Shell Roof Barnwood Birdhouse

15 years ago

Inspired by all the fairie houses & natural materials, I decided to give it a try with a barnwood birdhouse made by DH. I had left-over Silicone II clear as I am attempting a birdfeeder totem (my second try)...the first silicone II was old & did not work...boy, that was a mess! So, anyway, didn't want this new tube to go bad at $5 a shot:

Here's the roof:

{{gwi:133644}}

Here's the birdhouse...that's a postcard hanging on sewing center knob...so you can judge the size:

Shells from an old tangled up/broken windchime that I took apart...tried to re-string it first of all...but gave up that idea! I like the bdhse. better and it will go in pool garden when weather warms...near this area from June 08:

Thanks for all the great GJ ideas!...inspiring! Jeanne S.

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Comments (18)

goldenpond
15 years ago
Great idea I see mailboxes done in them but then this is Florida and we don't have to worry about snow, They are difficult to work with at times so I give you a GOLD Star!
Also absolutely adore the mill!
Was it premade?Love the mermaid .
luvs2click
15 years ago
Jeanne - the birdhouse is absolutely adorable - what a great idea for the shells! (giving me more ideas here)

The last photo is beautiful! Makes me really anxious for spring.

Arlene
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Dear Jeanne- I just joined GardenWeb because I happened across this posting the other day and I wanted to comment about your birdhouse. I hope there is some sort of notification system that lets you know there was some activity on this old post from last year. Maybe someone can help me learn how this forum works. I know my comments are late coming. I'm curious how the birdhouse worked out this summer. My comment is a combination of congratulations and criticism and I hope you will find it helpful in planning any winter projects for next spring's birds and garden. I am active with The Purple Martin Conservation Association and am signed up as a "mentor" for folks in my area who are interested in learning more about martins and attracting them to their home. In this case- I'm sticking my neck out with some "outreach" that's unsolicited. And I must be clear- I am not a representative of the PMCA- I'm just a lover of native cavity nesting birds. If you are interested, you can find a mentor close to you at the PMCA website. The birdhouse that you and your husband made is a commendable beauty of craftsmanship but sadly it's a disaster for native bird conservation. I will include a link to some information about martin biology and at the PMCA website you can download file explaining ideal housing specs- and even buy plans to build state of the art perfect housing (which is quite an undertaking) There are really only three kind of birds who will nest in close proximity to eachother, English House Sparrows, European Starlings and Purple Martins. The first two are introduced non-native birds who compete aggressively with our native cavity nesting birds for nest sites... including wrens, blue birds and tree swallows as well as most of the woodpeckers. (starlings have been known to kill woodpecker nestlings in order to take over the wild nest site that the woodpecker excavated- so this isn't just about man-made birdhouses) The non-native birds have behaviors that our native birds did not evolve competing with. This is not a matter of "good vs. bad" it's a simple matter of biology and the problems that introducing non-natives can cause for the local ecology. It would be better to provide no nest sites at all- than to provide nest sites which are only hospitable to these invasive non-native birds as you will only be increasing the burden on the local cavity nesting birds. Every breed of bird has specific needs- and it is quite amazing how - if you provide the perfect nest site (the right size hole, the right depth cavity, the right height off the ground, perch or no perch, in the right location in your yard) AND you provide an environment free from aggressive competition with the non-natives... you can cultivate a bird family of a specific variety with almost the same assurance as planting a specific seed in the ground. You should never put up a house with the idea that "some bird" will make a nest there- every bird house you place should be so specific that you know exactly which bird you are targeting- as if you sent them a unmistakable written invitation...and when you see your efforts rewarded- it is oh so satisfying!! Bird houses should never be placed on climbable poles as they just become "egg shops" for snakes, and raccoons. (The auger could not be a more perfectly designed snake ladder.) Also bird houses should not have plantings at the base of the poles as these hide predators from view. I hope this has been helpful- best wishes- Sarah Here is a link that might be useful: About Purple Martins
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Thanks all...glad you enjoyed. To answer Whimsey, I just used 1 pair of shuttles and a front and back piece of barnwood cut with a pointed roof (like a picket fence cut). Then my DH & I nailed the shutters on...one to each side, added the split table leg and then the tin roof. Whoops, forgot that we added a square bottom made of treated wood...so it will last longer if put on ground level for decor. This idea came from this site...somewhere a friend saw it. Lots of fun and great results! So get to it, Kudzukween (with your shutters!) Jeanne S. I am taking 1 to Farmers' Market end of April.
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I wish my DH would be into making the birdhouses like I want to have. They'd definitely look something like this!!! I love ornate (& with rust). Love that pillar you found & I would have snatched that right up too!
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Any ideas - scallop shells
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Comments (17)
You can do a lot more; especially those of you who make things to sell: 1. Look up how to bronze/electro plate things, like bronzing baby shoes. It is not extremely complicated. You can have bronzed shells polished to a mirror finish. 2. You can make a silicone rubber mold to cast plaster shells with incredible details. If you use food-grade silicone rubber, you can make scallop shell cookies, chocolates, etc. dcarch
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katishooked
15 years ago
Simply love the bird house. Would never have thot to use the shells. Like that water well too.
concretenprimroses
15 years ago
Great ideas to use shells on the roof. Nice to see your water wheel again too.
kathy
use2bcapecodr
15 years ago
How too cute is that!! I love it!

