Change Of House, Not Venue

Discussion in 'Bird' started by Sjoerd, Jun 5, 2011.

  1. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    It is around 15:00 and that means --tea time! So I am sitting here with the window wide open and the sound of the birds singing outside is absolutely remarkable. The little steam train that comes by a couple of times a day just tooted it's steam whistle and everything inside and out is starting to feel pretty good.

    It has been raining since in the early morning here and so I guess that the birds are celebrating it with a song. The fat, black merel is in his tree, so it is his song that I hear most loudly.
    The rain drips from the shiny leaves and there is a gentle wind that gusts in through the window now and then passing over my face and upper chest. What a marvelous smell it is--the moist coolness of the rainwater on leaf and ground--it brings a freshness with it...a feeling of rejuvenation from that past couple of weeks' desiccating sun/heat and dry wind. The house is dry and stuffy and a bit hot, so this airing-through is making the dwelling seem fresh.

    Well, all this 'presence' of birds makes me think of the worsening state of some of the bird houses that are in the lotties. One of the worst ones is the one made of an old klomp (wooden shoe). It was sawn it two and a flat roof was placed over the top held in place with little wooden pegs. The pegs have rotted-away long ago and now I have it held in place with a couple of nails.
    A linier burst appeared last year, I think that it was, and it is just looking worse and worse. I have tried to extend its life by using duct tape to close the split.
    No thanks to the poor quality of the 'property', the blue tits have again elected to brood in it this year. I guess they found it adequate, but we both know that it is a shambles.
    Here it is:
    [​IMG]

    I have gone to Alkmaar and there is a little shop there that sells all manner of things...old-fashioned things. In fact, I believe that I have shown pictures of its interior on here last year.
    Here is what I picked-up last visit there:
    [​IMG]

    Last week the tits were safe in their nest and were receiving a steady stream of home delivery worms from both parents:
    [​IMG]

    When I sat on the side patio to drink tea, the adults did not seem to take much interest in me sitting there and just flew back and forth as if they were on a bungee cord.
    [​IMG]

    I may have to put up some more new birdhouses next spring. I am looking for unusual, but natural sorts and wonder if you folks can give some ideas for a "different" style of birdhouse.
    I know for instance that Gail has an extensive collection of birdhouses; however, I think that she said that many of her's were more for show.
    At any rate, I would be glad to hear any suggestions.
     
    Frank and Droopy like this.
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  3. cherylad

    cherylad Countess of Cute-ification Plants Contributor

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    Not only loved the photos of the birds and their houses... I enjoyed your description of the moment very well. I could almost see, feel, smell and hear that refreshing rain!
    I, too, was thinking of getting some more birds houses. I'd like to try my hand at making one or two. But I'd have to do it when hubby is away. He just bugs me too much when I get out the wood working tools! :D
     
  4. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Oh, I love the narrative and the photos.
    Now to me the wooden shoe birdhouse is totally different, in fact next time I find a pair at a junque shop I will have to see if they can be converted to a birdhouse.

    I have a fake birdhouse made from an old cowboy boot, I don't see why you couldn't make a real one though. Gourds make usable birdhouses too if you can find some there. I have seen some made from watering cans.
     
  5. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Thank you so much, CHERYL--Good luck with making your birdhouses. If you have any luck, do post some pics.

    Thank you, TONI--I hope that you will be able to find some. I thik that they would be easy for to make because you have already demonstrated how handy you are in your garden.
    Thanks for the tips of watering cans and Gourds. I will be on the look out for those.
     



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  6. dooley

    dooley Super Garden Turtle

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    Only be careful with metal ones because if they hang where the sun can shine on them they get hot and the birds won't use them.

    I really like the little blue tits. They are beautiful.

    dooley
     
  7. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    I can't use metal ones down here because of the heat in sun or shade.
     
  8. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Thanks DOOLEY-- I shall keep that in mind. It is logical, of course. I'm glad that you liked those little birdies. They are nice to see and hear. They are quite acrobatic like chicadees there.

    TONI-- You live in a place that is way too hot! Too hot and too dry some years. WHEW!
     
  9. bunkie

    bunkie Young Pine

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    we're thinking and studying plans for bird houses for here, too. from m,y past experiences, i want to make sure they have an easy access door to open so i can clean them out when necessary. i had one that had no door and it became a terrible mess.

    love your half wooden shoe idea sjoerd! so clever!
     
  10. Frugalkate

    Frugalkate Seedling

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    How beautiful! I had a Cardinal's nest in an evergreen next to the patio, but everytime I'd go to get the camera the mamma and poppa would fly away so I couldn't get a closeup...couldn't get a clear pic of the nest but I did manage to get this...it's pappa on one of the neighbor's deck.

    [​IMG]
    ( photo / image / picture from Frugalkate's Garden )
     
  11. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    BUNKIE--Having an easy access door is important. I have noticed that if ytou clean the bird house out soon after fledging, the birds will sometimes nest a second time for you.
    Glad you liked the half wooden shoe. I can pop the top off to clean.

    Thank you FRUGALKATE--I do hope that you will eventually be able to get some fotos of nest, young and adults feeding.
    I think that your chances will be much better once the parents HAVE to feed their young. You can sit still in the vacinity of the nest and eventually the adults will come to feed the young.
    They may be fast in the beginning, but eventually, they will learn that you will not attack them. Its how I got those blue tit pics.
    Anyway--good luck and thanks again for commenting on the posting.
     
  12. gfreiherr

    gfreiherr Young Pine

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    Enjoyed this posting. I don't think the birds really care about the condition of the houses as much as the location. I have an old bird house on a pole in my garden that needs painting and cleaning up. Bluebirds have been nesting in it for several years. In early spring I took it down to clean it up. I did not get around to it right away and the blue birds (which I don't usually see that time of year) were going crazy. They kept flying to the spot where the birds house was and vocalized their unhappiness. I put it back up without painting it and they continue to nest there. I did clean out the old nests but I had to use duct tape to seal the back because the trap door was rotted.

    [​IMG]
    ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

    If you look closely you can see the baby bluebirds inside.
     
    cherylad likes this.
  13. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Hello Gail--I think that you are right about the birds being interested in location primarily. They must not care too much about condition either, as they used the old shoe yet another year.

    I enjoyed seeing your pic of the old house and reading the story. It would be a thrill to have blue birds in the allotment here.
     

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