The Peanut Parlor (Or, How Not to Build a Birdhouse)
A project on my mind since finding Nemo has been building a birdhouse. I wanted to give the BJ family a safe place to nest next spring.
Finally, this summer, I made one. The only thing is, although I researched how to make a birdhouse, I learned a lot more after the build. Looking back, I would do many things differently.
As long as the peanuts keep coming, I'm happy.
Nonetheless, it was a good learning experience and a fun art project.
In this post, I'll show you how I built and decorated it, the mistakes I made and lessons I learned (indicated with this icon: 🚧), and why it's more like a Peanut Parlor than a birdhouse.
First, the planning. I didn't follow an exact guide. (🚧 Clearly, this is where the mistakes began). I took measurements from a video I saw, then added a couple of inches. Why? I thought BJ would enjoy a big living room.
🚧 There's a big difference between making a birdhouse to code and making a birdhouse just cute. Basic searches for "how to build a birdhouse" will, for the most part, bring up the fashion approaches, not the functional ones. Be specific with your search and build for a specific bird species in your area – especially one that could benefit from housing.
👷♀️ Builder's Note: As I talk about the mistakes and lessons I learned, I will reference this valuable infographic on the Features of a Good Birdhouse from NestWatch, a program part of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
I measured all the pieces on a piece of plywood. 🚧 If this were nonpressure-treated CDX exterior grade plywood it would be okay to use. But I found it at my house and have no idea what it is. Untreated, unpainted cedar or pine is best.
🚧 Upon further research, I discovered, according to the Ornithology subreddit, blue jays do not even nest in boxes! Although BJ is techincally a Scrub Jay, I am making a scientific guess that this information (if true) applies to him, too. So, right off the bat, this project turned really into more of a novelty project than an effective one.
Then came the construction. I asked my brother to cut the wood and drill a hole. I watched and learned.
Then I found some nails. At his insistence, my dad nailed the first couple of ones to help me get it started. I then hammered in the rest.
🚧 This hole for the entrance is way too big. It's about the right size for an owl.
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🚧 Look at the hole for the perch. Notice how one side is smooth and the other is splintering. I put the splintering side facing outwards. It's an aesthetic mistake. That also leds me to the next mistake...
🚧 Perches are not recommended for proper birdhouses. Perches help predators get in.
Build complete. BJ conducted initial inspections.
This does not meet building regulations.
Next came decorating. This was the fun part.
I got some outdoor, nontoxic acrylic paint and made the birdhouse pretty.
Blue for BJ.
While I was painting, BJ decided it was a good time to bathe and splash all over my workspace.
Next came a minor construction modification. You may have noticed something "off" about the top of the roof. Originally, I had one side of the roof overlapping the other, but my brother took it apart and said to do it like this. I don't think he was right.
I had to do something to fix the gap. I found a piece of wood that fit well.
🚧 A birdhouse that is built to keep birds dry is very important. Features of a sound birdhouse include a sloped roof, a recessed floor, and drainage holes. Despite my modification, I do not think the roof is sealed well enough.
I found a nice suburb of the Courtyard to set the house.
To help BJ get acquainted with his new home, I gave him housewarming peanuts.
Next, it was time to install the floor. This time, I cut the wood myself.
Then painted it green - like a nice garden, or, Courtyard.
And nailed it on.
Next, I built a fence from the vine branches that BJ likes to hide in and secured it by drilling holes the size of the fence posts and gluing them in.
It would not be complete without a miniature Cantina I made out of craft wire.
Now fill it with seed, why don't ya.
At this point, I realized many of the mistakes with this birdhouse build. Seeing it as the novelty project it turned into, I now saw it as a canvas for more pretty decorations - like painting a garden.
To achieve the painted pots, I made a stencil out of tape.
I "planted" a sunflower and lavender at the back.
And a window with flower box on the side.
Not bad. Not bad.
BJ is now a regular at the Peanut Palace. He comes for fresh peanuts every morning. Lately, I've been putting a handful inside the parlor when I have breakfast and watch BJ take one or two at a time to go then stash in his hideouts.
Helloooo are you open yet?
Fun fact: California Scrub Jays have "highly accurate and complex memories to recover the hidden caches, often after long periods of time."
Treasure to bury.
One spot BJ buries his treasure is in a bucket of dirt.
There you have it, the story of the now-popular Peanut Parlor and a guide on how not to build a birdhouse. I hope you learned valuable information about what goes into building a birdhouse to code.
I'm happy with having a cute decoration in the Courtyard and that BJ enjoys his Peanut Parlor, but I'm going to take what I learned and make another one - for Mighty Mouse. According to NestWatch, Cantina regular, Mighty Mouse (Oak Titmouse) is in decline. A way we can help as humans is to put up a birdhouse that is built to be a safe a successful home. This resource will be my guide for the next build.
The problematic but pretty Peanut Parlor
And as for BJ, the Courtyard is already home.
Thank you for reading and stay tuned to see Mighty Mouse's house and more stories from the Cantina & Courtyard.