position and surrounded by grass (apart from the concrete footing), that may not mean much! Also, no sign of staining on the landing pad but that would probably take a while to develop with use!
I'll keep you updated.
Len
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Joe Spencer
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Posted: Wed Sep 29th, 2004 07:57 pm |
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| We'll keep our fingers crossed for ya Len. Have forgotten if previously mentioned, how far are you from the nearest water source? Cheers Joe..
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Leonard Kerry
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Posted: Thu Sep 30th, 2004 02:24 am |
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Joe, the following is a cut and paste from one of my earliest posting.
We are within 3km of a significant wetland reserve where bat activity is quite high - I do most of my bat detecting there! Although this range is well outside the 1/4 mile criteria of BCI, Australian bat literature indicates that many species commute several km between the day-time roost and the evening foraging area. I have also sighted bats in the vicinity several times before dawn in the winter months and one was actually found dead within office area of our building a few years ago. I think there is a reasonable chance of success.
Len
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Joe Spencer
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Posted: Fri Oct 1st, 2004 12:49 am |
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| Great Len Thanks :thumbup:
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Current time is 08:41 am | |
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