Tags
A Detailed House, Baby bird, Bird, Birdhouse, Birdhouses Feeders and Baths, Craigslist, Decorative Birdhouses, diy, Fledgling, Garden Accessories, Home and Garden, How to make a birdhouse, Kid craft, Loggia, Portico, Shopping
Since my children were gunning for a project and I wanted to finally start on my upstairs hallway project, I went to the craft store to buy large canvas boards. Unfortunately, they don’t carry any large enough (GRRRR!!!!). So….I’m either going to have go to another craft store -or- make my own. But I’ll figure that out later. Although my children were disappointed, they handled it well (i.e. no whining about it), so I suggested we see if there was anything else the store had that may be of interest for a project. They were beyond thrilled when we found these unusual, unpainted birdhouses:
Although they are not the sturdiest, they looked whimsical and fun to paint…and they were only $5 (except the castle which was regularly $10, but I had downloaded a coupon for 40% off for one item, so $6). I let each child select two and, since they like for me to do projects with them, I picked two as well. OK, honestly, I really like to do things like this and wanted to join in on the fun 😉
For the past week, I’ve been thinking about what to do with them when we finish and I think I finally have it: I’d like to find an old chandelier that has arms and is no longer of “use” – too ugly, doesn’t work, etc. – and remove all wiring and candles, spray paint it, then attach a birdhouse on each arm.
I found such a chandelier on Craigslist for free and very close to me, but I found it too late and it was gone 😦 but I’ll keep looking! I’ll also have to research varnishes to see which ones are animal friendly and can withstand the elements to some extent. It would be nice if I could hang birdhouse chandeliers from a huge tree we have in our yard, but I have a secondary, covered location: underneath our balcony, we have a large loggia where birds love to nest.
Having a stone house, with porticos at each entry:
and a loggia, birds love to nest around our house to the point of hemming us in our house! They come back year after year, using the same nests, and we are always happy to see them return. My mother, however, has nagged my to take down the nests, but if you read my “things about me” in my An Award? Moi? post, you know that that is the last thing I would ever do! You can’t even see them because they are at the top corners and one is on top of a light.
We watch the feedings from the demilune windows, put cushions down when it’s time for the fledgings to drop to soften the impact and my little ones have even had the chance to hold one when we had to put one back in the nest after a bad storm (thus the ladder in the background!)
Just in case in case you are wondering, it’s a fallacy about holding baby birds and the human scent, although it is good to continue the tale so that people leave birds alone!
When the birds are out of all the nests, they circle our house and it’s spectacular. I just hope they are eating mosquitoes too! Once the project is finished, I will post the end result 🙂
Hope everyone is well!
What a great idea! I’m looking forward to the end result. I think attaching to an old chandelier will be an amazing way to display.
I have to remember to place them high up or they become bird house/cat feeders!
Look forward to the photos and to what you manage to find on the candelabra front.
What a dabulous idea. I can’t wait to see it finished!
Cynthia
Thank you for sharing about the birdhouses. I couldn’t comment??? I look forward to seeing them completed. Your post email arrived in perfect timing. I just opened the web page when 13 yr boy walked past saying he had nothing to do! He does have a piece of balsa wood so I showed him your pic. Ah, he hasn’t taken the bait yet, he’s turned the tv on! I think I’ll have to try to make one and then need help…
Donna G Sent from my iPad
My blog wouldn’t let you comment?? Also, I did a post called Adorable DIYs for Kids’ Rooms where I have directions for a baseball and bat wall art project if he’s into that sport, although my husband was quick to point out that it could be done with old golf balls and clubs in a similar fashion. Geesh – will summer ever end!! Haha!!
OMG – I just looked at my blog and it isn’t showing the comment box!! yikes!! I wondered why this post wasn’t popular! I didn’t change any settings, so I am going to take it down tomorrow and put it up again and see if that works..
Reblogged this on A Detailed House and commented:
It seems that the comment section disappeared from my post. Now, I’m not going to point any fingers or anything, BUT…I did leave my most recent post open on my iPad and I do have a munchkin who loves to “work” on the aforementioned, Being out of town this past week, I wasn’t paying too close of attention to it. Not giving any plugs, but important “work” is carried out here, such as Monster Pet, Touch Cats, Pig Rush, and (Mommy-approved) abcMouse. And here I was, just thinking that birdhouses (or maybe just my ideas on them) weren’t that popular! I think I have it fixed (as best as I can tell from my iPhone screen…)
You are wonderful! So glad you don’t try to get rid of the nests! Not too long ago I had to rescue two Robin’s babies as they fell with their nest. I put the nest into a basket and used two coat hangers to hang the it up with. I know that at least one baby survived as I was had the opportunity to watch it take it’s flight. I meant to blog about it but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I can’t wait to see how you all paint the houses.
Oh!! I love that you went to those lengths to save the baby birds! If only more people had your heart…I do hope you blog about it because it is such an endearing story and a great solution to putting the nest back up!
And I would never dream of getting rid of the nests! I thought it absurd to put looks over a safe and sheltered place for the animals to nest…
Now whenever I am at Goodwill I think about buying a lot of baskets to hang in the trees.
I indeed wanted to comment yesterday, to say how lovely those little bird houses are, and so cheap!! and what a great “family idea” you have had to use them, so that the children can enjoy seeing who is living in “their house” 🙂 another GREAT IDEA!! thank you for sharing! because it gives ideas to others, who in turn, can with children enjoy the pleasure of watching birds nest and bring up their young, no matter where they live, even in an apartment with a balcony!
Great idea! I’m going to have to try to build one with Ike.
If you cannot find an appropriate chandelier for the birdhouses, consider a metal wagon wheel. We have used them for wind chimes that my father creates out of old metal tea kettles and often found objects.