BirdLodges.com and Berkeley Rustic Birdhouses

Introducing Berkeley Rustic Birdhouses directly from none other than Berkeley, California.

Made from recycled lumber, metal, and miscellaneous building materials, these birdhouses are truly one-of-a-kind.

Your house might look just a little bit different from the sample or maybe have a slightly different stain of wood, but that's what makes them unique.

Hand made in Berkeley and sold from the back of a truck, BirdLodges.com is honored to offer Berkeley Rustic Birdhouses on our website.

This house is named "Funky Berzerkeley Birdhouses" / "Berkeley Birkenstocks Basic Bungalow Birdhouse."

We chose to use it's much shorter name "Swiss Chalet." More birdhouse styles will be added soon.

And now, a message from Berkeley Rustic Birdhouses:

International Standard of Ornithology(ISO) 2009 Approved

We have met the approval of the International Standard of Ornithology of 2009. Make sure your birdhouses are ISO 2010. Check your birdhouses to make sure they have proper hole sizes, venting, drainage, and clean-outs. Failure to meet ISO 2009 will result in the City of Berkeley (liberals with fascists tendencies) citing you for birdhousing violations. (That's a joke...BL). How to check to make sure your birdhouses are ISO 2010:

BIRD HOUSING

Ten Features Of A Good Birdhouse

There are lots of cutesy birdhouses at your local stores and garden nurseries. They don't work for birds to nest in. In fact, don't use them since they will kill the bird's young since most use toxic paint, glue, and do not have venting and cleanouts. Birds prefer rustic and natural looking birdhouses to simulate nature and camouflage as they nest.

Below is a checklist of the ten most important features of a good working birdhouse. Before you put a house out for wild birds, be sure it has these ten features. If it is decorative and still has these features, then it is fine to put it out for the birds.

1. No Perch (door knobs are okay): Tree holes in the wild have no perches, so the birds that use nest boxes do not need them. They can be a disadvantage in that they may attract House Sparrows, an invasive species that often takes over nests from our native hole-nesting birds.

2. Entrance Hole Size: Most of our common hole-nesting birds can use an entrance hole 1 1/2 inches in diameter. This size also keeps out Starlings, another invasive species that takes over nest boxes from native species.

3. Floor Dimensions: The inside dimensions of the box are important and should be at least 4 inches by 4 inches so that there is room for the young to develop.

4. Box Height: The distance from the bottom of the entrance hole to the floor of the box should be at least 5 inches. This keeps the developing young well down in the box and away from predators that might approach the entrance hole.

5. Be Able to Open: You must be able to open the box, either on the side, front, or top. This helps in two ways: to monitor the progress and health of the young; and to clean out the box at the end of the season.

6. Ventilation: There must be holes or slits at the top of the box sides or along the top of the front of the box to let hot air out when the sun beats down on the box in summer.

7. Drainage Holes: The bottom of the box needs to have holes or cut off corners to allow any water to drain out of the box.

8. A Way to Attach the Box: Check to see if there is some way that you can attach the box to a pole, such as holes or a bracket.

9. Should Be Wood: Be sure that the materials the box is made of are 3/4 inch thick wood or a similar material that will insulate the birds from cold and heat.

10. Roof Overhang: The roof should overhang the entrance hole by 1 to 2 inches. This both shades the entrance hole and keeps the rain out.

Screech Owl on Jeopardy

A few days ago the Screech Owl was an item on the television show "Jeopardy."

"After listening to its piercing cry, you'll know why this west Peruvian owl is so named."

"What is a Screech Owl?"

BirdLodges Nature Walk Wildlife Sightings

Today, a great blue heron!

BirdLodges.com and February Activities

I once heard someone say there was nothing going on in February. They felt it was a short and boring month.

I could not believe that because February is not only National Bird Feeding month, there's Groundhog Day, Lincoln's birthday, Valentine's Day, Washington's birthday, a three-day weekend or two depending on your local school district, Leap Year day and also the Great Backyard Bird Count. I'd say February is one of the most active months of the year!

For more info about the Great Backyard Bird Count please visit the Audubon Society's page at http://birds.audubon.org/great-backyard-bird-count

BirdLodges Nature Walk Wildlife Sightings

Today - a robin, the first robin of spring. High in a tree checking out the scenery.

BirdLodges.com Eastern White Pine Products

BirdLodges.com Eastern White Pine Products

Coveside manufactures a habitat for every species of cavity nesting bird in North America, plus a complete assortment of bat houses, feeders and other wildlife products. The dimensions and details of our habitats are correct in all details for each species, easy to clean, well insulated and provide for proper drainage. Each Coveside nesting box comes with a species specific educational brochure.

Coveside was founded in 1991. Our products represent 17 years of evolution, as well as the insights and experience of a wide range of wildlife experts. All of our wildlife habitats and the majority of our feeders are made of sustainably grown wood.

* Handcrafted in Maine

* Product Quality: Our customers tell us again and again that our products are "the best on the market" with the unique rougher-head finish and secure construction.

* Environmental Concern: The dimensions are correct for each species and care is given to ventilation and drainage for the well being of the inhabitants.

* Conservationists Prefer: Our products are manufactured from eastern white pine which is preferable because it is a second-growth tree which rejuvenates quickly.

* Educational Materials: Each product comes with a brochure and a point-of-purchase card telling about the wildlife inhabitant that will use it, recommending ideas for location and suggestions for maintenance procedures.

* Experts Select: Our habitats were selected to be on permanent display in the United States Arboretums Buchheister National Bird Garden in Washington, D.C and the Wildlife Garden at River Farm Gardens of the American Horticultural Society in Alexandria, Virginia.

BirdLodges Nature Walk Wildlife Sightings

Today - a wild rabbit. I would call it a jackrabbit but the ears were not terribly large. Only saw it for a few seconds.

BirdLodges Nature Walk Wildlife Sightings

Today we hit the jackpot. Found a 100-year-old almond orchard with male bluebirds fighting over territory. There were a few bluebird boxes in the area and I saw one female checking it out.

BirdLodges.com and Robbins Lumber

The lumber used to make the BirdLodges pine products are from Robbins Lumber of Searsmont, Maine. The following information was provided by Robbins to describe their product:

Robbins Lumber is a vertically integrated forest products firm producing Eastern white pine lumber and byproducts in its mill, while at the same time caring for and growing forest products on superbly managed woodlands. For over one hundred and twenty-one years, the Robbins family has been working in the Maine woods and producing quality white pine lumber products. The lessons of wood milling, business finance, distribution and forest management have been accumulated over six generations of the family. The one lesson taught to each generation has been that there's always a better way, some way to be more efficient...to deliver a better product...to be the first with an idea that will benefit our customers.

Robbins Lumber, Inc. is a leader in responsible forestry management practices. We continually replant where we harvest. We secure the soil from erosion, preserve wildlife habitats and ensure that a sixth generation of Robbins can depend on a healthy and productive forest of quality Eastern pine.

We are proud to have received the National Arbor Day Foundation Award for outstanding forestry practices. We're committed to the future in everything we do.

National Bird Feeding Month

February is National Bird Feeding Month!

Is it spring yet?

Is it spring yet?



Spring is on the way, we promise! Humans, birds, and wildlife are all looking forward to warm, sunny weather.


BirdLodges.com would like to introduce a new feature on the website. Look for the "Click here to learn" section found on the left panel.

Learn all about which birds will use a house or platform to nest and lots of information about bird feeders and food, too.