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mesh vinyl- coated welded wire was used for the smaller raptors. <br /> Katherine McKeever determined that 1" x 1" mesh was necessary to exclude <br /> weasels, which are potential predators of small, disabled birds. In <br /> addition, all cages have a length of chain -link buried to a depth of 18" <br /> around the perimeter to exclude raccoons or other animals that may try to <br /> dig into the cage to get food remains or resident birds. This wire is <br /> attached to the outside of the sill of the frame and on the smaller bird <br /> cages is backed by hand -cut pieces-of coroplast on the inner edge of the <br /> sill to keep small birds in and weasels out. <br /> Coroplast is a plastic material with a structure similar to <br /> corrugated cardboard. It is manufactured by Coroplast Inc. (700 Vadnais <br /> Street, Granby, Quebec, J2J 1A7, Canada) and is available in standard <br /> building dimensions in a variety of colors. The coroplast used for the <br /> g <br /> cages is <br /> treated to resist ultraviolet decay and is semi- translucent. <br /> This and other wall materials were placed on the inside of the wall <br /> framing to prevent buildup of feces or other debris on horizontal parts <br /> of the framing. Coroplast washes fairly easily and pieces are also used <br /> to line the bottom of food boxes. <br /> Corrugated fiberglass is used only on the roof of the cage. It is <br /> more able to support snow loads than coroplast. It is used in <br /> combination with a sheet of coroplast because the smallest raptors may be <br /> able to fit between the ripples of the fiberglass; also, the air space <br /> created between the two layers provides added insulation from both sun <br /> and cold. The cage roofs are built with a 1 foot in 12 foot slope to <br /> shed precipitation, but the very heavy snow of 1986 -87 did require one <br /> session of roof- shoveling. <br /> • <br /> Peregrine Falcons have been known to damage feathers and toes in <br /> chain -link cages, so design modifications suggested by the Peregrine Fund <br /> of Cornell University were implemented in their housing. The wire was <br /> placed on the outside of the framing and 1/2 -inch metal conduit was <br /> placed vertically across the inside at 3 -inch intervals. <br /> 13 <br /> • <br />