Antipodean Boats Connection

[Larks]

ooops, i was responding to a post from last month, on the worng page.

Which one Gypsie? You can still get huon pine, but it costs.

[johnno]

Gotta say the boats the racing and the coverage are all spectacular.

If the wind is up for match racing tomorrow it should be interesting, that's for sure.

[WX]

In the days when I sailed a Paper Tiger, often one up, if the wind looked tricky you'd walk along the beach and look for a girl the right ballast weight for the day. Sometimes she turned out to be the right weight for the night as well.

The best of both worlds eh Jeff.

[WX]

Saw this little fella last night.

Litoria peronii

Family: Hylidae
Common names: Emerald Spotted Treefrog; Peron's Tree Frog

Description: This frog is grey, dark brown or cream on its back, but can change colour depending on the time of day, the temperament of the individual and temperature. There are also dark flecks on the back and small emerald green spots. The belly is cream-yellow and granular. The groin, armpits, backs of the thighs and feet are mottled black and yellow. The skin on the back is rough with low warts and tubercles (lumps). The finger and toe pads are large. The fingers are half webbed and the toes are almost fully webbed.
Size: 50 mm

[Duncan Gibbs]

Well talking of wildlife I had my stall at the Pottsville Markets with 20 completed boxes that I'd built over six days, inbetween paid gardening. I had lots, and lots of interest but didn't sell a one of them. Collapsed yesterday arvo and have been in rest mode for most of today. Not afraid of hard work, but I appear to be no good at this making money thing.

[PeterSibley]

My sympathy Duncan, it takes a while to find the right product, the right outlet and pricing strategy. Don't give up just give it more thought and try to find the right combination.

[johnno]

Duncan, but have you tried ebay or something similar. I've been selling off things I no longer need on Ebay in price ranges from $10-1000 dollars and I have been constantly surprised at the response.

As Peter says, you need those three things, right. But as to the second, you can have a range of outlets to match what you're selling. I didn't get the beginning of your post on these boxes..are they possum boxes, bird boxes?

Here's a sample of what I mean...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/RINGTAIL-...#ht_4020wt_905

Yours are much nicer.

[Duncan Gibbs]

I'm going to try the local councils, pet shops, nurseries that specialise in native plants.

I've made four ringtail/brushtail boxes, four antichinus/pygmy possum boxes, four glider boxes, two thrush/robin/finch boxes and six rosella/lorikeet boxes. They're all a bit heavy, being made from solid hardwood, so shipping them would be expensive. Maybe kits could be a goer, but they'd have to be made from ply. I have this big pile of timber y'see...

Thanks for the compliment!

[skuthorp]

Pity you are so far away Duncan, I have to get a few bird boxes made myself before june.

[The Bigfella]

thrush and robin boxes? Tell me you are kidding.....

The Song Thrush builds a neat mud-lined cup nest in a bush or tree and lays four or five dark-spotted blue eggs.

.... damned if I know a robin that's going near a box either....

[Duncan Gibbs]

Most Australian birds lay white, or near white eggs, including Australian thrush and robin species. The Bassian Thrush can either build a nest, but will use a hollow if one is available. It's eggs are white with a dull green hint and brown speckles over its surface. The Song Thrush is not an Australian Thrush and destroying the egg clutches of introduced species will discourage them from nesting near you as well as interrupt the breading cycle. Native thrushes and robins have always come up in the reveg'/rehab reports on projects I've been involved in around these parts and connected with a specific nesting requirement. Flame Robins will still build a nest, but it will be built in a rock cavity or log hollow.

[WX]

Pity you are so far away Duncan, I have to get a few bird boxes made myself before june.

He could flat pack them to you.

[skuthorp]

Duncan, in the Feb edition of Classic Boat there's a letter from a fellow restorer of a Dragon, in Italy, offering help and advice to another whose letter was in the January edition. If I can get an email contact are you interested?

Gary, having in mind the pics of your pythons in the rafters, fancy this as a baby sitter?

[WX]

Been out to dinner at a friends place, I am so full laying down is bliss.

[The Bigfella]

Most Australian birds lay white, or near white eggs, including Australian thrush and robin species. The Bassian Thrush can either build a nest, but will use a hollow if one is available. It's eggs are white with a dull green hint and brown speckles over its surface. The Song Thrush is not an Australian Thrush and destroying the egg clutches of introduced species will discourage them from nesting near you as well as interrupt the breading cycle. Native thrushes and robins have always come up in the reveg'/rehab reports on projects I've been involved in around these parts and connected with a specific nesting requirement. Flame Robins will still build a nest, but it will be built in a rock cavity or log hollow.

Mate, as one who was the designated climber, the son of a birds egg collector (different times, different values and not as destructive as appears at first glance, as most species re-nest if not succesful at raising a brood).... I can tell you that the first comment is very, very wrong.

