Project – Natural Birdhouse

On By TimelessladyIn Projects

The weather has warmed up. The birds are beginning to nest. It’s time to create a few birdhouses out of the gourds I’ve been drying throughout the winter.

I bought two large varieties in late Autumn, and grew the small one myself. They hung from my porch rafters through the colder months and grew some interesting molds on their surfaces. After brushing them with a light bleach solution, and leaving them in the sun for a few hours, I began my crafting.

I cut a small hole with a craft knife, pushing it in carefully at tiny intervals. Removing the seeds was easier than I had anticipated. I used a paint paddle, swished inside a few times, and all the seeds and fluff fell out. Two holes at the top were easy to drill for the hanging wire.  I also drilled several small holes in the bottoms to allow any collected rain to drain out. To stop larger birds and squirrels from raiding the nests, I used my glue gun and glued a border of pennies around the opening. I like the way the copper sets off the color of the gourds.

I placed one birdhouse on a tripod of sticks near my back window,  two are hanging on thin twigs. I am hoping the close proximity of the house, and the thinness of the twigs will keep squirrels from tampering with the houses. I’ll update later in the season.

This post is part of Skywatch.

17 thoughts on “Project – Natural Birdhouse”

  2. Timelesslady

    Thanks so much! It’s sunny here in NJ so I am enjoying that quite a bit. The birdhouses are still intact, hoping the squirrels don’t get too curious. Have a great weekend too.

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    1. Timelesslady

      Hmmm…didn’t think of crows being drawn by the shiny pennies. My reasoning is because of past experience…the pennies narrow the opening and keep out large birds. If a squirrel, chipmunk or larger bird nibbles at the edge they will have a metallic surprise. I’ve done the same on wooden bird houses with thumb tacks and it has worked and kept out larger animals and birds. Since the hollow gourds are very light I have two on very thin twigs that squirrels wouldn’t venture out onto…don’t think they would hold their weight. The one on the tripod is near the house and most squirrels stay away from the windows.

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        1. Timelesslady

          Thanks for the great comment! It’s all a ‘high hopes’ endeavor. Things can quickly go awry in the back yard where birds and small beasts roam and fly. I’ll try to update when I see the gourds are inhabited, or (sigh) if they are shunned by my feathered friends.

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      1. Timelesslady

        Thanks Michele. I know a fellow crafter would enjoy the work of nature in the patterns. I thought about painting them, but decided the natural patterns were just right.

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    1. Timelesslady

      I will post again Anne. And yes…I am a very demanding landlord…I require songs, songs, and more songs from the birds that inhabit these houses. Just kidding…I love the sound and presence of birds. I feel very blessed to have them in the yard.

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    1. Timelesslady

      Hi, they weren’t labeled, but I think they were actual birdhouse gourds. We live in an area where there are usually quite a few, along with swan-neck gourds, for sale at farm markets. I hope the pennies work. Two of the gourds are missing pennies. I don’t know if they fell off or if an inquisitive squirrel bit them off. I don’t want birds to nest only to have the squirrels tear them down. I need to keep a close watch on them.

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Thanks so much for your comments. They fill my life with sunshine.

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