Birdfeeders and Birdhouses

For the Birds
The roots of creating shelter for birds goes back into both European and North American history. Some Native American tribes hung hollow gourds to attract the purple marlins.
Audubon, claimed these territorial birds were of value because they would drive away the turkey vultures that might make a meal of the "meat racks" when the tribe was away. During the Middle Ages in Europe, birdhouses were created to attract starlings and sparrows, which were gathered and eaten.
We've got a nice assortment of bird feeders and birdhouses here in PRVA. Here's a picture show of them... recognize any?
Gardeners provide birdhouses near their gardens to attract birds for pest control. It's a much safer alternative to using chemicals! Bird watchers enjoy providing a safe place for the birds to nest. Some people enjoy collecting birdhouses to adorn the woods near our units. It seems like there are as many reasons to collect birdhouses as the shapes, sizes, styles and themes available.
Bird Crafts Looking for an easy craft for your kids or yourself? Try this feeder and simple birdhouse - the kids will have fun making them and the birds will love them! 2 Liter Soda Bottle Birdfeeder Remove all the labels and stickers from the soda bottle. Wash and dry the bottle. The bottom of the bottle will be top of the feeder. Drill two small holes in the bottom of the bottle. Thread wire through one hole and out the other. Twist the ends of the wire together to make a loop for hanging the feeder. Use a small piece of duct tape or caulk to seal the holes so rain cannot get into the feeder. Using a drill, make 5/16" holes that are on opposite sides of the bottle. Insert 8" - 9" by 5/16" dowels into the pairs of holes. Repeat the above step to make several more perches. If you want a thistle (niger) seed feeder, make 1/4" by 1/8" slots 1 ½" above the perches. If you want a sunflower seed feeder, make 5/15" holes 1 ½" - 2" above the perches. Get an empty paper half-gallon milk carton. Open up the top of the carton and wash and rinse it thoroughly. Let it dry. Re-close the milk carton and staple it shut. Get a roll of masking tape. Tear off 1-2" pieces of the tape and cover the entire milk carton. Overlap the pieces so that none of the carton shows. Get brown shoe polish and a paper towel or rag. Rub the polish over all of the tape to make it look like brown bark. Let dry thoroughly. Decide what type of bird you want to use the birdhouse. For the birds that are in our area, you would want a hole about 1 ½ to 2 inches around. Not sure, start smaller… you can always make it bigger if it isn’t attracting birds. Cut the entrance hole in the birdhouse. Using a pencil, make several holes in the bottom of the carton for any rain to drain out. Also make several holes in the top of the carton to let heat and condensation escape. Make a hole through the top of the house near the staples. Put a short piece of wire (perhaps from a clothes hanger?) through the hole to make a loop. Hang the birdhouse on a shepherd's hook (like what you use for birdfeeders) or on a tree branch.

For the Birds

2 Liter Soda Bottle Birdfeeder