Hi Brian,
I hope you don't mind having this mentioned out in the open, but it can help
in spreading the information.
I haven't built any PVC boxes myself, but it should be pretty
straightforward. I met with Todd Tannery and AJ and Debbie Fisher last year
as they were installing PVC boxes. As I recall they used a 12 inch diameter
PVC tube that had wooden inserts, with one end having a slot for an
entrance. The length was probably about 15-18 inches, and the inserts can be
placed inside the tube a few inches for providing better shelter. Todd is an
area pioneer in rapid PVC deployment, and I'll try to contact him to clarify
the specifications. The Rainier Aububon web site has some photos of the
boxes as well. Looks like the diameter may have been just less than 12",
from the web picture of Todd:

http://www.audubon.org/chapter/wa/rainier/purplemartin/pmartinwp2-16.htm

Lanny Carpenter of the Olympia area has made some really cool PVC boxes that
are hung length-wise and have a hole cut in the side; the ends are covered
with PVC end caps. Last year was the first for those, and they worked nicely
and actually look great.

I think there's still a lot of room for experimentation, so the essential
parts are time and enthusiasm. The white interior of PVC should hopefully be
a deterrent to starlings. The entrance that the Purple Martin Conservation
Association recommends for deterring starlings is oblong with a height of 1
3/16" and a length of about 2 1/2 - 3". Their web site has details.

I'm not sure of the locations you're describing, and will check a map. If
it's not too far I might be able to come up on a weekend to watch or help
out, or I might be able to come up with some extra boxes from around the
house. Keep us posted, and nice to hear from you!

Kevin Li
Seattle
> ----------
> From: Brian Scott[SMTP:PISHER at email.msn.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 1999 8:24 AM
> To: Li, Kevin
> Subject: Re: Duwamish T105 purple martin nestboxes
>
> Kevin:
> I have been following this PUMA thread with great interest. For the
> past
> few years I have been banding martins at Maplewood Flats in North
> Vancouver,BC.
> This year I moved to the Blackies Spit area of South Surrey, an area of
> good potential for a PUMA colony. There are old wooden boxes on the
> pilings
> off shore but they are too susceptable to flooding at extreme high tides.
> My intention has been to make about 8 PVC boxes and mount them higher
> on
> the pilings. I have not been able to get a responce from anyone concerning
> dimensions for these white PVC structures.
> Could you help? Time is of the essence...martins will be back soon.
> I could provide you with a fax number if you think email would be a
> difficult medium to convey construction information.
> Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Brian Scott <<pisher at email.msn.com>>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Li, Kevin <Kevin.Li at METROKC.GOV>
> To: 'steppie at wolfenet.com' <steppie at wolfenet.com>
> Cc: 'Tweeters (postings)' <tweeters at u.washington.edu>; Power, Jean <Power,
> Jean>
> Date: Tuesday, April 06, 1999 2:41 PM
> Subject: RE: Duwamish T105 purple martin nestboxes
>
>
> >
> >Regarding a friendly purple martin competition, Audubon chapters would
> face
> >stiff competition from one individual in Portland: Dave Fouts. Dave is
> >steward to about 450 purple martin pairs along the Columbia River from
> >Sauvie Island to Lyle in Klickitat County. Maybe Dave should be excluded,
> >and we could name the award after Dave Fouts!
> >The day when starlings are not a continuing threat to the native species
> is
> >a day I can only imagine dreaming about. For the present I'm hoping that
> >white interiors and martin-specific nest box holes will deter starlings
> >until some of the martin colonies can get established. Most of the martin
> >population in the eastern U.S. nests in cavities provided by people, a
> very
> >odd situation, especially in light of their long migration.
> >
> >Last year I drove to a friend's cabin near Pateros to put up nest boxes
> for
> >bluebirds, and before I could even get the boxes out of the car, we saw
> >bluebirds sitting on my bicycle on the roof rack!
> >
> >Thanks for the support!
> >
> >Kevin Li
>
>
>
>