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Find a Building Contractor to Remember
My husband and I have an acre and a half behind our home and really wanted to do something special on part of it. We also just recently decided to renew our wedding vows and thought what better place to do it, than our very own home. Our dilemma...
Improve Your Home’s Landscape in 6 Easy Steps
Think that improving the look of your home and garden requires too much time and money? It doesn’t have to. Here are 6 easy ways to spruce up the appearance of your home. These solutions won’t cost a fortune and won’t take long to complete, but it...
The American Cranberry Bush
American Cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum) A deciduous shrub
from the Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae), American
Cranberrybush is commonly found throughout the northern tier of
states in the United States. In these locations, it is a
resident...
Viburnums Have Been Around a Long Time
The greatest find since the discovery of the Neanderthal
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few feet over the Italian side of the border with Austria
resting at an altitude of 10,500 feet. A total of four books,
two...
What's Underfoot? A Quick Guide to Patio Surfaces
Patios and terraces have always been popular outdoor spaces. Whether a Parisian courtyard or a rooftop alcove, only porches and sunrooms beat out these paved (or semi-paved) retreats in a recent survey of my readers as the most ideal outside...
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Tips For Building A Song Bird Bird House
SONGBIRDS are among nature's greatest indicators of a quality environment.
In and around many industrial centers where pollutants are rampant and in heavy agricultural areas where pesticide use is great, the number of songbirds has decreased in recent years.
Not so in most of Texas, where clean air, excellent habitat and people interested in nature are the rule and not the exception. Many Texans are concerned about the inroads being made upon nature by an expanding human race & receive balm to their spirits each spring via the cheerful melodies of songbirds.
You can get a front-row seat in your own back yard to this concert by providing nesting places such as a Bird House for the birds of your choice. This is becoming especially important, because habitat destruction by man is critically reducing songbird nesting areas. A good project this spring would be to build a Bird House or two. This is a great family project for Father & Son/Daughter.
Those who enjoy the companionship of birds will find these types of Bird House inexpensive and fun to build. A well-built Bird House should be durable, rainproof, cool, and readily accessible for cleaning. By using some imagination, the builder can also add an attractive touch to the landscape.
Wood, such as Cedar, Cypress, & Pine are the best building materials. Metals other than aluminum should be avoided, for they become extremely hot when exposed to a sweltering sun. Treated Lumber should also be avoided as it is toxic to some birds. Rough cut slabs with the bark left on make ideal material for a rustic looking Bird House.
Roofs should be constructed with sufficient pitch to shed water. At least 3 inches of overhang should be allowed to protect the entrance of the Bird House from driving rain. Some water may
still seep into the Bird House, therefore a few small holes should be drilled in the floor to allow drainage.
Builders should plan for several holes near the top of the box to provide ventilation in hot weather. The Bird House should be constructed preferably with ceramic coated screws for easy disassembly when cleaning and the ceramic will keep the screws from rusting.
Entrance holes should be near the top of the box and proportional to the size of the bird which will use the Bird House. A Bird Houses should have the interior walls roughened or grooved to assist the young in climbing to the opening.
Every Bird House should be placed at locations inaccessible to natural predators. The opening should face away from the prevailing wind, and if possible, the Bird House should be situated in partial sunlight. Subdued color tones are best, except for those placed in direct sunlight where white is needed to reflect the heat.
No Bird House should be placed near another. Some birds insist on territorial rights and conflicts could result in an empty Bird House. At least 1/4 acre should be allowed for most types of Bird House.
Different species of birds need houses constructed to suit their particular needs. The following link "Bird Houses" will take you back to the variouse type bird houses we offer here at Cedar Creek Woodshop. Browse the site and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to drop us a line.
About the Author
Brought To You Courtesy: Cedar Creek Woodshop Where We Have Been Custom Building Outdoor Patio Furniture Made Of Treated Lumber and designing Bird House and Bird Feeders made of Western Red Cedar For The Last 25 Years.
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