Wednesday, February 13, 2013

A Collection of Bird Houses

I love bird houses. Bird houses help our feathered friends and I love to decorate with them. I think bird houses and cottage design go hand-in-hand. Not only did I design my garden in the cottage style, but the inside of my home is also decorated in cottage style. I think I enjoy cottage style so much because it's comfortable, cozy and says "come on in and relax". We have quite a collection of bird houses, both inside and out. I'm always on the lookout for new ones and we also enjoy making birdhouses. Come and take a look....



We made this birdhouse as a garden decoration. We put it on a small baluster so it's only about three feet off the ground. We never thought it would actually be used, however the Chickadees use it year after year!

















This little bird house is a decoration on my front porch. Once spring arrives, it will be surrounded by flowers.

Even the winter pillow on my front porch bench has a bird house on it.

And of course, the best bird house of all....a nest. This is a Mockingbird nest in the Cleveland Pear tree in our front yard. It's pretty small and there were three babies in it last year. I was lucky enough to see them leave the nest and wander around the front yard looking for insects. Even as a child I was captivated by birds' nests. It is absolutely amazing to me how they make these. This one has been through forty mile an hour winds and still looks good as new!!

I decorate the inside of my home for each season. Of course, bird houses are always a part of the decorations! There are big bird houses.....

....and small bird houses!


I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my bird houses. What type of decorations do you like to use in your garden or home?
 
Happy Gardening!

Words and Photos Property of Christy's Cottage Wildlife Garden.

40 comments:

  1. Awesome birdhouses and so many! If I were a bird I'd surely live in your garden! That pillow is adorable-how did I miss it yesterday??

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    1. Hi Tina....Thanks so much! I have to admit I think the birds have it pretty good here! As for the pillow...I think we were both thinking about that cup of coffee!

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  2. Very cute! Makes me want to run out and buy some:) I think they do add to a garden and of course, help our feathered friends find places to nest.

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    1. Hi Steph and thanks for visiting! They are an inexpensive way to add decoration and help the birds...gotta love that!!

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  3. I love your bird houses! And I really like that pillow! I have that same little fairy girl with the bird on her leg! I love that you put yours on top of a birdhouse!

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    1. Hello and thanks for stopping by! I saw that pillow and couldn't pass it up!! Those little fairies are so cute and come in all different poses. We will be going to the Nashville Lawn and Garden Show in a couple weeks and I plan on getting more of them! I have little bits of whimsy around the garden...it always makes me smile!

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  4. What a nice collection of birdhouses you have! I have a weakness for birdhouses as well. Many of them need a little rejuvenation however, before they get put out in spring. Our weather extremes can really take a toll on them. Happy Valentine's Day!

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    1. Hi Jennifer....thanks so much!! I don't know why I like bird houses so much!! Most of the houses I posted had some age to them, however I like that look. I also have newer houses, but those come in for the winter and are put back out in spring! Happy Valentine's Day to you too!!!

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  5. You really have a wonderful collection of birdhouses Christy, but I bet the birds that use them tell you that often.

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    1. Thank you Donna! Yes, even in winter a lot of them are used just to keep cozy!!

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  6. I use a lot of bird houses, too, especially in the garden. I have a real soft spot for them and am always on the lookout for cool, funky ones I can use in the garden. Last year I had wrens move into a house the bluebirds were finished with. They used the bluebird nest as a base and then added on to it. Very clever! :o)

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    1. Hello and thanks for visiting! Isn't it just amazing to watch the birds. They really are very clever! I think it's so fascinating to see pieces of "stuff" in the nests.

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  7. Oh I love bird houses too and have a small collection...I am sure the bids love these houses as well!!

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    1. Hi Donna and thanks for visiting! For the most part the houses pictured are always in use. A few years ago I saw birds making new nests in the houses in winter. I thought they only made nests in mating season so I called the Audubon Society to ask about it. They told me that birds like to be cozy in winter and that's why they were making the nests.

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  8. You have a great collection of bird houses! The bluebirds use the nest boxes in winter here too. They pile in like Eskimos in a kayak to keep warm.

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    1. Thanks so much! Your Eskimo analogy made me laugh! I can just picture them!!

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  9. I too love bird nests and house reals or artificial. We had Easter Phoebes and Barn Swallow build on our porch last summmer. ps the bird which I forgot to label is a Painted Bunting as I was photography it at Corscrew as couple approached and the lady would not believe it was a "real" bird at first and not plastic. Seriously!