Yes, the parrots lay white eggs. A few waterbirds do too - but they don't stay that way, they stain up pretty well. Most of the other 80 - 90% or so of the Australian species don't.

Unfortunately, my father sold his collection when his health was failing and wouldn't tell me where it went (at the time, the fine for possessing birds eggs was reputedly $1,000 per egg, so his collection, with well over 50% of Australia's bird species represented, would have added up to a seven figure fine).

As for the thrushes....

The Grey Shrike Thrush - our main Thrush, has probably the most varied nesting habits of the Thrushes.... but its a cup-shaped nest normally in broken off stumps or upright forks of trees. Creamy white eggs marked dark olive, olive-brown and pale grey. Why try and change it into a breeder that will take scarce hollows from species that really need them?

The Ground Thrush makes a cup shaped nest in the fork of a tree and lays bluish grey, pale blue, greenish-white, buff or stone coloured eggs - all with reddish brown freckles and blotches.

The other Shrike Thrushes (Bower's, Little, Sandstone) build cup shaped nests mostly placed in a dense mass of foliage although the LST may use a bush or small tree and the Sandstone ST uses cliff crevices.... but its nowhere near any of us, being up in NW Oz and the NT. The Bower's eggs are creamy white with dark olive or reddish brown and dull slate markings. The LST has pinkish white eggs with reddish brown and purplish grey markings. The Sandstone ST lays creamy white eggs marked brownish black, brown and slate grey.

The introduced Song Thrush makes a bowl shaped nest normally in a bush, but I have seen one under a building and lays deep blue eggs, spotted black at the fat end.

The robins lay highly coloured eggs btw... quite beautiful, as are their nests. I used to go down the creek and check out the Eastern Robins nest every year. Lovely cup shaped thing, normally about eye level in a vertical fork. Zero chance of getting them into a nest box.

[The Bigfella]

Hey Dunc, the doves and pigeons lay white eggs.... so I guess we're down to 75%-80% that lay coloured eggs.

[Duncan Gibbs]

"... remembering that almost all of the native hollow-nesters lay bright white eggs."
Alan & Stacey Franks, page 30, Nest Boxes For Wildlife - A Practical Guide, 2003 Blooming Books, Melbourne. (my emphasis)

and...

The Flame Robin may lay up to two clutches during breeding season. The eggs are pale green or blue eggs, spotted with brown marks. These marks are mostly at the larger end. The nest is built by the female, and is a grass and bark cup, bound with spider web and decorated with lichen. It is normally placed in a cavity in a tree or rock face, or other similar area up to 20 m above the ground.

(my emphasis)

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spec...oica-phoenicea

Quit trying to be a bloody smart-arse know-it-all, all the bloody time! Right now I really don't need it!

[The Bigfella]

Mate.... if you've got Flame Robins breeding near your place, its time to man the boats. Global cooling will be here.

Meanwhile.... for those of us who didn't get an invite to the EBS, how about posting a photo of the boxes?

Incidentally, the guy on the Gold Coast that I bought my Queensland Maple and teak from tried to break into the novelty timber products market. He had some fantastic stuff done - Qld Maple carved pumpkins (you'd have to see them to believe how good they were)... but he couldn't get the sales happening. I don't think the answer is the markets in the bush.... maybe something more suited to urban sales?

[Duncan Gibbs]

I don't think the answer are the markets either. To some extent is was simply a deadline to get products made, but it would have been nice to sell at least one.

Flame Robin distribution map:



No EBS, but I did post a shot of the first eight or nine boxes on the previous page.

[The Bigfella]

Like I said Dunc.... man the boats if you've got flame robins breeding near you. You might find one flitting by, but they are up on the range mate... up high.

[PeterSibley]

Mate.... if you've got Flame Robins breeding near your place, its time to man the boats. Global cooling will be here.

Meanwhile.... for those of us who didn't get an invite to the EBS, how about posting a photo of the boxes?

Incidentally, the guy on the Gold Coast that I bought my Queensland Maple and teak from tried to break into the novelty timber products market. He had some fantastic stuff done - Qld Maple carved pumpkins (you'd have to see them to believe how good they were)... but he couldn't get the sales happening. I don't think the answer is the markets in the bush.... maybe something more suited to urban sales?

Made souvenir boxes for a few years , 4000 altogether and sold all of them.The one in the photo would be worth about $90 to me wholesale to a gallery and maybe $10 at the markets . The outlet is as important as the item.

[Larks]

What......is the flight velocity......of a flame robin??

[johnno]

What......is the flight velocity......of a flame robin??

Ask batman....

