Burl's Birdhouses
Holly Springs, GA
How I Make Them
Suggestions
About Burl's Birdhouses
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Contact Me
How I Got Interested
My mother got me interested in birdfeeders and birdhouses. She lives in the middle of about 200 acres in rural Alabama and comes in contact with many different kinds of wildlife. Over the years, I have bought her a birdhouse or bird feeder so that she could get to see the birds up close.After I bought my own home, I began to realize I haven't seen or heard any birds. Since woodworking is a hobby of mine, and I had just come into a small load of recycled redwood, I decided to build my first birdfeeder. To date, I have spotted 13 different species in my backyard!
How I Make the Houses and Feeders
All birdhouses are made from 3/4" pine or popular. Because my brother and dad operate a sawmill in Alabama, a lot of the wood I use comes from them. The wood they saw is usually from fallen trees on their land or from trees people have brought to them. By building the bird feeders and houses from this wood, I feel we have found a great way to recycle.
Keep in mind, the feeder made of redwood is recycled and may have nail holes or knots that have chipped out. I try to throw most of the bad away, however if nail holes or knot chips are left on some pieces, they do not detract from function or look of the feeder.
The roof of the houses are painted Hunter Green and the roof of the feeders are Colonial Red. Painting adds a decorative look, but most importantly, it prolongs the life of the house/feeder by protecting the wood from direct sun and rain. The house/feeders are also put together with galvanized staples and polyurethene glue. This gives them a seamless look, adds strength, and enables it to be water tight.
All houses come with either a side or front opening. This will give easy access for cleaning.
Suggestions
I would suggest hanging or mounting the feeder near trees as much as possible. Birds like to "hide" or grab and run. Some will stay for a few minutes. My preferred way is to buy 48" black pipe, coupling, and 12" black pipe that will screw into a plate you can attach to the bottom of the feeder (with small screws). All you have to do is drive the 48" pipe into the ground unitl secure and this will provide the perfect viewing height. Mounting accessories can be purchased from your local hardware store.I have tried several kinds of foods, including cracked corn, thistle seeds, and suet cakes, but have found that the birds in my yard prefer the black oil sunflower seeds.
Thanks for visiting my site!
To me, watching the birds can be very mesmerizing. It is a joy to sit on my deck and watch them eat and interact with each other. Each day I go out, I love to see if I will be able to spot a new species of bird.Please keep coming back to visit because I plan on adding additional houses for different types of birds in the future. In the meantime, . . . HAVE FUN BIRD WATCHING!
Burl Gentry