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    1. Hi TB....birds are just amazing! Did the two different birds build on your porch at the same time??!! That would really be something to see! The Painted Bunting was so beautiful! We get Indigo Buntings here, but I'd never seen the Painted Bunting. How funny about the lady who thought it was plastic. As you said "seriously"...come on now! Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Your bird houses are lovely! I am sure you get a lot of enjoyment watching the birds on your property. They are so fun to have around!

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  11. Hi Lee and thank you for visiting! Yes, I really enjoy watching the birds....they are always doing something interesting out there! This weekend I will be participating in my first GBBC and I'm very excited!

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  12. You have a wonderful selection of birdhouses! I also love birdhouses and have a few, but not so many as you! They add so much charm to the garden. I agree that both house and garden should be welcoming and comfortable.

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    1. Hi Deb and thanks so much!! I'm not sure what draws us to certain things...! I really wanted my garden to feel comfortable so that's part of the reason we built the pergolas and have so many seating areas. It's like an extension of the house.

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  13. This time of year, with the trees bare, you can really see so many nests up high in the branches. It always amazes me, too, that they can withstand some of the strong winds we get throughout the winter. I love all your birdhouses; in fact, you've given me an idea. There's a random fence post behind my butterfly garden, and I've been thinking about getting it pulled out. Now I have a better idea--put a birdhouse on top of it!

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    1. Hi Rose! Thanks so much for the wonderful compliments. The greatest compliment I can receive is someone telling me that I've inspired them to do something! I think putting a birdhouse on the fence post is a great idea! Maybe some day I'll see it in one of your pictures...that would be awesome! Thank you again, you've made my day!

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  14. Hi Christy,
    I enjoyed seeing your birdhouses. I like the rustic red ones the best. I have some birdhouses around the yard, too. We are inconsistent about cleaning them out. That should be done every spring, shouldn't it? We had some wrens one year, but we mostly get sparrows.

    I am doing good to get the Christmas decorations put about, but am not organized enough to change things for the seasons. I do remove dried flowers that are a couple years old, and replace them with new ones to dry.

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    1. Hi Sue! I really like to find birdhouses made from old painted barn wood. They are my favorites! Yes, you should clean out your birdhouses before they start laying eggs. I love decorating for the seasons and spring is my absolute favorite. Around March 1st I will put away the winter decorations and bring out spring....it's not really spring yet, but I can never wait!! I'm so glad you visited my post!

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  15. Hi... I just discovered your blog and love your collection of birdhouses! My wife is very fond of birdhouses as well and I always have it on my list to get a few built but never seem to find the time. This has been a reminder to me that she would so appreciate my getting around to creating a few! Great post, Larry

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    1. Hi Larry and thanks so much for visiting. Maybe you could surprise your wife with a new birdhouse...I bet she would like that!! I hope you visit again. I have something really special coming in spring!

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  16. Christy, Wow, what a great collection of bird houses. I have a few in my garden but nothing like you have in yours. My favorite has to be an old hat birdhouse hanging on my shed. I am always pleased to see birds flying in and out of it.

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    1. Hi Debbie! I agree that it's always a pleasure watching the birds use the houses. Especially ones we make for that purpose. It's always a bit of a shock to see them using the ones made for decoration...not sure how they can squeeze into the small hole. Thanks for stopping by!

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  17. I love Birdhouses! I have 7 just in the sunroom alone as decorations! I have 8 on the front porch with 6 being decorations while 2 ar functional although, never used. The birds prefer to nest in my hanging plants! LOL... We have about 4 scattered throughout our gardens. I should have more though as we have plenty of room for them...

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    1. Hi Skeeter! Aren't birdhouses fun...I just love them. I'd love to see all your birdhouses one day! It's funny to me, we have so many birds and they've never made a nest in my hanging plants! I can't help but wonder why!

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    2. Finches and Wrens prefer to nest in my hanging plants...

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  18. What a great collection of bird houses.

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    1. Thanks Gail....Going to the Nashville Flea Market so I may have even more later today! Thanks for stopping by!

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  19. This is a great collection. All the bird houses are very nice. Thank you for sharing such nice post.

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  20. I think it would be so cozy to be a bird and live in these houses! haha I want to get some of my own for my yard because theres always birds around my house. Where can I find some decorative birdhouses? Any suggestions for what to get?

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  22. I love birdhouses, I think they make a yard look so cute! I love all your different designs, especially the more rustic ones. My daughters are wanting to find some themed ones as well, do you know anywhere that I could find birdhouses that are more decorative? http://www.decornmore.biz/default.asp?dept_id=30060&nopopup=1

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