Unique Birdhouse Boutique

So all the food’s gone and the party is over, right? Nope… the fun is just start starting with spring not too far off! And if anything like last year, spring will again come early

Although it makes an awesome feeder, the All Season’s Wren Casita edible birdhouse is the perfect nest site-for more than just wrens. Some folks have inquired how to re-seed them for extended use as feeders. I suppose peanut butter might work as a good base… but the manufacturer sure isn’t giving away their secret so fast!

So just how does one encourage nesting? It’s all about habitat, so start by offering a fresh water source. No fancy-pants birdbath needed, (unless you’d like one in your yard) something as simple as a plant saucer filled with water works great. On the deck, step, rail, tree stump…wherever! Drill three holes in the sides of a plastic one and make a quick hanging bath should ground predators lurk in your yard (cats). Optimal depth is just 2-3 inches for birds to bathe and wade comfortably. If your dish or saucer is deeper, consider a large rock in the center for birds to perch, or lining the bottom with river rock, or a few layers of pebbles.

Next… nesting materials! Again, you can do this one yourself, no fancy store-bought kits necessary (but we do offer some cool ones). Figure out a vessel to hold the materials; a suet cage works great, as does a mesh produce bag from the grocery store (like the kind apples come in). Then start to gather the goods! Some favorites include:

• Decorative mosses like Spanish, sphagnum, green sheet moss, raffia, and that dried straw stuff. Pluck some from one of your house plants!
• Feathers are adored by tree swallows, and bluebirds have been known to add a few here and there as well. Really cheap at a craft store, or any un-dyed feather duster will do-preferably clean.
• Bright cotton yarns, save these from anywhere you can
• Pet hair is huge favorite of chickadees, titmice, wrens and others. (Not recommended if treated with flea/tick medication)

Live anywhere near a horse farm? Horse hair is the best, and we give it away in the spring! The key is to get the materials out before nesting season actually starts. That way birds see it and become familiar, knowing that when it’s time, the goods are right there for the pickins! Avoid placing materials in any birdhouses as avian amigos prefer to do their own decorating! Simply hang from a branch where they’ll see it. Also, don’t pack the vessel too tightly, as you’ll want the materials to dry quickly after a rain shower.

Offering nesting materials will absolutely encourage nest building around your yard, and extend the use of that edible birdhouse!

Thanks for housing the birds

Scorching temperatures and lack of rain have left most of the country in the dust-literally. For wildlife, these extended conditions prove to be daunting. It’s difficult to find food and water, and even more critical when raising young. Birds in our yard have actually been taking seed from feeders to feed fledgelings, Cardinals and Thrashers to be exact. Mother Nature’s device of “survival of the fittest” is in full swing this summer.

So as far as feeding birds in summer… why wouldn’t you? Food sources are scarce, and supplemental feeding may mean the difference between life or death for some baby birds.

This edible birdhouse provides seeds for lots of resident songbirds. If protected from the elements and squirrels, it should last a while. And even if the seed goes faster than anticipated, you’re left with a real wren house that provides a perfect nesting site for next season. The wooden house beneath the seed may be stained, painted, or left natural. During the “off-season”, the house makes for a great roosting spot too. Appropriately named the “All-Seasons Wren Casita” it makes a fantastic gift for any birder or nature enthusiast… or even for yourself!

Be kind to wildlife and offer fresh water if you’re in a drought-stricken area. A shallow bowl of water makes a swell birdbath, even a plant saucer is great. Just keep water fresh and birds will come!

So many houses… and so little time!

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, gifts of nature are always a perfect choice for bird-lovers, garden addicts and the like. Hmmmm… Bird house or bird feeder?

This groovy Wren Casita is both! A real, full-size wooden wren house is revealed once the premium birdseed has been consumed. Layered with millet, safflower and sunflower, it proves a tasty treat for your avian amigos. Chickadees, finches, and titmice are a few who will flock to this feeder. These unique birdhouses may be painted in a whimsical design, stained, or just left natural to weather over time. The decorative flowers and stems on the Wren Casita may be used by some birds for nest material as well.

For use as feeder, just hang this unique birdhouse from a tree limb or hanger in view where you’ll be able to watch the action. As with all bird seed, best results will be obtained when it’s protected from the elements and pesky squirrels. For use as a birdhouse, simply hang the Wren Casita in a secluded part of the yard, or mount to a post or tree trunk approximately six to ten feet from the ground.

Surprise your Valentine with an edible birdhouse that will provide a critical nesting site for many seasons to come. Please help house the birds!