Gourd Bird Houses

by Cindy Witt
(Western Wash)

Happy Face Gourd Bird House

We have made several bird houses from gourds. They are easy to make and fun to decorate. Tree Swallows love them.

After hanging the Gourd house's back up every Spring we put white feathers out and watch the little acrobats swoop down and get them, they are soon chased by another Swallow wanting the treasure for their own nest.

A pair will work very hard to build their nest.

It is a joy to watch and then to see their little heads popping out looking for food is also very entertaining.

They soon take flight returning to the nest at night for a couple weeks and wishing for free food from their parents.

Sometimes the pair will hatch a second brood out.

The hole should be 1 1/4 to 1 1/2", they should hang protected from direct sunlight 5 to 15' high (ours like them higher) and facing about east.

Look for more hanging tips on this wonderful site.

Using Long Gourds For Birdhouses

by Felicity Rainnie
(Mexico)

I started out by making some planters out of gourds.To my surprise, the one I had in front of my window suddenly became of great interest to some Wrens.

I had to stop watering the little plant of course, but the problem was, every time my cat would come near, the Wren would start screaming at the cat, really making an exhibition of himself!

If he had stayed quiet everything might have gone very nicely, but of course the cat was led right to where the Wren wanted to nest and it just didn't happen.

Now I am really trying to attract birds. I've made several gourd nests and this time I'm hanging them out of reach of naughty cats!!

I live in Cuernavaca, Mexico. While it's not officially Spring yet here, I'm busy making and hanging gourds all over the place. Someone said they are a wonderful, light, beautifully shaped and textured. I just love them .

I have decorated them so far with rough string, beads and shells. I would like to paint some designs on the next ones. I'm always in such a hurry to see them finished!

Hope the Wren might decide to try again. It would be lovely if some other family of birds might be interested too!!!

Gourd Birdhouse Rented

by Felicity Rainnie
(Mexico)

Nest building begins for this Wren

Well I'm delighted to report that after having made about eight Gourd Birdhouses and doting them around the outside of my house, too high for my two naughty cats to reach this time! and having waited months for something to happen.

Two days ago there was a Wren at one of them with a beak loaded with nesting material! I can't tell you how happy I was to see this perky little Wren jump in and out of my birdhouse arranging things.

I have hung the birdhouse just outside my studio window so I will be able to watch a good deal.

Unfortunately there is a glass window between her and me, but I'll try my best to get good photos.

Here's the first.

Gourd birds nest with wrens

by M
(Bellevue, MI)

We had 3 sets of babies this year.

This was the first year for my gourd birdhouse. The male sure did decorate it up nice before the female came. Three sets of babies!

From Wild-Bird-Watching.com

Gourds make excellent birdhouses. Wrens, Purple Martins, Tree Swallows and others will use them provided the opening and placement is right.

Another thing you might consider for your gourd birdhouses are access ports. Manufacturers make a lid that can be adapted to your gourd for easy cleaning.

You can check them out here:

http://store.skmfg.com/Accessories-for-Purple-Martin-Gourds-Houses/products/7/

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