May 11 2008

Bluebird Nesting Box

Published by Author under Bird Houses

One of the simplest bird house plans is the eastern bluebird nesting box. These bird house plans are so simple that children can build this type of bird house with a little bit of adult supervision. A bird house can be a wonderful addition to anyone’s backyard.

To build with these bird house plans, you must first collect all the materials necessary in order to build the nesting box. The materials for these bird house plans are simple: all you will need is one piece of six by six lumber (rough cut), a drill, and galvanized nails (to prevent rusting). That’s it! Now you are ready to take these bird house plans and make something great.

Building The Bird House

The first thing you need to do to build the bird house is to measure and mark the wood so that you will have pieces for the bottom, sides, and roof. Then you will need to drill a hole to be used as the entry hole for the birds. It should be at least an inch and a half across.

Next, you will nail together all of the sides onto the bottom. Remember that you will need to have access to the inside of the box, so for the second side, only use three nails instead of four so that you will have a side that swings out to be able to refill the box with seed. To be able to lock this swinging side, you can use a screw instead of a third nail. It will be easier to remove when you need to check the box.

You will want to position your bird house on a free standing pole that is four or five feet from the ground. It should be placed in an open area or at the edge of an open area. It is not recommended to place these types of bird houses under trees. Make sure that it also faces east or north to avoid a lot of sun and wind.

If you place this type of a bird house in late March, you will have more success is attracting birds ready to lay eggs.

There are numerous other types of bird house plans out there, and you can even come up with your own. This is a really simple one to start with, but if you would like to try more complicated bird house plans, by all mean go ahead. Practice makes perfect!

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May 09 2008

Choosing The Right Water Bottle Bird House Design

Published by Author under Bird Houses

People have birds coming into their lives in many different ways.  Some buy them from a store and keep them in a cage in their homes, letting them out to fly around from time to time as well.

Other people attract wild birds into their backyards and enjoy seeing them in their natural habitat.  Provided you or your neighbor doesn’t have cats, the birds should come quite easily if you have the right items in your garden to attract them.

We all know that providing food for the birds is very important.  But one of the most vital things you can provide for them is water too.  Water bottle bird house items are freely available at many good pet stores; all you need to decide is what style and size you would like to get for them.

Inside Or Outside?

A water bottle bird house design is easy to find for an indoors cage since they are designed to be attached to the bars.  All you need to do is buy the water bottle, bird house and any other items you need and fix the water bottle bird house combination together.

Outdoors is a little trickier.  You cannot really buy a water bottle; bird house styles they fit to are intended for indoors only so you might be better off buying a bird table that can either be filled naturally with rainwater or which you can top off yourself during warmer and drier weather when it may run dry.

However water bottles are more hygienic so you may be able to provide a floor standing bird table on which you can attach it in some way.  Bear in mind that the birds will need to be able to stand on the table and take water from the bottle when it is fixed slightly above them.  You could stand the table next to a wall and attach the bottle to some guttering perhaps; try some different solutions to see what works best for you.

When you have fixed a water bottle/bird house solution together, try watching the birds for a few days to see how they cope with it.  If it doesn’t seem to be working, try something else until you arrive at the perfect solution.  Eventually the birds coming into your garden will know that they have a source of food and water they can rely on all year round – and you will be able to see them enjoying it from the comfort of your own home.

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May 08 2008

Bird House Kits Are Easy To Use

Published by Author under Bird Houses

Birds are the most delightful creatures.  The sights and sounds that birds provide are magnificent.  Birds whistle a happy sound as they glide through the air, and they come in many colors.  Their wings carry them through the air like no other creature.  Birds come in all shapes and sizes.  They come in many colors and designs.  Some birds display the most wonderful colors as if they have been painted by the most creative artist.  Birds are fantastic, and they need a fantastic place to reside when they take time out from the sky.  Bird house kits are designed so all people can provide a place for these darling creatures.

Bird house kits are usually very easy to assemble so one does not have to be a master carpenter to build a bird house.  Many people have a set idea of the perfect bird house, and there is a bird house kit that will produce the ideal shape and size to fit this ideal.  The basic bird house kit will produce a perfect place where all birds will feel right at home.  In other words, it is perfect for the birds and the humans who want to care for them.

Bird House Kits Cater To Our Feathered Friends

The basic kit will suit the desires of some people and their feathered friends, but other people want something special in their yards.  These people will find some great bird house kits to meet their needs.  There are some attractive kits that will produce a house for many birds and their entire families.  Many of these bird house kits fit the ideal shape, but the size is larger to accommodate more birds.  Some kits will produce a home for larger birds and their entire family.  Those shoppers that have plenty of time to assemble the larger bird house can order the kits unassembled while busier shoppers might want a kit delivered fully assembled.  The placement of the bird house will be the only chore left to the new owner.

