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Decorative Birdhouses

	You know how some people devotedly collect those Dickens’ village house and display them every Christmas, and quite often, year round? Well, there’s a new village in town so to speak, and the residences are really for the birds. Decorative birdhouses have caught on as a simple and colorful way to brighten up your yard. Depending on the places available to put them, they can hang from a tree limb, a bracket, or be mounted on a fence post, the side of the garage or top of a clothesline pole. Remember though when choosing decorative birdhouses, that they are generally meant for more than an accessory. If you truly want to attract birds, you’ll have to give some thought to the species that inhabit your area, and what their nesting patterns are. Many birds will not go to a hanging house that moves in the wind. That means round shapes or others with long roof or other extensions may not be feasible for nailing against a flat surface.

Metal Birdhouses

Queen Boat Birdhouse

Riverboat design
Natural wood
9.5 x 7.5 x 10 inches

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Old Mill Birdhouse

Character birdhouse
Natural wood
9.75 x 8 x 10 inches

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Tree Bark Decorative Birdhouse

Faux wood look
Made of polyresin
7 1/2 x 6 x 14 3/4 inches

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Victorian Style Birdhouse

Attractive Design
29 1/4 Inches Tall
Painted Wood

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Dahlia Birdhouse

Flower design
Made from resin
9 inches diameter

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Cactus Birdhouse

Western theme
Made from resin
8 x 5 x 7 inches

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Casino Decorative Birdhouse

Casino design
Wood, polyresin trim
9 1/2 x 7 3/4 x 10 inches

More Wooden Birdhouses...

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Decorative Birdhouses

The vast majority of these charming yard accents are designed for smaller birds, so here’s the kind of things you should be looking for. Let’s take the House Wren as an example. They are fairly common in most areas of the U.S. and are the kind who prefer a “stable” home.

You’ll want to look for houses that have a hole approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, and 4-5 inches off the floor of the house. No mama bird wants the babies falling out of a low door, nor do they want to see squirrels inviting themselves in through a hole that is too large. Check to see if there are any holes in the bottom for drainage. Generally speaking, a decorative birdhouse that has a roof overhang of under 3 inches, may end up with water blown in during storms. That moisture inside, particularly if the weather is hot, can breed bacteria and be unhealthy for parents and hatchlings.

Also important is a back door, or removable panel, even if it is the bottom. Birdhouses should be cleaned out before the nesting season to remove all feces and dirt. You can hang ones that don’t have the door, but it’s possible that one bird may nest, and another may refuse to move in, because it is not their territory. Your lovely Victorian gingerbread house may go empty for years afterwards. However, a long pair of tweezers and some patience may help in getting it ready for the next occupants.

Decorative birdhouses are made of many materials, primarily wood, plastic and metal. The latter is not a good idea, no matter how beautiful the house. Metal can raise the temperature inside so high, that it makes eggs unviable, and can kill baby birds. Even ventilation windows may not help. If you are determined to buy that adorable Cape Cod made out of painted metal, and only want it for the decorative aspect, do the birds a favor and block off the door.

Plastic is somewhat better, but can also heat up, discolor, and warp over time in the sun and harsh weather. Wood is the perennial favorite and a material that can be carved, turned, planed and burnt to create residences so amazing, you’ll wish they were sized for people, too.

Of course, you can always make your own decorative birdhouses, from wood kits, or salvaged pieces of palettes, barn boards and other “antique” material. Then you’re free to create the shape and style you want. Gardeners can not only make their birdhouses they can grown them by planting gourds that can be dried, treated and painted for a winter project.

If you don’t have the time or inclination for that much work there are dozens of marvelous birdhouses that will really create an up-scale neighborhood in your yard. From churches, to antique buildings, 50s retro cafés, bait shacks and more. Of course, you can always personalize any of them with a wee bit of paint to add the color or name of your own home, or a favorite vacation spot. Be sure to use exterior paint that is non-toxic, and try to hang your creations where they will have 1/4 of an acre to themselves, or there’ll be some great squabbles over the new mansion.