Thanks, GJers... marlene...I know what you mean about parting w/birdhses...cause the TS one is not nearly heavy-duty like the good ol' barnwood that DH builds! I may use the window box myself...I'm bringing to FM just to see if there's an interest. LOL! And today I saw a wren come out of the red barnwood house in the 1st pic...they are nesting! And I wish you GJers lived closer...to visit FMrkt & my gardens! One gal came up to me last season at FMrkt & called me by my GJ name, "jeannespines"...she had seen some of my GJ on our forum! Thanks, gals! Jeanne S.

You might want to check the size of the hole in the gourd also. Different birds need different size holes and if my guess is right your gourd was bought at a craft shop and they didn't take that into account. I have had swallows, bluebirds, wrens, and finches nest in mine. I did the same thing as Robin for the hanger and be sure to put the drain holes in the bottom too or your young chicks may drown. You can find books at the library that tell you what size hole for the birds you want to attract. Good Luck!

It depends on what type/size your birdhouse is if it would be suitable for other birds. Some of the wren houses are awfully small for a Tree Swallow or Bluebird to nest in. Bluebirds need a 1.5 inch hole, swallows prefer that too but can get in a smaller hole. Chickadees also prefer the 1.5 inch hole but can get in a 1 1/8 inch hole. A housewren will enter any size hole, not much deters them except keeping the nestboxes far away from brush and trees. House Sparrows can enter a 1 1/4 or larger hole, you would want to keep them from nesting in your birdhouse. A properly mounted nestbox is mounted on a slick metal pole with a predator baffle and at least 15-30 feet away from trees/fences/brush with no branches hanging over the box. Squirrels and or raccoons can and will get into nestboxes placed in/on trees or mounted on wooden posts. A metal plate on the front is to prevent woodpeckers from enlarging the hole. If the nestbox is mounted properly squirrels shouldn't be able to get to it to chew the opening. Here is a link to "lots" of info about cavity nesting birds..it is a bluebird site but has load of info about all cavity nesting birds and how to attract them and properly put up nestboxes for them.... Donna Here is a link that might be useful: Cavity nesting bird info.....sialis...

Charlie, I can't picture what you are trying to do very clearly, if you can modify a baffle to make it fit on the post like we do on the slick metal poles then go for it. If not, maybe hang decorative bird houses on your tressil posts and plug the entrance hole if it has one. Then in your yard place a proper nest box with baffle. Feel free to post on bluebird nut cafe, you will get more help there than here.