We bought a new house! Well, actually two — but they’re for the birds. We picked up a pair of inexpensive $3 birdhouses at Michael’s after learning that now is the best time to put them out to attract feathered tenants who will, in spring, help control mosquitoes. The store-bought versions were cute but not built to last: porous balsa wood frames and woven roofs that wouldn’t stand up to rain.
We didn’t want to spend much, so we used materials we already had on hand. Leftover all-weather deck paint from a previous sunroom floor project and a few spare roofing tiles did the trick. With a little reinforcement to the fragile wood frames, we attached roofing tiles (cut to size) using Liquid Nails and sealed seams to make the houses more weatherproof. A small hole drilled in the back of each house lets them hang securely on a tiny nail driven into a tree.
The result: two sturdier, more weather-resistant homes that still retain their charm. A little paint and a practical roof turned fragile craft-store birdhouses into durable backyard shelters.
We’re happy with how they turned out — simple, sweet, and built to hang for seasons to come. If you’re trying something similar, pick materials that resist rot and hold up in wet weather, secure roofs so rain won’t seep in, and position the houses where birds feel safe: sheltered from prevailing winds and away from easy predator access. Adding a small perch isn’t necessary for many species and can invite predators, but ensuring proper ventilation and drainage will make the boxes more comfortable for nesting birds.
What do you think of our two new homes? Any tips to encourage mosquito-eating birds to move in are welcome — we can’t wait to see which visitors decide to feather our little nests.