I'll wait to see if others post their ideas for waterproofing the straw but I'm wondering if using a waterproof spray such as used on suede shoes/boots would do the trick. There's also that waterproof spray used on camping tents.

Sal

it would have to be bird-safe - how about just letting them weather?

I did this once, quite a few years ago :-)
I was concerneded about using any product that might be toxic,
but I was also worried about the crown of the hat collapsing,
so I found a margerine tub that was a good fit for the inside of the crown
and cut the "birdie door" through both layers.
Then I stiched around the edges of the opening with yarn
and used a staplegun to attach the hat to a thin piece of plywood the same size as the hat brim.

I hung it on one of our porch posts where it was mostly out of the weather,
and it became a favorite of the house wrens, they nested in it almost every year.
I was able to pull out the staples to make sure the nest was cleaned out before each nesting season.

It lasted for several years before the straw just finally started to disintegrate.
Dunno why I never made another one?? :-/
It was cute, well, I guess that's another thing for my list . . .

Decompost, I love your idea with the margarine tub. We have little wrens that nest sometimes on the covered deck in a potted plant or empty flower pot. I think I will try one there. It would be completely under roof. Did you use a hole punch when you sewed around the openings? Did you put a perch on it or is that even necessary? I see straw hats alot at the swapmeets and GS cheap. Thanks for the great idea. Ellen

*lol* A hole punch might be a very good idea, Ellen.
As I recall, I just used a carpet needle and forced it through both layers.
I mainly wanted to keep the straw from raveling, so I whip-stitched the edge.
Another benefit of the margerine tub was that the plastic was easy to keep clean
between nestings. I didn't put a perch on it, the wrens didn't care. :-D

Decompost, Thanks for the info. I have been thinking about the little wrens nest and how I could decorate it. I guess the plannings half the fun :)
Thanks Ellen

Decompost,

Love your idea of using a margarine tub. Great idea! I am going to have to make one or two of those!

Thanks for the info,now I can finally make one,too. I never thought of a margarine tub. I saw someone had made one here a while back,hanging on a fence,and I wanted one ever since.

I have one I made several years ago...but it is on a covered porch so it hasn't changed at all..But it has never had any birds in it.

I didn't put anything on mine...but I did put a backing on it.

Mine is a man's flat topped straw hat with a flat brim. Like the hats the wore back in the 20s. Think Barber Shop quartet.

patti