Birds to get new digs in West Otago

West Otago Rural Kids members and adult leaders show off their bird boxes 
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West Otago Rural Kids members and adult leaders show off their bird boxes made during a recent activity session in Heriot. PHOTO: ZITA YOUNG/SUPPLIED
West Otago birds are getting a leg-up on the property ladder this winter.

Zita Young helps her daughter Amy  put up the bird box she made during a recent West Otago Rural...
Zita Young helps her daughter Amy put up the bird box she made during a recent West Otago Rural Kids activity session, on a tree at their West Otago farm near Tapanui. PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON
After-school activity group West Otago Rural Kids (Work) got hammering at its Heriot "den" recently to make 26 identical bird boxes using wood donated by Tapanui firm Stuart Timber Co.

Group leader Zita Young said the group encouraged "hands-on" activities, exploration and adventures for its 30 members, aged 8 to 11, and met fortnightly on Wednesdays through the year.

The bird box made by Mrs Young’s daughter Amy (9) would be the third made by her children, two of whom made theirs in previous years.

"Shamus (14) has his in another tree, and Dylan (12) gave his away, but hopefully the birds will have a bit of choice round the district once this year’s boxes go up," she said.

Amy said making the boxes had been "fun" and "quite easy" once she enlisted the help of a friend.

"They held the pieces, and I tried not to hit their thumb," she said.

Although her favourite bird was the kereru, she did not believe they would quite fit in her upmarket hideaway.

"They’re probably a bit big. But any birds are welcome."

 

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