[The Bigfella]

Interesting image here. It seems our scientists aren't too good at times. This is from the CSIRO's collection of birds eggs



... end blown and unsealed. You can't really seal an egg that's blown with two holes easily, because the ends are too curved... far better to do it with one hole, on the side and seal it to stop the weeblies getting in and buggering the shell (that's not a scientific explanation)


Oops... better go find a boat photo now

[WX]

Started on the upholstery today. I have a friend showing me how and does she know her stuff...my brain is full.

[purri]

Might I suggest that Pontifex admit flame robins aren't all that quick...

(amended)

[WX]

I look out the window this morning and the sun is shining with a bit of cloud about but I know it won't last. I'm starting to dream of drought.

[Larks]

I look out the window this morning and the sun is shining with a bit of cloud about but I know it won't last. I'm starting to dream of drought.

Don't do that Gary!! I know you want to get your keel poured, but I don't seem to get sick of the wet weather.......possibly comes from living in Alice Springs for 16 years or so. I think I'll always like it too wet than too dry.

[PeterSibley]

Leechs ! Every time I go outside I come in bleeding , the wet has it's down side.

[RFNK]

If I thought that my wishing would influence the weather then I guess I'd never wish the rain to go away but .... I just hate rainy days! I don't care how hot or cold it is, humid or dry, I don't care - in fact I quite like extremes but rain just puts me in a bad mood. I lived in Tamworth as a kid and it didn't rain much there - I suppose if I'd lived in the desert I might appreciate it a little more. Anyway, sun's out here this morning and I've nearly finished the shed so soon I can get on to cladding the house ......
Rick

[WX]

I don't want to tempt fate but...the sun is still shining!

[RFNK]

Come on you blokes, this thing is STILL on Ebay at the absolute bargain price of only $500!! Surely one of you has a few weeks spare to get this one up and running?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Timber-Hu...#ht_500wt_1287

And it's unique! (I hope ...)

Rick

[Phil Y]

A steal

[skuthorp]

I'd like an inch or 3 down here if you've got any to spare.....................

[The Bigfella]

I'd like an inch or 3 down here if you've got any to spare.....................

Well I do.... but sorry mate... you can't have it.

[skuthorp]

Mind out for splinters

[WX]

No rain for 24 hours, now if it will only hold off till next Wednesday I will be right chuffed.

[WX]

No rain for 24 hours, now if it will only hold off till next Wednesday I will be right chuffed.

Nope, didn't happen. Back to rain today, luckily the house I'm painting has wide eaves.

[skuthorp]

About 23 spots down here in spite of the humidity and cloud. Swapped an anvil I found in the creek for some ironwork I need for my bridge tonight. Both of us are pleased, he's bringing his trailer mounted forge down so he can tailor make the pieces I need.

[PeterSibley]

You found an anvil in your creek !! Amazing Jeff !

[Duncan Gibbs]

IIRC Stephen up in BC found that fantastic old iron windlass, that he put on Carlotta, in a creek too.

[PeterSibley]

I must check my creek, there are a variety of things I could use.

[skuthorp]

Just some more of Georges scrap iron Peter. Fortunately not an enormous one, I could actually lift it. Metal bit's continue to surface, 6 sheets of rusted metal about 5'x4' under a few inches of grass and weeds last month. I've kept them, I'm about to learn to weld and rusty metal sculpture can look good in the garden.

[PeterSibley]

I thought so but an anvil in a creek IS unusual!

[RFNK]

I'm looking for an anvil so please let me know if you find any more! My mate David said I could have his anvil if I could carry it home - fat chance of that!

Rick

[brucemoffatt]

Hi all OzThreaders, Bruce in Adelaide here. I'm new to the forum. I've started reading this thread but please forgive me that I've only managed to get a few pages in. I'm sure there are other Adelaide woodenboaties here but I've ony read as far as discovering Phil.

I've just started building a Caledonia Yawl. I estimate a two year hobby to build it and probably five years of sailing it. Some trips planned. Blog is here:
http://vasilios-btbldr.livejournal.com/

Would like to connect with other Adelaide woodenboatnutbags to share stories and hopefully information about sources of materials etc.

[The Bigfella]

Welcome aboard Bruce. btw... we've exiled Phil. He's in PNG for a while.

Mike's in Adelaide

[PeterSibley]

G'day Bruce, hang around for a chat. This thread has been a bit quiet over the last few days but comes alive with a rush occasionally .

[brucemoffatt]

G'day Peter,

Where on Northern NSW are you? I bought a catamaran in Ballina a few years ago and sailed it round to Adelaide. Love that pert of the world. Still have scars on my foot from oysters in the Richmond River doing the launching of that cat.

Bruce

[PeterSibley]

Just north of Murwillumbah ,about a km from the Queensland border. Quite a way from the sea unfortunately, Ballina is a nice place too!