Build a Birdhouse
For some of you, somewhere in the back of your minds is the notion that by the end of a truly great date, there will be a warm and cozy place for you to slip your Pink-Backed Pelican into. Well dream no more, Cowboys! This date comes with a 100% guarantee that your Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker will soon be flying in and out of its very own love nest.
Some of you may think we're pulling your tail feathers by including a date on birdhouse building, but if you want to be a truly cool dating genius, you'll occasionally mix up your dating repertoire with something offbeat that the two of you can make together. If the birdhouse idea doesn't do it for you, at least let it turn some lights on that will inspire you and your date to work on a fun project where you build something together.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Do you want your Red-Throated Loon to have a special perch where he can flutter his wings and sing his song before squeezing inside his snug new box of joy, or is your American Woodcock one of those no-nonsense birds who likes to sneak inside fast? Do you want your Hairy Woodpecker to have a premanufactured condo, where all you add is the paint and landscaping, or will you make your house from scratch, carefully fitting each and every piece in place. There's also the matter of size. While none of us had a choice whether nature endowed us with a Great Blue Heron or a lowly little Magpie, it's important for the habitat to fit the birds that will be living there. These are the problem-solving challenges that a birdhouse-building date poses.
COST
If you have a few pieces of scrap wood that are just begging to become birdhouse siding, the cost will be minimal. If you buy the materials, you are probably looking at about $10.00. If you are in the paint-and-decorate-only mode, you'll need to purchase a premade birdhouse to slide that Himalayan Snowcock of yours into, The cost can go as high as $30.00 to $50.00 or more.
FOR DECORATION ONLY
Let's say you like the idea of building birdhouse for decoration only and don't want some Black-Tailed Godwit mucking it up with bird poop. Simply visit the library and check out a book on building birdhouses, or buy a premade birdhouse and decorate it. Or, try www.birds-n-us.com, www.amazon.com or www.goto.com and enter "birdhouse" in the search box.
PLANS FOR YOUR CUCKOO'S NEST
A Chickadee will need a different type of birdhouse than a Purple Martin. So go to the library or call the local birdwatchers organization and ask what types of birds nest in your area. Then go online:
Whether you are building a home for a Red-Breasted Nuthatch or a Black-Capped Chickadee, a site that gives a family-by-family listing of ideal birdhouse dimensions is www.fb-net.org/birdhouses.htm.
For a great site to learn everything from what to use in building your birdhouse to ways of protecting your friendly Whip-Poor-Will from nasty predators, try www.bcpl.net/~tross/by/house.html.
The Birdhouse Network is a terrific website that has everything from birdhouse plans and suppliers to suggestions on birdhouse placement, so even a Red-Footed Booby will be sure to find it; www.birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/bhbasics/bhbasics_index.html.
For more birdhouse plans, fly over to www.birding.com.
Dr. Jay's Ornithology Resources site has more info about birds than a Long-Tailed Tit has—well—feathers. See what Jay has to say at www.anselm.edu/homepage/jpitocch/resorn2.html.
BIRDHOUSE KITS and BOOKS
If you are looking for birdhouse kits, go to www.birdhousekits.com/ and www.yankeegardener.com/colbirdhouse/#prod1
For a truly cool and inspirational birdhouse book, try The Great Birdhouse Book: Fun, Fabulous Designs You Can Build by Mike Dillon; $24.95. Some of these designs are so creative that they instantly put a smile on your face and you'll hate to stick them outside.
TIPS FROM OTHER DATERS WHO HAVE BUILT BIRDHOUSES
Unless you're planning on cooking your goose, use wood to build your birdhouse. Metals should be avoided because they become extremely hot when exposed to a sweltering sun.
When it comes to entrance holes, tight is nice. Entrance holes should be near the top of the box and proportional to the size of the birds which will be squeezing through them.
Roofs should be constructed with sufficient pitch to shed water. At least 3 inches of overhang should be allowed to protect the entrance from driving rain. Large slabs of bark made a great roof.
Drill a few small holes in the floor so water can drain out, and drill small holes in the walls, just below the roof for extra ventilation. Don't sand or paint the interior of the birdhouse. A surface that is slightly rough makes it easier for young birds to crawl out when they are big enough. Make sure the inside has not been treated with stains or preservatives. Fumes from the chemicals could leave you with the birdhouse version of Love Canal.
The entrance should face away from the prevailing winds —this will keep your little Wrentits dry when it rains. If possible, the house should be situated in partial sunlight and away from predators.
Paint the exterior of the birdhouse a natural color if you will be using it outdoors. Subdued color tones are best, except for those placed in direct sunlight where white is needed to reflect the heat.
Clean out the birdhouse early each spring. The house should be constructed with screws for easy disassembly when cleaning. A roof that is hinged will also make for easier clean up.
GOODWILL FOR YOUR FEATHERED FRIENDS
Since there is no Home Depot for birds, consider leaving some of the following nest-building materials outside on the ground:
Thin twigs, dog hair, human hair from your brush, feathers, dried grass and cuttings from the garden, thread or string cut into 4" lengths, lint from the dryer and pine needles. (After we groom our llamas, we leave the fiber on the ground for the birds to use, or that's what we tell the neighbors anyway when we're too lazy to pick it all up.)
MAKING BIRDHOUSES FROM GOURDS
Natural gourds make attractive houses and are less likely to be taken over by sparrows and starlings. For a gourd kit, try this website: www.mybackyard.com/current/74p1.htm
Plans for gourd birdhouses can be found on these sites: http://ak.essortment.com/howtomakebird_rffe.htm
You can purchase dried gourds from www.gourdsforsale.com or www.pumpkinhollow.com or phone (870)598-3568. Contact the American Gourd Society at www.americangourdsociety.org for anything you'd ever want to know about gourds.
ANYONE GOT MILK?
You can make a birdhouse out of a milk carton. Go to http://birding.about.com/library/bleasyhouse.htm.
COOL BAT-CHELOR PAD
You don't have to be from Transylvania to be a friend of the bat. All you need to do is visit the site of the North American Bat House Research Project at www.batcon.org/bhra/index.html. They have a cool book on how to build a bat house, bat-house videos and even large bat-house kits. The only thing that seems to be missing on this site is a live, XXX-rated bat-house webcam.
ROCK'N'ROLL GROUPS NAMED AFTER BIRDS
Here's our list of bands named after birds—hopefully you can add a few of your own: Byrds, House Martins, Buzzcocks, Bluejays, Counting Crows, Eagles, Blackbyrds, Blackhawk, Cardinals, Cock Sparrow, Flock of Seagulls, Ravens, Sandpipers and Thrashing Doves.
