Man Of A Million Hobbies Creates Unique Corner Gas Themed Birdhouse To Help SCRAPS
Unique one of a kind themed birdhouse being raffled off to assist SCRAPS - MJ
Tickets $5 and the draw date is AUGUST 20th OR NATIONAL HOMLESS ANIMAL DAY. Call (306') 684-9048 for more information.
By Robert Thomas
On the night of November 4th, 2021 one of the most iconic elevators located at Dog River (aka Rouleau), Saskatchewan burnt down. The elevator made famous in the CTV comedy series Corner Gas had been a tourist attraction but is now gone forever.
But out of the ashes a replica has been created. One that is fit for the birds. One whose fate is ironically going to help out Moose Jaw’s feral cats.
“That is why I did it. That elevator burnt and I felt like this is a good year to build one. I built it so people will remember (the Dog River elevator),” Don Lammle said.
Lammle was at the Moose Jaw Co-op on Wednesday afternoon where people had an opportunity to meet the birdhouse creator, view the birdhouse and buy tickets for a chance to win it.
Birdhouse creator Don Lammle proudly stands beside his creation - MJ Independent photo
Being a retired electrician and refrigeration mechanic Lammle said he is making the best of his retirement years making use of a multitude of skills. Building birdhouses is just one of the things he does to keep himself busy.
“I’ve got a million hobbies,” he said.
Lammle said he was motivated to spend three weeks to create the Corner Gas themed birdhouse to help out SCRAPS - MJ do the good work they do for feral cats in the community.
“They are just a good organization. They just do wonderful things looking after the feral cats. Looking after the cats that look after or take care of mice and rats. And I hate mice and rats.”
Although this is the fourth birdhouse Lammle has crafted to help out SCRAPS he admits that at his Drinkwater home all he has is a dog. He does not personally own a cat.
At first glance it looks like the birdhouse is hand painted in its entirety but in fact it is not.
“This birdhouse is all covered in aluminum. It will outlast you and me and our kids. This thing should almost last forever. It won’t rot.”
Lammle explained that the birdhouse SCRAPS is raffling is not only designed for purple martins by having distinct entry holes to discourage other birds from nesting but there are many other things designed to make the elevator birdhouse a luxury accommodation.
Some of the features he has included are easy accessibility for annual cleanings of the nesting area interior, ventilation and a platform designed to help any young hatchling survive if it would leave the nest too early.
Why Lammle chose to design the birdhouse for purple martins was because this member of the swallow family have colonies as well as a voracious appetite for mosquitoes.
“They have colonies and they like to live together. They are a wonderful bird for taking care of mosquitoes. Each purple martin will take up to 10,000 per day. And for a set (pair) that is 20,000 mosquitoes. If we got 14 suites in the birdhouse that is a lot of mosquitoes you are going to get rid of in a day.”
Birdhouse creator Don Lammle shows off the interior of his Corner Gas themed birdhouse demonstrating the ease of cleaning the interior - MJ Independent photo
Lammle said the purple martins are a beautiful bird to watch and unless people go too close to the nest - where the birds will scold you - that there is no problems with them.
Typically though the nests are erected on a pole 12 to 20 feet off of the ground. The height the purple martins enjoy living and nesting at.
“An awful lot of people have gone out and put up purple martin birdhouses for that reason alone (to eliminate mosquitoes so people can be outside enjoying the summer),” he said, adding “when they get a good looking one it is even better.”
Lammle pointed out three things he incorporated into the birdhouse’s design to ensure the purple martins have a safe and great stay.
“One it is totally ventilated which allows them to keep cool. An awful lot of these houses aren’t ventilated and the poor little birds roast in the hot summer.”
The entry hole’s design is a second feature of the birdhouse.
“Another thing is the design of the entrance way. It is low and it is a specific design for the purple martin. And it is designed to prevent the grackles from reaching in. If the hole is too big or too high they will reach in. They will take the egg. They will take the little bird.”
And for juvenile birds leaving the nest too early the design helps them as well.
“The third thing with it is it has a promenade. The promenade is there because the purple martin birds will leave the nest before they are ready or some of them do and if they hit the ground the mom and dad don’t look after them. if they have a promenade or a courtyard they can get back in again and the mom and dad will look after them. The mom and dad will look after them. As long as they are up in the air.”
Another major feature Lammle incorporated in his birdhouse designed was making it easy to clean out after the end of the nesting season. Cleaning the birdhouse every season helps to prevent diseases and pests.
“This birdhouse is very easily taken apart. There are two turn buttons to open it up. And there are two catches that you can open to clean it out in no time. You can pull the insides out. It is all aluminum and if you want to wash it with a pressure washer you can do it.”
Despite pulling the old nesting material out Lammle said it does not bother purple martins because “they seem to enjoy building a new nest every year.”
“When I built this one I wanted it to last forever.”
If you don’t win the birdhouse in the draw and still want to own one of Lammle’s unique birdhouse creations he has about 150 of them for sale with ranging prices depending on the size and work involved in its creation.
But Lammle is more than a retiree who builds birdhouses - it is just one of the many things he does to utilize his skills.
Don Lammle’s hand built to scale model of the former Drinkwater United Church. The model took weeks to create and is made from wood and stained glass Lammle salvaged from the church before its demolition - MJ Independent photo
Lammle’s hobby had him creating a scale model of the now demolished Drinkwater United Church.
Not only is the model made to exact scale but it is 100 percent constructed out of materials - wood and glass - he personally salvaged from the former church before it was demolished.
“It is made from wood from the church. The stained glass in it is stained glass from the church.
Although Lammle has 150 birdhouses - many of them depicting local landmarks - for sale the model of the Drinkwater United Church is not for sale but something he is leaving for the people of the village to enjoy.
“This one is just for show,” he said, explaining when he moves away from Drinkwater he will be donating the model to the community.
Lammle has also restored the 1905 brick house he bought in 2008 and lives in in Drinkwater into immaculate condition. Something recognized by the Province’s Heritage and Cultural department. The restoration is a story in itself.
For anyone wanting to buy tickets on the birdhouse they are available at SCRAPS - MJ’s 9 Lives Boutique and Adoption Centre open Fridays and Saturdays at the Town and Country Mall, at the SCRAPS booth at the Wakamow Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning or call (306') 684-9048 for more information.