For hundreds of years people have been building bird houses. Many of the homemade bird houses are simple in design, made of spare pieces of wood and other materials that often can be found laying around the house. Although simple, they are nonetheless perfect for attracting and providing a perfect place for birds to build their nests.

Of course others know how to build a bird house that looks like an elaborate Victorian home. These elaborate birdhouses although functional for birds offer the additional advantage of providing a nice wonderful decorative piece for the yard.

Further, the type of bird house you will want to know how to build when you are learning how to build a bird house depends on what type of birds you want to attract. Different kinds of birds require different types of birdhouses. For instance, bluebirds need their homes to be built in such a way that the predators of the bird can not take over the bird house. Or if you want to attract the Northern Cardinal you not only need to know how to build a bird house but you need to know to space them far enough apart so that the males will not feel the need to constantly defend their territory.

So the first thing you need to do when you are learning how to build a bird house is to gather the things you will need. Do not forget that it is possible to build a perfectly wonderful birdhouse out of a hollowed out piece of wood, a dried gourd or even an empty coffee can. Once you have gather your materials and the general knowledge of what your desired birds like then just let your imagination run wild and have fun.

Once you have learned how to build a bird house you will have to learn how to mount it. There are a number of things you have to take into consideration when mounting. First, a bird is not going to want to nest in an area where it feels threatened. So mount your bird house somewhere that the family pets and children will not bother or disturb the bird house. And do not forget to make sure the house is securely mounted. Take a few extra minutes to put a couple extra nails iinto the tree or fence post where the house is going.

How to build a bird house only takes a little imagination and a little research to find the best style for any specific birds desired. Unless you are looking to create an elaborate yard decoration it is impossible to make a mistake. Birds are very forgiving creatures and seem to appreciate anyone who takes the time to discover how to build a bird house.

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Materials List

1) Obviously a large dried gourd.

2) Exterior spray paint or house paint. Decals or other decorations to add a bit of decoration also but try not to make it too brightly colored or flashy because it might scare off the birds rather than attract them.

3) An exterior sealer to help protect the gourd bird house from the elements once it is completed. A spray sealer works well for this.

Required Tools

1) A power drill and assorted drill bits

2) An eye screw and pliers

3) A scrubbing pad

4) A small headed spoon with a long handle or something similar to help scrape out the inside of the gourd bird house.

5) A dust mask

Making the Gourd Bird House

1) Prepare the gourd making sure it is dried out (shake it, it should rattle) and clean the outside with the scrubbing pad. Obviously make sure the gourd is big enough for birds to nest in.

2) Experiment with how you would like to have the gourd hang. At an angle, from the end (a good idea) or flat and determine where the eye screw should go to produce the desired result. Use the pliers and insert the eye screw.

3) Determine where you want the hole to be. A little above center is usually good and make it big enough for the type of bird you are looking to attract. A gourd bird house is perfect for the smaller birds like sparrows or finches.

4) Drill the hole into the gourd. Make sure you wear a mask because any mold or seed dust from the gourd may not but can cause respiratory problems if you inhale too much of it.

5) Also drill three small holes in the bottom for water drainage. This is an important and often overlooked step.

6) After drilling the hole clean out the inside of the gourd. Try to avoid using moldy gourds but if you get one just put a little more effort into the cleanout process. Never use any type of chemical to clean the inside of the gourd, they birds will not be happy with you if you do.

7) Paint and decorate the gourd bird house to your taste remembering it is as much for your visual pleasure as it is a home for the birds. The use the sealer to protect it from the sun and rain over time.

Hang and enjoy.

Making a gourd bird house is a fun and simple project that the whole family can enjoy for years to come. And the birds will appreciate the effort your family makes to provide them with a new home unlike any other gourd bird house.

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Why Buy A Discount Bird House

Installing a bird house or two will add to your bird watching enjoyment. When you offer a place for birds to nest, you will encourage different types of birds to your back yard. And the birds will come back year after year to nest, play, and raise their offspring. Being able to watch all of these activities is a rewarding experince for any bird watcher.

You do not need to spend a lot of money on a bird house. It is simple to find a discount bird house for almost any type of bird and every bird watcher’s tastes. A discount bird house will probably be easier to find online, where bird house dealers offer all kinds of bird houses.

But often you can find a discount bird house in retail stores at the end of the bird season. If you wait and are not in a hurry you can get a good discount bird house at your local home improvement store.

Another possible place to find a discount bird house would be at a garage sale. If you buy a used bird house be sure to check it out for old nests. Also check the construction. Any metal is a bird house no no. The rule of thumb is, as always, Wood and glue are the best.

So there are many places to find a discount bird house so that you may enjoy your hobby of bird watching without a lot of expense and time. It can be a lot of fun to take your morning cup of coffee out to a comfortable seat in your back yard and watch the antics of your feathered friends and neighbors.

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A Handmade Metal Bird House is Dangerous For Birds

Even in the shade, a metal bird house can heat up and become blistering hot so that even by landing on it a bird could be injured or killed. So a handmade metal bird house is a terrible choice.

In additional to a handmade metal bird house getting very hot, it can also have sharp edges which could also hurt a bird. A bird could poke, cut or just plain hurt itself on an edge. So stay away from metal bird houses.

Again, not only does a metal bird house have they capacity to burn the birds with extreme heat build-up and the metal edges could cut a bird, but a handmade metal bird house could rust when exposed to moisture. Most metals when left outdoors will rust or tarnish creating possible toxins for the birds let alone become an eyesore to your landscape.

Which One – Wood or Metal?

When building a bird house for your yard no metal of any kind including nails should be used. Birds and metal are not good together. So if you are building a bird house you should use wood and put it together with wood glue. If you want your backyard bird to be safe, then stay away from metal. A handmade metal bird house can make a beautiful decoration on the interior of your house where it will not rust.Use the right materials and your birds will be very happy birds indeed.

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Definition Of A Nautical Bird House

Usually, those who are not bird enthusiasts, think a bird house would be a square box with a roof. They think the houses would be made of scraps of lumber and nailed on a crooked fence post. However, bird lovers know there is a wide range of variety when it comes to choosing a bird house and a nautical bird house seems to always be a favorite.

The uninitiated may think a nautical bird house is for pelicans or sea gulls. Of course those birds are too big. A nautical bird house is built for song birds. Simply put a nautical bird house is built to resemble a nautical theme. Light houses are what a lot of nautical bird houses look like. Of the hugh variety of shapes and sizes of bird houses, for instance log cabins,churches, fire stations, general store, and Victorian houses, for some reason the nautical theme seems to be the most popular.

Building A Nautical Bird House

Unfortunately the average person does not have the talent to construct a nautical bird house. It usually will take a skilled woodworker to construct the intricate design of a lighthouse. If you have the skill or just want to give it a try spend time finding the right pattern and go for it. Otherwise it might be prudent to buy one already made. The main thing to be wary of when buying is to stay away from metal. The natical bird house like any other bird house should contain no metal.

How To Mount A Nautical Bird House

First consider the ideal placement of the nautical bird house, it should be out of reach of predators such as dogs or cats so they cannot eat the baby birds. Then in the fall, when the birds have migrated to a warmer place you have to take the house down, clean it out and store it inside. A lot of times when someone purchases a nautical bird house that looks like a light house, they will never let birds use it but rather they will considerate it a decorative item for inside the house.

As so many bird enthusiasts have found, you cannot go wrong with the nautical bird house theme. Uniqueness, beauty and function rolled into one comes in these beautiful pieces.

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