Just pecking away at 12 favorite modern birdhouses (and feeders) for spring, humming Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, “every little thing’s, gonna be all right — and wondering…will it? Will it actually be All Right? And is it also all right if I order not just one, but three birdhouses from Loll? They are sustainable and made from recycled milk jugs, so maybe that is, in fact, all right?
My mother had a birdhouse she was seemingly obsessed with when we were growing up. It stood on a post, outside the window of the breakfast table where she’d tea and toast. She’d just sit, quietly and contentedly, enjoying her garden and the birds.
I didn’t get it, then. Fast forward several years…and I definitely do now.
In my summer-loving heart, I would like to believe that we are through the deadest of winter and that spring is just around the corner. In truth, it is not. But when I took the trash out this week, something was different. It was 21 degrees, the sun was not shining, and the bins took a strong yank — they were frozen to the also-frozen ground. But…THE BIRDS WERE BACK AND CHIRPING! Who are these crazy early birds that don’t know we are not ready yet, that it is not spring, and that there is nothing for them to eat right now?
So I ordered a birdhouse, and then realized that I also need a bird feeder. My plan is to place them where I can sit with my coffee and protein toast, fully prepared to chase off the city squirrels should they get any crazy idea about messing with my plan for the birds.
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1 | Loll Arbor Birdhouse
Stylish and sustainable (made in the USA, from recycled milk jugs.) Most fun of all — you can mix and match from tons of color options; choose one that’s just right for your house!
2 | Esschert Design Open Table Bird Feeder
Sleek, modern, simple and sweet! It’s an open table feeder that cleverly protects the feed from the elements and offers just enough shelter.
3 | Red Hanging Homenote Feeder
Easy to fill, and hang. I love the lines of this one and that it can feed many birds, each in their own spot!
4 | Perky Tube Feeder
This one is just happy! Maybe everything will be all right after all. AND, possibly even more cheerful, it also comes in happy yellow too!
5 | Handmade Steel Triangle Feeder
Handmade by a one-man-show human, this beauty is perfection in clean, simple, practical, functional and lovely modern design.
6 | Scout Regalia Craftsman Style Bird Bungalow
If the birds and I were to share a beach house, it would be this one. Made in California and couldn’t possibly be cuter.
7 | Set of 2 Glass Feeders
I am a bit obsessed with this set. The glass lip is designed just-so for perching; they have a drainage hole to keep the feed dry; they are dishwasher safe, and IMAGINE what you get to see as the birds feed in glass globes! They are also absolutely gorgeous.
8 | Loll Pitched Birdhouse
The second of three birdhouses by Loll I have my eye on. Made from recycled milk jug and possibly my favorite. Comes in eight colors. I recently ordered red for a client’s roof deck, which might possibly have been my quiet little way of signing-off on that complete project. I can’t wait to see it up there in action!
9 | Eva Solo Window Feeder
This one is cool because it’s glass and suctions to a window for even more bird watching through the window beauty!
10 | DIY Fun Craft Birdhouse Kit
Fun craft for a snowy day of creativity expression! These are meant to be decorative, but they can be functional, too.
11 | Nature’s Way Cedar Blue Bird House
Nature’s Way is a small family-owned business in Ohio. Their business is bringing nature back to your backyard. They create all kinds of fun birdhouses from primarily cedar, in thoughtful ways. I love this clean easy, blends-right-into-nature, blue birdhouse.
12 | Loll Rapson Birdhouse
The third of three Loll birdhouses I have my eye on, and possibly the one I relate most to? It’s tall. It’s also Loll, so it’s sustainable, made from recycled milk jugs, AND, you can mix and match your color selection and customize it to your own happy color combo.
I’m not really that worried about how wrong this will go, I accept that it will. I will send funny videos, my mother will see the situation and quietly come “fix it.” She’s a gentle old Bird like that. I’m learning as I go that birds need houses and feeders and that different birds have different requirements–who knew? These folks, the National Wildlife Foundation do, that’s who. Either my mother or I will let you know how this all flies — Stay tuned.
xoxo,
A
PS: Follow along with me on Pinterest for more Home Inspiration and other random distractions via pretty visuals. xo A
PPS: This one is for the Pinner Birds:
Something to consider if you really love birds and bird watching is that providing natural forage and cover through plants is the truly sustainable and bird-friendly approach. Also bird feeders are apparently supposed to be disinfected weekly(!) I found this out when our local area was asked to take in all bird feeders due to a bird illness going around. Bird feeders lead to artificial congregation in a single spot which can make any natural occurence of diseases spread more widely and most people don’t clean their feeders often enough. If you want to plant for birds the focus would be on plants that give them somewhere to nest or take cover and on plants that provide seeds and berries. Just like with pollinators, bio-diversity is the best approach.
Allison-great points, all of them, thank you! Goals Spring 2021 (after we thaw) include planting beyond just the current quick herb garden. 2 homes ago, we did native Trumpet Honeysuckle and Milkweed and in a “build it and they will come” amazing moment…the hummingbirds and monarchs did! Right this minute, I’m having a moment of gratitude that I ordered the feeder, that can go in the dishwasher. Whether I’ll put it there or tackle this by hand is tbd, but now at least I know I’ll need to clean it-and I will-thank you! A
Please don’t get a black birdhouse an/or birdhouse with poor ventilation if you live in the south or any other part of the country that gets hot and sunny. A birdhouse that will get hot enough to kill it’s inhabitants and their eggs is very poor design — as tacky, useless and wasteful as a “birdhouse” from a mega craft store.
thank so much