Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-04-06
"AIR-COOLED
BIRD-HOUSES'

From Bird-Lore January-February %
T. (Oficial organ of Audubon societies)
ct has not been unusual to receive
reports that during the hot days of
summer young birds in small, close
westinghouse have been killed by the
heat of the sun, and the writer has on
more than one occasion seen instances
of this character.
To avoid such catastrophes and to
render life in an artificial nest as
comfortable as possible, various ex-
periments have been made to con-
struct these boxes in such a way that
the heat of the sun would not be so
penetrating"
One nature lover who has recently
devised what he considers a very
practicable bird-house which may al
ways be depended upon to keep a
reasonable temperature in summer, is
E. A. Gilman of SIG E. Conant street,
Portage, Wise. Mr.. Gilman gives the
following description of this type of
bird-house which he has found to be
very satisfactory.
"Air-cooled Shelter" bird houses are
designed and constructed to secure
automatic removal of sun heated air
from their interior. allowing the con-
slant force of gravity to effect an ex-
change of sun-heated air in open verti-
cal shafts back of exterior walls or in
attic, which heated Qighter) air is by
gravity forced up and out of protected
slot opening along the ridge pole of
the roof, by and for cooler (heavier)
air rising from beneath the bird
houses. This operation automatically
occurs and continues whenever and
while the temperature at any point in
side OF air shafts or attic is warmer
that the air beneath the bird houses
and irrespective of a dead calm or
breeze or wind.
The same principle is utilized in
many ways: in livestock, hog and
poultry buildings, the animal heated
air automatically rising and passing
out ventilators in roof; in prune and
other fruit driers; in ventilating hotel
and restaurant kitchens; in warm air
furnaces; in the latest Rochester hand
lamps etc, etc; the air in exhaust
flues, hot air pipes, and chimnies
heated from burning fuel, lighter than
cooler air beneath being automatically
forced out above.
Heated air rises vertically; it will
not move horizontally except by being
forced by wind or draft as natural
forces, thus making openings through
walls at side or end only, Of other bird
houses, of little or no avail in a dead
calm or slight breeze Ia very fire.
quent occurence) to relieve the in
terror of the heat OF the sun.
Shielded from both storm and the
suns rays by separate exterior walls
and roof, and also shielded from the
suns heat penetrating same, by inter
vening ascending columns of air In
surrounding air shafts, etc. the temper
ature of air cooled shelter" nesting
boxes and the air therein, will re-
main the same as that of the air be
meath, and the interior of nesting
boxes will be free from rain. suns
heat and cold drafts detrimental to
Matching and to young birds.
White or yellow paint on tops Of
roofs and even on sides where there
are no entrances. will reflect to some
extent the heat rays from the sun, and
not be Objectionable to the birds.
Entrance extension on each side
with horizontal slot for passing of
nest material will speed the nest build
ing.
Wire sand screen of close mesh with
hole cut to fit snugly around entrance
on inside of exterior wall, and cut TO
fit snugly beneath and at sides of en-
trance on outside, fastened with
screen staples, will remedy trouble
arising from smooth and slippery sur
faces around the entrance, and aid
the birds in passing in and out, and in
fighting off from the inside any ma
rauding birds.
Shelter from the roasting heat of
the sun can be easily provided to quite
an extent in case of old style bird
houses, as follows:
Installing an extra roof raised above
the original by Turing strips one half
to one inch thick running from ewes
TO ridgepole, leaving open air shafts
between original and extra roof, and
an opening of one inch between roof
boards at and along the ridgepole for
exit of heated air; Furring strips when
placed should be thoroughly painted
in manner to exclude moisture be-
meath them.
Mr.. Gilman is not in the business
of making biTd-houses for sale, and is
very glad to pass on his ideas to
others. He writes that he will be
pleased to supply assistance to any
one who may care to follow his plan.
F5F=g5~eents each he will furnish SKI
photographs showing ~ exterior, (2)
interior, and "a complete description.