I want to build the best birdhouse in the world. I am looking at models like the Ft. Worth Modern by Ando because I enjoy steel and glass/ modern/ postmodern designs. I would like it to be as intricate as a birdhouse can be with various materials, but I also want to stress the elements of elegant simplicity and arrangement.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to build, what to use for materials, design ideas or anything useful toward building the best birdhouse in the world?
This is going to be a Christmas present.
idiotwind
Oct 21, 08 1:49 am
cryzko, i know you got some crazy ideas. no, can't pay you to make it, sorry.
what's really sad is i can identify most of those houses (they're from vorarlberg architects)
and a few more...
some things to keep in mind:
how to keep squirrels off
how to keep seeds from coming out all at once
weathering
as far as what to model it one, why not the botta house in riva...
idiotwind
Oct 21, 08 2:09 am
i do like those. i have seen them. i may want to build a larger version with more outside covered space for the birds when it is raining.
i'm thinking a thin support column made of metal will keep the squirrels out, possibly concreted in the earth. i'm not sure if it will look adequate, though. for weathering, maybe another type of metal for the roof?
seeds: depends on the design
strlt_typ
Oct 21, 08 2:20 am
idiotwind
Oct 21, 08 2:25 am
already thought about that
holz.box
Oct 21, 08 2:29 am
squirrels will kill the one mounted to the ground, at least ours will
David Cuthbert
Oct 21, 08 2:43 am
squirrels kill birds.. wtf? I thought they only wanted peanuts
mean prank riverbank
Oct 21, 08 12:57 pm
I thought the question was about bird houses, not bird feeders... If you're building a bird house, dimensions are important depending on the type of bird you are interested in attracting. Whatever the design, don't put a perch on it or you will have english sparrows moving in and killing your native nesters...and if the hole is too large you'll have starlings doing the same. Both are unprotected species in the US (non-native, you can legally shoot them) and you really don't want to encourage their continued spreading.
If you are just building a sculptural object, go for it (how about weathering steel?), but if you are actually interested in creating a useful design, birds have programmatic needs just like human clients.
Perhaps consider the needs and/or feeding habits of wrens (specifically dimensioned boxes, must be cleaned out seasonally), goldfinches (eat sunflower seeds, feed upside-down), blue birds (live in boxes/gourds), flickers or other wood peckers (eat suet, live in holes). If your recipient is actually a bird lover, they will appreciate your care in its functionality as much as its aesthetics.
xtbl
Oct 21, 08 1:01 pm
ha ha, no, they don't kill birds but they will kill the bird house.
rutger
Oct 21, 08 4:51 pm
For inspiration there are some nice birdhouses in the Italian magazine L'arca no.180 april 2003 (more in number 123, 134 and 151 it is an ongoing project I think)
binary
Oct 21, 08 5:02 pm
use fiberglass.....
just get some rubber/plastic balls and glue them to a board.... use some matte/resin and cover over the balls..... once dried, flip over and repeat.... you can either keep the board or pull it off......
no you have a panel with air holes...... mix up some bondo and resin with both hardners and pour it over the panel...
then dremel out an opening and take the ball out........might have to sacrific the ball though.....
now you have a panel with little pockets.......
might cost you around 50-75 bucks
b
liberty bell
Oct 21, 08 5:07 pm
Dwell Magazine did a review of birdhouses appropriate to your Modern dwelling recently...
db
Oct 21, 08 6:36 pm
is there anything holz doesn't have at least 5 or 10 (or 20...) example pics of?!
(and it's certainly always a good thing)
idiotwind
Oct 23, 08 3:12 am
mean prank: i'de like to avoid a gigantic bird community of pigeons, but i would not mind having a feeder also. i want this thing to look completely badass. the ultimate bird house. i thought about using copper sheets for a roof because i love the way copper ages. this thing will be in a north tx ranch, so i'm not sure about the birds because i live in the city. i suppose i should research various bird populations of the area.
i would like to see a squirrel hunt a bird.
rutger, can u send me a link, i can't find it?
cryzko, i knew u had a crazy idea. that is sweet. i think i want to stick to wood and metal or more natural materials because i have not really worked with fiberglass. do you think after a few years, it could be harmful to either the birds lungs or feathers with sharpened, weathered edges?
rutger
Oct 23, 08 8:31 am
Blackharp, the library might have the magazines. L'arca website is in Italian (the magazine is bilingual), if you search (cerca) for birdhouse a few pdf links show but you have to register to download.
outed
Oct 23, 08 9:04 am
what's wrong with link one, by uber-mod boy marcel wanders?