There are different designs that will accommodate many different types of birds.  The designs come in a two story model that has plenty of floor space for raising young birds.  Those bird lovers that want a more intricate design will find a wide variety of homes for the birds that are even more attractive than the basic models.  Some bird kits produce houses with intricate designs carved into the wood.  A heart shaped hole rather than the more mundane circular hole adds an artistic touch that will add a bit of class to the garden.

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May 06 2008

Breaking the Mold with a Stained Glass Bird House

Published by Author under Bird Houses, Uncategorized

Bird houses are traditional craft time projects. They are often painted by children for their parents at summer camp, or are cut and assembled by beginner woodworkers in introductory classes. Older men and women will often purchase bird house making kits to try at home, simple projects that include plans and materials.

These houses are often simple, four-walled houses with a roof, entrance and perch—the kind of bird houses often depicted in cartoons. However, even the simplest bird house fulfills its ultimate purpose—to protect a bird.

But for those looking for bird houses that add a bit more to the yard, a sense of imagination, creativity and vibrant color, traditional bird houses may not cut it, and craft time may be better served with a different project.

For these individuals, a stained glass bird house could be the perfect solution. Different, inventive, but still functional, a stained glass bird house is the perfect combination for both bird watchers and homeowners—the balance between bird house and artwork.

Advanced Craftsmanship

For the most part, a stained glass bird house is not going to be crafted by the bird watcher or the bird owner. Working with stained glass is a very specific hobby, and while there are individuals out there who will love working with glass and watching birds, most people are going to end up purchasing a stained glass bird house from a store.

While unique, they are available in a variety of shops, including garden stores, pet stores and feed stores. A stained glass bird house is usually traditionally shaped, as they are difficult to make and getting too complicated can weaken the house.

All bird houses must be able to endure the elements, and with a material as fragile as glass, getting too creative can mean breaking the house. While the walls are made from soldered glass, the roof, perch and corners are often crafted from brass or copper, giving the house the appearance of glass but providing it with a little extra strength.

For those individuals who do wish to make a stained glass bird house, whether for their bird watching enthusiasm or for the next step in their stained glass hobby, patterns are available online or in numerous books.

Usually a few different types of glass are needed, along with the brass or other metal to forge the roof. The patterns are not too complicated, as the walls are square or rectangle, and soldering is kept to a minimum. The end result is beautiful and unique, and any stained glass enthusiast will be proud of his or her work.

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May 05 2008

Create While Conserving

Published by Author under Bird Houses

Bird houses are a great way to bring a person closer to nature. The types of birds that you can attract to your neighborhood are only limited by what species come and go through your area. If you are lucky, you can catch a glimpse of a rare one. Building a bird house is good for you as well as nature, especially if you build a beautiful and rustic bird house barn.

What Is a Bird House Barn?

A bird house barn is a type of bird house that is made from old barn wood. Making a bird house barn from old barn wood is a great idea to help conserve our limited resources. Instead of letting old barn wood rot in the corner somewhere, you can utilize it in a bird house barn or any other number of outdoor decorating and building projects.

Sometimes the term bird house barn also refers to the style of the bird house. Sometimes the bird house barn is shaped like an actual barn. Why not combine both ideas into a bird house barn made from real barn wood? On a farm, it will be a really cute addition to your yard.

Barn wood is a lovely addition to any yard because it blends in well with the surroundings or nature. And building a bird house barn brings more nature closer to you. You have a couple of different options when considering installing a bird house barn in your yard. You can purchase one from a store, or you can build your own.

If you want to purchase a bird house barn, there are a lot of resources on the internet where you can buy these types of bird houses. There are also some home improvement stores and chain stores that sell different types of bird houses, though this particular type may be difficult to find in a store.

You can easily build a bird house barn by acquiring plans. There are quite a few internet resources related to different plans for bird houses, some free of charge. If you fancy yourself the amateur architect, there is no harm is designing and building your own bird house. You know better than anyone else the shape, style, and color that your bird house should be. The one important thing to remember is to make sure to recycle your old barn wood in order to make a little bit of a difference for our planet.

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May 02 2008

Bird Watching Basics: Bird Feeder and Bird House Kits

Published by Author under Bird Houses

For many people, bird watching begins as a hobby. Especially in suburban areas, the lure of birds can be overwhelming—they are always there, singing their love songs, welcoming the longer days of spring and summer.