~Sandy~
susiewantsroses
15 years ago
Always love seeing your stuff!!! That is a great looking birdhouse roof.

We have two bird families in the two birdhouses on the porch. They potty on the....well everything. Good idea to put yours in the pool garden with the other nautical pieces. Very nice. Susie
Marlene Kindred
15 years ago
That's a really nice looking birdhouse Jeanne! I'd love to have it at my camper on the Chesapeake Bay! Love all of the shells! Great job! Thanks for sharing all of your great ideas!
cait1
15 years ago
Cute! I can see you're taking your time with it - getting the shells in the right place. Ah, a woman with patience. ;-)

Love the water wheel. Don't forget the pic of the birdhouse in situ by the pond when you have that set up.

Are you still getting a lot of snow up there?
luna_llena_feliz
15 years ago
I love the pinkish shells with the pretty wood stain! If I was a bird, I'd make my home there! Goldenpond is right, shells are difficult to work with and you made it look effortless! It reminds me of my little beach birdhouse...

{{gwi:182232}}
tennesseetrash
15 years ago
Great way to recycle those shells, Jeanne, love the way they overlay so nicely as roof tiles! It will look great out by the garden pond, too.

Luna, that's a really special birdhouse, love it! ~tenderlee
jeannespines
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks all for your comments...this bdhse was fun to make...barnwood by DH, I stained it cherry & then siliconed the shells on the roof.

luna...your mosaiced shell bdhse is adorable...an original! Thanks for sharing!

golden...the waterwheel was built by DH some yrs ago & it was my first post on GJ in 2007...link is below.

Mermaid was a $2 garage find that I painted w/outdoor copper paint...I didn't bring it in this winter and it has peeled quite abit...it's terra cotte. Rope BB held up good! Jeanne S.

pic June'08:{{gwi:133648}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Wooden Waterwheel
akup_a
15 years ago
Beautiful Fairie House. Those shell roofing tiles are expensive on a Fairie salary!
Vickie
sunnyca_gw
15 years ago
Love the idea of using shells for birdhouse!! Looks great love your waterwheel & mermaid too, cute birdhouse Luna!! Looks like Hawaiian hut!! Jan
jeannespines
Original Author
15 years ago
My DH put up the Shell Roof bdhse for me today (with my supervision, of course!) :-0

Here it is on the bell post in the "pool garden"...sitting above one of those metal spinners I've had up for a few yrs...I liked it there because of the repetition of the shell shapes with the spinner shape.

He also added an old bracket (I found in my junk stash) on the opposite side of the post to hang a windchime on....it's a pretty cool chime...moon, stars, kind of painted terracotte, I think...so I gave it a spray of poly before hanging...it's a HobbyLobby find for half off.

Here's a somewhat close-up:

{{gwi:133649}}

And here is post in front of pool garden (looking kind of sparse right now):

{{gwi:133650}}

And here's where it will fit in & what I hope it will look like later in the season (pic from 9.08):

{{gwi:133651}}
(Cannas, grasses & porcelain berry bush that climbs up the post)

It was only in the 40's today but sunny and no wind! Hurray! Jeanne S.
nanagrandma
15 years ago
Wonderful! Luv birdhouse with shell roof! And everyone elses creations!

Kudos to everyone

Sylvia
Bright199
15 years ago
Love the birdhouse!! you can glue shells to just about anything....

put mine on a bowling ball....chose a grout that was sand colored....

{{gwi:133652}}
concretenprimroses
15 years ago
I've always loved shells, but have kept my collecting when I go to the beach down cuz I didn't know what to do with them. Now between your shell house and Luna Llena's beach house and the shell bowling ball, I know what to do with them!
Used to find a lot of sand dollars in maine, butnot so many anymore. But I don't think they hold up well outside.
kathy
angie_62
15 years ago
Just love your shell roof birdhouse, I think it is neat...and pretty...

Shell Roof Barnwood Birdhouse

Comments (18)

goldenpond

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Shell Roof Barnwood Birdhouse

Comments (18)

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