I did not make these bird houses, but I like to think that I facilitated their construction by fostering a creative environment. When we bought our house four years ago, there were some old and heavily-used bird houses mounted to the side of the old shed. Over the years I watched brood after brood of black-capped-chickadees and house sparrows emerge from those overflowing little houses, and squabble over their continued use from the shed and nearby rhododendrons.
Apparently you’re supposed to replace birdhouses periodically, and we have no idea how long the old houses were there. So, earlier this season inspired by a patient, other carpentry projects, and the right scrap materials at hand, Jake tossed together these adorable little pine houses. He has a knack for putting shapes together to make something new.
After checking to make sure that no one had laid any eggs yet, Jake replaced the old houses and installed the new ones at the beginning of April. We kept the old houses nearby on top of a row of firewood to ease the transition, if it means anything to the birds who were getting ready to make their spring nests and might balk at the change. At the time of this writing, which is still early in April, the birds are tentatively investigating the new houses. I see them brining grass and twigs to the opening but haven’t actually witnessed any going in and out. I think the birds know when I’m watching them…