Different birds frequent different areas, and very quickly, homeowners begin to collect birds—to name and discover new species with the use of guidebooks and internet websites. But how to attract birds? Sure, birds exist all over the world, and where there is a tree, there will probably be a bird. But birds will not stay where there is nothing useful, and a visiting bird will continue on to better places.

Bird feeder and bird house kits provide homeowners and burgeoning bird watchers with the necessary tools to truly begin attracting birds. Most of these kits provide simple step-by-step instructions for assembling and maintaining both bird houses and feeders, and some even come with their own guidebooks. With bird feeder and bird house kits, any bird watcher can begin watching more birds than ever before, since now, with such an arsenal of desirable food and rest, that bird watcher’s yard will quickly become prime vacation land.

Learning and Watching

Bird feeder and bird house kits are the foundation for the hobby of bird watching. Right off the box, bird watchers will notice the differences right away. The bird houses will provide rest and safety, while the feeders, complete with different seeds, will attract hungry visitors. Many bird feeder and bird house kits include guidebooks which help bird watchers to identify birds and to identify what attracts those specific birds, a very important piece of information. Once the bird watcher feels comfortable with his or her bird feeder and bird house kits, he or she can expand his or her hobby.

Different seeds and nuts attract different birds, and while bird feeder and bird house kits will usually come with generic wild seed mixes, overtime, bird watchers will want to rearrange their feeders. Some feeders will be dedicated to certain seeds, to attract certain birds. Some seeds even require specialized feeders do to the shape of the food and the shape of the desired bird’s beak.

Eventually, hummingbird feeders can be added as well, unique feeders that truly attract unique birds. Either way, bird feeder and bird house kits are the perfect foundation for a bird watching career, and they will provide years of continued use even when that beginner becomes an expert, with just a little re-arranging, creativity and extra hardware.

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Apr 29 2008

Purchasing A Wood Cabin Bird House

Published by Author under Bird Houses

There are many types of bird houses on the market. Once of the most beautiful types of bird house is the wood cabin bird house. A wood cabin bird house looks like a very intricate miniature wood cabin home. It is a great addition to any yard that is surrounded by woods and nature.

Most wood cabin bird houses are made from natural wood that has a brown finish. The wood looks rustic and woodsy. The most common dimensions for this type of wood cabin bird house are around eight inches on all sides. A wood cabin bird house is made from sturdy wood products and can last outdoors for many years. Most of these bird houses are priced right too—you can find many styles of the wood cabin bird house for under fifteen dollars. That is almost a steal.

Compared to other types of bird houses, the wood cabin bird house will blend into your environment and attract a lot of different birds. Because of the dark, natural brown color, you will be able to easily spot colorful birds outside your window. This helps when you are looking for a particularly colorful bird. You will be able to easily spot them against the brown background.

The Benefits Of A Wood Cabin Bird House

Make sure that if you want to attract a lot of different birds, you put a little bit of bird seed on the bottom of the bird house. This will not only attract native local species, but it will also attract many of the migratory birds that fly through your area on a yearly basis. These are the birds that you will probably be interested in spotting in your own backyard. But remember, you will attract common birds as well, so you’ll have to be patient when trying to spot a rare bird.

A wood cabin bird house is a great investment for those who would love to bring nature to them. And with this bird house, you can bring nature right into you own backyard. It will not only benefit the aesthetics of your area, attracting great species of birds, it will also help your children learn about birds and all the different kinds of birds. You may even get your family interested in bird watching as a new hobby. Bird watching is a great hobby that the whole family can enjoy, and with a bird house right in your backyard, you will never have to travel far to see them!

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Apr 28 2008

Add Beauty and Value to Your Outdoor Space with a Lantern Bird House

Published by Author under Bird Houses

One of the easiest ways to add beauty and interest to the spaces around your home is to place interesting outdoor accessories around your yard.  Interesting outdoor furniture, eye-catching statuary, and unique ornaments can all make your outdoor areas much more enjoyable to be in.

Birdhouses as Outdoor Decorations

Accessories that attract beautiful wildlife are even more valuable and beneficial for your home and yard.  Birdhouses are especially great for the dual purpose of adding beautiful accessories to your yard while attracting and housing all kinds of birds.

There are many types of birdhouses in all kinds of shapes and sizes that will help you enjoy your outdoor spaces to the fullest.  A cute trend that has really taken off lately is birdhouses that look like normal outdoor accessories but actually feature chambers inside for birds to nest in.

A lantern bird house can give you the perfect mix of form and function.  It’s attractive, functional, and doesn’t look like one of the old-fashioned bird houses that your grandparents had.  In fact, a lantern bird house doesn’t even have to look like a bird house at all – some of them look just like an oil lantern on a post.

