Bird House photos

Even though its cold enough to turn all my birds into "Chilly Willies" I know that spring and nesting season is just around the corner! (goodygoodygoody) I havve found 3 more houses to put up as soon as the ground thaws. I have been wondering what houses have been successful for you all and which kind of posts do you like.

Have any of you put up robin roosting platforms? Have any birds used them?

Do any of you put out nesting material? I have also been thinking about putting out some calcium grit. One year I saved all of my egg shells and the blue jays went crazy over them.

Any nesting hints or tips and especially pictures you have to share will help the end of winter fly by!!!

Here is one of my bluebird houses from last year. I have replaced this one with a newer house and moved it a little closer to the photo range. I also replace the post with a metal pole and baffle as my neighbor's cat learned how to climb the pole and sit on the top of the house! (luckily the birds were gone by then)

Very cute lily!! I'm going to have the DH make me a couple of houses.

That would bring up another question for sites that give instructions for building house. If anyone has them please post that sites address. I'm sure theres a lot more than any of us know about individually.

This message was edited Feb 15, 2007 9:36 AM

OOOO, good idea! and it sounds like you are going to need some houses too Pell now that bluebirds have found your birdie paradise! :-)

Even though it was just 2 degrees this morning I can just FEEL spring getting closer!

I just thought of another thing to do - if you have any cats or dogs, give them a good brushhing and put the hair out on top of a bush or somewhere visible.

I got this house at Wild Bird Center. I know, it shouldn't be on a tree, but this is an old pic, I hope to get it put on a metal pole here in Missouri.

You can open the sides and look inside. One side has plastic, so as not to disburb, the other is open for cleaning.

Another shot

Oh what a great photo! I can even see you in the reflection taking the picture! Was that a bluebird nest?

Yep, those were bluebird babies.

Could you hear me saying "aaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww" all the way out here?

nice photos, Especially like the one with the two bluebirds at the house!! They have a BB house thats very similar to the one you got at the wild bird center at wallmart, I was planning on picking one up as it really does help to have the plastic on the sides for viewing how the chicks are doing. I have the normal "" Petersons Blue bird house's" right now that open from the front which I've had a lot of luck with for the past several years, Now that I've moved, I have put a few out here and have allready had bluebirds and chickadees checking them out ( Didn't get any pictures yet though) Also put the house guard on them this time and have watched the chickadees go right in with the guards on. I'm really hoping to have some bluebirds nesting in them this year!

I've read that if you put some gourd house's in the vicinity of your bluebird houses that the wrens will choose the gourds most times and leave the bluebird houses alone, I have tried this and find that it does work in most instances, Here's a few photo's of one of the gourd houses being used...

another

another..

two more..

last one...

OMG!! That is a gorgeous gourd! Did you make the house iris or did you buy it? I have not heard that about wrens and gourds but I will certainly be on the look out for some gourd houses.

That particular one I had bought, But, I have others that I had grown from seed that the wrens have used. I have put gourds up on tall poles for tree swallows and have had very good luck with them nesting in them too! Will post a pic when I find one.

Wonderful photos, too, Iris! Those hungry little mouths at the gourd opening are precious!!

Thanks Murmur, It was fun to watch them grow!

Iris, great pics!! Do you mind sharing with us where you bought the gourd?

I love those hungry mouth pics, baby bluebirds here.

I have a gourd painted blue with UK on the outside for KY Wildcats. Maybe I should drill a hole in it for the wrens. Gourds are easy to grow if anyone is interested in them. Martins also like to nest in them.

I love the bluebird house with a view! One year I had to save the babies from a black snake going in the entrance.

We do some volunteer work for a local conservation group and they had a bunch of these birdhouses donated to them and had stored them for years, so we resurrected a few and decorated them up a little. They are in white primer as supplied and not terrribly attractive but they do dress up nicely. I can't find my pic of the bunch DW had painted but here are 2 we erected here in FL.

my favorite

Their cute and cheery looking!

This message was edited Feb 15, 2007 10:28 PM

another view

pelletory, Thanks! I believe I bought that particular gourd at a farm stand, But they are fairly easy to get if you check around, They also sell them on e-bay. They are also easy to grow. Many people use them for birdhouses and many use them for crafts to make baskets and rattles and all kinds of things. ~Also, There are different size and different texured gourds. The one I posted was aparticular texured one, But I can't think of the name of it offhand. For the wrens and others, I leave them natural, But for the tree-swallows I paint them white
Here is one link of many where you can get gourds and it also shows some of the "Variety"~
www.gourdfarmer.com


This message was edited Feb 16, 2007 2:12 AM

Kikisdad, those birdhouses are adorable - sure could brighten up a dark area!

kikisdad, They áre'' adorable! The stripping on poles makes it stand out, neat colors and designs!

I agree, those ARE adorable! I now have the urge to really vamp up the housing in my yard lol!

Here is bird house I just got this winter from Audubon Workshop. The catalog came with a $25 coupon and NO minimum purchase. The pole came with the house too.



This message was edited Feb 16, 2007 12:02 PM

Lily, do you have to belong (paid member) to have them send the catalog?

No, I think this is a separate business from the Audobon Society. I'm not sure if I can post a link but I'm sure you can find them if you google the name.

http://audubonworkshop.com

the catalog is free

lilyfantn, I really like that birdhouse! Very natural looking!

Here is an unusual kind of house I got in Williamsburg. They used to make these back in the colonial days. They are called bird bottles and attached them to their houses. I found another one in Tn. and mounted a second one on the front of the house. (don't tell DH that I put a nail in the wood lol! )
Here is the original which is in the back. The carolina wrens like these. I noticed that "somebody" has been putting twigs in it already. Please don't notice all the cobwebs (blush blush).


This message was edited Feb 19, 2007 6:13 PM

Here's the one I just recently put on the front of the house.

And here is a bird house that is really old. I just love it though! My son made this when he was a cub scout. He is now is now a sophmore in college. The tree branches have grown around it. It looks like a squirrel has done some chewing on the hole. Last year titmice used it for a couple of broods.

I love those bird bottles Lily! I've never seen them before. My DH says you see them a lot in the southwest. Thats so cool that you still have the one your son made you so long ago!

Thanks Pell! I dread the day that it falls apart which from the looks of it won't be too many more years!

This is a local link that has plans for owl and bluebird nest boxes - just look at the column on the left hand side for different subjects. (Their .pdf files don't have the extension on them, so if you get a question about opening the files, just use Acrobat Reader or whatever program you use for pdf.)
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/org/wildlife/clubextra/872037666.html

Thanks for the tip about the gourds! We put one up last year, but had no takers - any siting recommendations? I think I have another in the garage.

I also have to get some hanging plants to replace those lost to our freeze - the house finches like to use them for nests and I want to be a good landlord!