Rustic Bird Houses
At times some of the ideas for a birdhouse seem a little out of touch to some of us. The grand ornate Victorian birdhouses are beautiful to look at, but it's not really reminiscent of the natural surrounding that our avian friends might be accustomme to living in. For those who feel this way, a great option is a rustic birdhouse. Usually crafted from unfinished wood products, often rough hewn, these seem more fitting for housing a wild animal like a bird.
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Many of these rustic homes are built to look like a log cabin birdhouse, that most rustic of the traditonal American homes. Often made from traditional woods like fir, you can also find some bamboo birdhouses shaped as log cabins as well. An all time favorite is cedar, as it is a durable wood for outside use, and weathers to a fine gray if left unfinished. With no paint, there are fewer concerns with the materials affecting the health of the birds.
Other styles that can be classified as rustic would include those recalling Native American dwellings. This would include an adobe style home, sometimes complete with a roof ladder. There is even one landscaped with a cactus in the "yard".
There are many birdhouses that might be classified as "rustic" that wouldn't be considered too simple. Many are almost full landscapes, and take the form of miniature diners or hotels, complete with outdoor scenery to finish off the "rustic" look. Another favorite is the Old Spanish Mission.
These rustic birdhouses are a great choice to house finches, bluebirds, tree sallows and nuthatches.