Shopsmith Forums

I love to have wrens in our yard, sometimes because it reminds me of home and simpler times as a kid, other times just for the song.

The male wren is quite the nest builder, and a purest as the nest is primary wood sticks all weaved in to a tight bundle. Here where I live in IL he will make up to four nests in one season, so having more boxes available helps with that.

I have not heard or seen any yet this season. It should be about that time however.

I enjoy making birdhouses. It seems like it would be a great shop project for just about any woodworker. Thanks for sharing yours.

Ed

Wow, I didn't know they made so many nests!

We've already had a family raised in our Christmas Cactus just outside the patio window. Here is hauling some of the framing lumber earlier this year. Guess I need to reclaim some of that old patio fence and make a house or two. I could use some learnin' up anyway. Thanks for the inspiration, OP.

Speaking of wrens, and bird houses and the like.

We have had some gusty winds and when I went out this morning I found one of my tree hanging wren houses on the ground. When I checked it out I was glad to find only a few twigs inside. No nest, so that was a good thing and my first concern. The fastener had pulled out, one of many failure modes that can happen.

The box had taken a hard fall and one of the seams had spit open as well a few cracks were showing up. Had to brake the rest of the seam open, then re-glue the two half's back together and do a bit of a patch up.

Glue is drying so it should be ready for repainting by the morning. I might want to find a bit more sheltered location next time.

Ed

That is exactly the concern I had, because an earlier birdhouse had suffered a similar fate (also, fortunately, without a nest inside at the time). Close examination of the photo in the original post will reveal a wire attached to either side of the roof and running through the chain above as a backup to the eye bolt. It detracts from the aesthetics, but the wrens don't seem to care. It may improve their WiFi reception.

I'm new here and new to my Shopsmith, but I can't help but weigh in on the birdhouse. That is really awesome! It's a rare physical thing we make that means so much to another as a bird house.

You made my day. Thanks!

I like to listen to the wrens. So why won't they listen to me?
If I've told them once, I've told them a thousand times -- "Measure Twice, Cut Once!"

Duh,obviously they are building an addition....

boco wrote:I like to listen to the wrens. So why won't they listen to me?
If I've told them once, I've told them a thousand times -- "Measure Twice, Cut Once!"

IMG_5394b.jpg

algale wrote:Duh,obviously they are building an addition....

boco wrote:I like to listen to the wrens. So why won't they listen to me?
If I've told them once, I've told them a thousand times -- "Measure Twice, Cut Once!"

IMG_5394b.jpg

I remember some years back a micro-brewery had a temperature malfunction and had volumes of brew that had to be disposed late one evening.

A disposal / waste contractor was contracted in to empty the vat. Everything went well enough until the truck left and parked in the back of their main office over the weekend.

Somehow a leaking valve on the truck allowed the contents to leak out and run down to a marshy area downhill from the shop. The marshy area was a hot spot for the local birds and upon arrival to work Monday, there was no Turn, un-stoned. Birds it seem like all sorts of repurposed stock. Curious thought struck me as I was about to post this.... It was hard not to Save Draft, before Submit.

I luv your sense of humor.

Nice job! And for the PC crowd, the traditional term used for wood scrap is "off fall". I just call it "scrap" and whether it winds-up in another project or in the wood stove, all scrap is useful.