When you add a lantern bird house or two to your patio or back yard, you will be giving your yard a simple and inexpensive makeover.  Accessories like lantern bird houses can add charm and a sense of character to your space without going too over the top.

Of course, if you want to go to a little more effort, you can create a decorating theme in your back yard or on your patio or any other outdoor space.  A city street theme would be the perfect way to incorporate a lantern bird house into the décor.  Your garden path could be the city sidewalk, complete with street signs and a few potted trees.  Your lantern bird house could be the streetlight on the corner.

This is just one idea for using your lantern bird house to decorate around your home.  It’s easy to come up with a theme that uses a lantern bird house or any other type of birdhouse that catches your eye.  If you need help coming up with ideas, there are many online resources to help you plan your outdoor space.

Once you have an attractive new outdoor decorating theme in place, you’ll be surprised how much nicer it feels to spend time outdoors in your new beautified yard.

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Apr 25 2008

Humming Bird Houses Need Special Considerations

Published by Author under Bird Houses

Birdhouses are a lot of fun to build and hang in your backyard. There are many different types of species that enjoy the birdhouses. However, the humming bird is a unique species of bird that requires its own specific humming bird house. Once you know and understand the specific needs of the humming bird, you can build them a humming bird house that they will enjoy year after year.

Pay Attention To What The Humming Bird Needs

There are two important things that pertain to all humming birds. Humming birds usually build small nests and they will never live in the same humming bird house with other birds. So, in order to build a humming bird house that the humming bird will like, one must keep these two important factors in mind at all times.

Another thing to consider is the climate. Humming birds cannot have a nest where the sun is too hot. If the sun is too hot it may cook the eggs in their nest. Their eggs are very delicate and can cook quickly in the hot sun. One must also put the humming bird house away from the wind. Strong winds could blow the eggs right out of the humming bird nest. So, make sure you consider the climate when you are building your humming bird house.

Choose a high place to place your humming bird house. Most humming birds like to build their nests in trees that are at least six to twelve feet from the ground. They feel as if they are more protected if they are up higher. So, when you are placing your humming bird house, make sure to put it as high off the ground as possible.

Be careful when determining the location for the nesting platform. One of the best places for the nesting platform is to attach it to the side of a building or a tree and have it curved downward. Once again, remember to place it in an area where there is very minimal sunlight and wind.

Use humming bird food and treats in and around your humming bird house. This will attract the humming birds to your location and keep them interested in their new home. You can purchase humming bird food and supplies at your local pet store or anywhere bird supplies are sold.

These are just a few considerations to keep in mind when you are making or buying a humming bird house. Watching humming birds nest and raise little ones can be fun and exciting. When you pay attention to their needs, they are happier birds and will be more likely to return year after year to build their nests and raise their young.

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Apr 22 2008

Making A Gourd Bird House

Published by Author under Bird Houses

A gourd bird house can be a lovely addition to any backyard area. A gourd bird house is also a simple type of bird house that nearly anyone can make. Children can also take part in making these types of houses, though they will need sufficient adult supervision.

Materials

For a gourd bird house, you will need a few tools and materials. First, you will need a large, dried gourd. You will also need exterior spray paint and sealer. The tools you will need are a power drill, a 3/8 drills bit, a scrubbing pad, and an eye screw. Once you collect all of your materials you are on your way to building a gourd bird house.

Making The House

First, you will need to prepare the gourd. It will need to be dried and cleaned. Then you must make sure that the gourd is large enough for birds to nest in. The hole that you drill into it must allow room for the types of birds that you want to attract. Try to avoid using moldy gourds, but if you get one in that condition, you can easily clean it. Make sure the gourd is hard and dry before you begin your gourd bird house.

Next you will need to drill the hole into the gourd. Once that is complete, you will need to clean out the inside of the gourd. It is very important to make sure and wear a mask when drilling into gourds. The mold and seed dust from the gourds can cause respiratory problems if you breathe in too much of the dust. Once you have drilled your large entry hole, make sure to drill three small holes on the bottom in order to allow for water drainage.

The third step is to put the eye screw into the top of the bird house in order to get it ready to hang. The next step is to decorate your gourd. It can be left unpainted, although it still needs to be sealed to protect it from the rain. Painting and sealing it are the last steps you’ll need to take. Then all you have to do it hang it and wait for the birds to come.

Making a gourd bird house is simple. And with some adult supervision, you can even get your children involved in helping to make a gourd bird house. Just remember to follow safety instructions in order to make this a happy project.

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