Gourd Birdhouses
Gourds make excellent natural homes for birds. Many songbirds nest in places like cavities in trees. With a loss of habitat, especially in newer residential areas, there are far fewer places for these types of birds to nest. Generally, birds will prefer to nest in a gourd over a manufactured birdhouse, possibly because of the unfinished natural insides of the gourd. Gourds can be left natural on the outside or decorated and painted, making them a great choice for any style of landscaping.
If you prefer to grow and make your own, there are always seeds available on Ebay. Just remember that gourd plants are large vines and will require a lot of area to grow. Once they are harvested in the fall, they need to be placed in a dry area to cure for at least several months. They are ready to make into a birdhouse when the gourd feels lighter and the seeds rattle inside when you shake it. You can either leave the outside as it is, or clean and scrape the dried outer skin off and drill a 1" hole in the gourd. Using a fork or a scraping tool that will fit through the hole, clean out most of the pulp and seeds. Drill small holes in the bottom for drainage and a couple of holes on each side at the top to place a wire or cord hanger and you are ready to start attracting birds!
