AD Transcript: Michael Streader, PDT, Wood, Metals, Plastics

Microbat and Pardalote Nest Boxes is a VCE Product Design and Technology, Wood Metal and Plastics student work designed by Michael Streader from University High School, Parkville, Bunurong Country.

Australia has one of the highest rates of biodiversity decline worldwide, with habitat loss a leading cause. In urban areas, where almost half of these threatened animals can be found, vital nesting hollows are in critically short supply.

The artificial alternatives are often poorly insulated, lack important species-specific design features, and are unattractive in appearance.

The student’s range of nest boxes aims to encourage the installation of artificial habitat in urban areas by combining pleasing aesthetics with improved artificial habitat quality.

Made of recycled hardwood fence palings, hoop pine marine plywood, metal hardware, beeswax and oil finish the four nest boxes weigh in range from 5.1 to 5.7 kilograms and the dimensions of three are 574 millimetres long by 287 millimetres wide by 192 millimetres high, with the fourth nest box only being slightly shorter in length.

The shape of the nest box is similar to the rounded newspaper holders on top of traditional mailboxes, and are fitted upright, with the flat plywood base secured against a wall, tree or mount.

The door panel also made of plywood faces upwards, and when removed, narrow and snuggly plywood compartments within can be accessed and settled into by tiny flying microbats and/or small wrens (or pardalotes).

Three of the curved front panels each have a cluster of decorative circular etchings and cutouts which breaks up and softens the hard straight grain running vertically where the beeswax also brings out the timber’s natural honey and mahogany coloured warmth.

The instructions include:

Front curved panels slide off.

Do not lift boxes by the front panels.

Lift boxes only by the rear keyhole shaped holes.

Do not turn boxes upside down and when installing slide off front panel and refit after hanging.