That bird feeder/hut is simply amazing. It looks very efficient too. However, I wonder if it can accommodate bigger birds or up to four lovebirds. Also, I can't it's opening or does it have big holes for oxygen?
I want to build the best birdhouse in the world. I am looking at models like the Ft. Worth Modern by Ando because I enjoy steel and glass/ modern/ postmodern designs. I would like it to be as intricate as a birdhouse can be with various materials, but I also want to stress the elements of elegant simplicity and arrangement.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to build, what to use for materials, design ideas or anything useful toward building the best birdhouse in the world?
This is going to be a Christmas present.
cryzko, i know you got some crazy ideas. no, can't pay you to make it, sorry.
you mean like these?
or these?
what's really sad is i can identify most of those houses (they're from vorarlberg architects)
and a few more...
some things to keep in mind:
how to keep squirrels off
how to keep seeds from coming out all at once
weathering
as far as what to model it one, why not the botta house in riva...
i do like those. i have seen them. i may want to build a larger version with more outside covered space for the birds when it is raining.
i'm thinking a thin support column made of metal will keep the squirrels out, possibly concreted in the earth. i'm not sure if it will look adequate, though. for weathering, maybe another type of metal for the roof?
seeds: depends on the design
already thought about that
squirrels will kill the one mounted to the ground, at least ours will
squirrels kill birds.. wtf? I thought they only wanted peanuts
I thought the question was about bird houses, not bird feeders... If you're building a bird house, dimensions are important depending on the type of bird you are interested in attracting. Whatever the design, don't put a perch on it or you will have english sparrows moving in and killing your native nesters...and if the hole is too large you'll have starlings doing the same. Both are unprotected species in the US (non-native, you can legally shoot them) and you really don't want to encourage their continued spreading.
If you are just building a sculptural object, go for it (how about weathering steel?), but if you are actually interested in creating a useful design, birds have programmatic needs just like human clients.
Perhaps consider the needs and/or feeding habits of wrens (specifically dimensioned boxes, must be cleaned out seasonally), goldfinches (eat sunflower seeds, feed upside-down), blue birds (live in boxes/gourds), flickers or other wood peckers (eat suet, live in holes). If your recipient is actually a bird lover, they will appreciate your care in its functionality as much as its aesthetics.
ha ha, no, they don't kill birds but they will kill the bird house.
For inspiration there are some nice birdhouses in the Italian magazine L'arca no.180 april 2003 (more in number 123, 134 and 151 it is an ongoing project I think)
use fiberglass.....
just get some rubber/plastic balls and glue them to a board.... use some matte/resin and cover over the balls..... once dried, flip over and repeat.... you can either keep the board or pull it off......
no you have a panel with air holes...... mix up some bondo and resin with both hardners and pour it over the panel...
then dremel out an opening and take the ball out........might have to sacrific the ball though.....
now you have a panel with little pockets.......
might cost you around 50-75 bucks
b
Dwell Magazine did a review of birdhouses appropriate to your Modern dwelling recently...
is there anything holz doesn't have at least 5 or 10 (or 20...) example pics of?!
(and it's certainly always a good thing)
mean prank: i'de like to avoid a gigantic bird community of pigeons, but i would not mind having a feeder also. i want this thing to look completely badass. the ultimate bird house. i thought about using copper sheets for a roof because i love the way copper ages. this thing will be in a north tx ranch, so i'm not sure about the birds because i live in the city. i suppose i should research various bird populations of the area.
i would like to see a squirrel hunt a bird.
rutger, can u send me a link, i can't find it?
cryzko, i knew u had a crazy idea. that is sweet. i think i want to stick to wood and metal or more natural materials because i have not really worked with fiberglass. do you think after a few years, it could be harmful to either the birds lungs or feathers with sharpened, weathered edges?
Blackharp, the library might have the magazines.
L'arca website is in Italian (the magazine is bilingual), if you search (cerca) for birdhouse a few pdf links show but you have to register to download.
what's wrong with link one, by uber-mod boy marcel wanders?
Algorhythmic Birdhouse I did last week.
That bird feeder/hut is simply amazing. It looks very efficient too. However, I wonder if it can accommodate bigger birds or up to four lovebirds. Also, I can't it's opening or does it have big holes for oxygen?