Do-It-Yourself Stovepipe Predator Baffle

Materials:

• Aluminum electrical conduit, ½-inch diameter, 5-foot length
• Iron rebar, ½-inch diameter, 5-foot length
• One hanger iron (two 7-inch strips attached with two machine screws and nuts
• Duct tape
• One ½-inch conduit connector with two screws
• Galvanized stovepipe, 6-inch diameter, 34-inch length, with 6-inch steel cap
• Knockout punch for ½-inch hole
• Two strapping brackets with four exterior screws to mount nest box

Instructions:

If you must buy conduit and rebar in 10-foot length, cut them in half with a hacksaw or ask the hardware store to cut it, and consider making two baffles!

Drive the rebar halfway into the ground (2½ feet). Drop one conduit connector over the top of the rebar. Tighten the lower screw against the rebar so that the connector is a few inches above the ground. Slip the conduit onto over the rebar, and fasten it to the rebar with the upper screw of the connector. Make sure both screws are tight. This prevents the conduit—and nest box—from swiveling.

Use the knockout punch to make a hole in the center of the stovepipe cap. Bend and crimp the stovepipe into a cylinder. Fit the cap into the knurled end of the stovepipe.

Determine where on the conduit the nest box will be mounted, and a few inches below that, wrap a few layers of duct tape around the conduit. This will help the hanger iron stay in place. Affix the hanger iron tightly onto the duct tape with screws and nuts. Spread the four arms of the hanger iron into an X shape for better support of the baffle.

Slip the baffle onto the conduit onto the support hardware. A bit of wobble will discourage predators! Mount the nest box using strapping brackets.