Bring Your Birdhouse to Life
birdhouse, which the grown-ups then coated with shellac to withstand the elements outdoors.
Choose a spot for the entrance hole at the widest part of the gourd. The diameter of the hole that you drill will determine what kind of bird will consider moving into the house. For example:
n Downy Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Titmouse: 1-1/ 4 inches n Bluebird, Wren: 1-1/ 2 inches n House Finch: 2 inches n Purple Martin: 2- 1 / 8 inches
Then, using a 1 / 4” bit, drill two holes directly across from each other near the top for hanging wire and three holes on the bottom for drainage. Clean out the seeds with a stick and some shaking. This is my daughters’ favorite part— shaking out and saving the seeds( for next year’ s garden)!
Lastly, decorate the birdhouse and attach the hanging wire. It can be as simple as a couple coats of shellac to seal the outer surface. We decorated our first gourd harvest with the girls’ Girl Scout Troop. All the Daisy Girl Scouts painted a
n Host and Welcome the Wild Birds
Different birds need different habitats and spacing for nesting. During the winter, as the gourds are drying, take the time to learn about the various types of birds and their needs. For example, Bluebirds need open spaces, Wrens need to be near shrubs or brush, Woodpeckers need mature trees, and Purple Martins need a lot of space for their entire colony.
Throughout the process of growing and making birdhouse gourds, I became interested in purple martins, songbirds native to North and South America. I was surprised to learn that in our area purple martins rely almost exclusively on human-provided housing. These birds are dependent on us for their survival, and their population is in decline. Interestingly, purple martins are really social and
Bring Your Birdhouse to Life
Here are some go-to experts to help you grow your own birdhouses:
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Find Your Seeds: Southern Exposure Seed Exchange offers a Birdhouse Gourd Bradshaw’ s Ornamental Gourd. Seeds can be ordered online: https:// www. southernexposure. com. Another great seed source is Johnny’ s Selected Seeds, which can also be ordered online: https:// www. johnnyseeds. com /.
Find Your Source for All-Things-Wild-Birds: Visit the Backyard Naturalist on Georgia Avenue in Olney, Maryland for wild bird feeding supplies, nature books, and so much expertise. Learn about their shop here: https:// thebackyardnaturalist. com.
Learn about Purple Martins: The Purple Martin Conservation Association focuses on research, education, and conservation of Purple Martins, a native songbird that, east of the Rocky Mountains, relies almost exclusively on human-provided housing. Info: https:// www. purplemartin. org.
22 plenty I spring sowing 2026