Fun and functional bird houses .....

Fun and functional birdhouses are usually what collectors describe as lawn kitsch.   This type of collectible is right up there with the plastic pink flamingo and the antique garden gnome.  Many of them are built around a theme and can resemble churches, dollhouses and even sleek condos.  Although there are a lot of antique or custom made bird houses to be found on auction sites, there can be some drawbacks if you are looking for one that is both fun and functional.  This is because birdhouses that are designed for collectors are not always that bird friendly.

Before buying birdhouses of any kind, make sure that the nesting hole is the right size for the bird that you are hoping to attract.  If it is an insect feeding bird like a flicker, make sure that it is made of very old wood that might attract bugs.  Always make sure that the birdhouse has some kind of protection against predators in the form of a chalet style or sloping roof.

If you are looking for fun and functional birdhouses online, two great places to find them are listed below.  On these two sites you will find everything from birdhouses with weather vanes to bird houses with large paned windows.

Yardiac.com

The Bird Shed
Nice selection of bird houses at very reasonable prices.

What color should you paint your wooden bird house?