Written by Kathleen Dupree
Charming House
A hand-me-down house no longer wanted by a client, we were thrilled to add this charming home to the farm landscape. At first, it was merely a decoration on our screened-in porch, but last year we installed it on a post in a small bed of purple coneflower. Last year, it became home to a large hive of Paper Wasps, and we were careful to keep our distance, but this year, happily, we have a pair of Carolina Chickadees nesting there.
The Gate House
This cute bluebird house sits near the gated entrance to our farm. We often grow sunflowers in the beds behind it, and thus it makes a for a nice picture. Last spring, I nearly put my hand down on a big black snake that had stretched itself out to sun on the gate railing after most likely “visiting” the residents in the birdhouse. Eww. This year it is occupied with bluebirds yet again. So far, no slithery visitors.
The Chateau
Designed and built by Old South Birdhouses, one of the local craft vendors at the Chapel Hill Farmer’s Market, this house reminds me of an old-fashioned cuckoo clock my family had when I was a child. Its opening is just large enough for wrens and smaller songbirds. This is the first spring we’ve had it, so we look forward to seeing who decides to call it home.
The Cabin
On our front porch hangs this quaint little cabin, a perfect fit for our Carolina Wrens that regularly nest in whatever shady little cavity they can find. Although they usually build a nest in the Cabin each year, they have yet to lay eggs in it. Instead, they usually end up nesting in the nearby potted caladiums on the porch. Oh well.
The Green House
Obviously, we had to call it that. This bluebird house needed a paint job to preserve it, and apparently, green paint was the only paint handy so… it’s green. We recently moved it to a large fence post near the street and far away from most of the other birdhouses. The color does help it to blend into the surroundings so hopefully, it should be a nice nesting spot. Time will tell.
The Condos
Another hand-me-down from a friend. After some sprucing up with paint and a sturdy new post, we placed this beauty in one of our favorite spots on the farm, The Shade Garden, where we have planted many species of native, shade-loving species among the moss-covered boulders. Although it appears to be a Purple Martin house, just the second story has ever been occupied each year, usually by Carolina Wrens.
Raggedy House
This old house has certainly seen better days but still does its job every year. As you can see, the roof has been replaced more than once with leftover shingles. It sits on a corner post of the front fence. Bluebirds are nesting in it now. Each week when I mow around it, I worry that I am frightening the little ones inside with the noise of the mower. The pyracantha berries that grow nearby are probably a favorite treat for these feathered fellows.
The Woodland House
This copper-topped rustic bluebird home sits nestled in a shady spot surrounded by large oaks and is regularly occupied each year. The cover provided by the large surrounding trees makes it an ideal spot for raising a brood.
Akebia House
Surrounded by an Akebia vine, this is another one of our older birdhouses that has stood the test of time. Conveniently located near the raspberry and pineapple guava beds, (conveniently for the birds, that is), it is occupied every year without fail. This fact surprises me too since it is quite low to the ground. If you look closely in the background, you can see our Australian shepherd, Izzy, looking for voles in the raspberry bed. They are there, but she never finds them.
Marshmallow House
This copper-topped birdhouse has been with us for quite a few years now, located on a fence post in the Blueberry Garden (where we planted our very first blueberry bushes). Often twice a year, a pair of bluebirds make it their home. A lovely pink marshmallow plant grows beneath, attracting pollinators of all sorts, a favorite in the bluebirds’ diet.
Tin Pan Man House
This fellow, fashioned from wood and metal scrap, sits attached to our screened-in porch next to the stairs and overlooks the Blueberry Garden. He’s been home to many Carolina Wrens over the years. The entry hole is on one side, away from the stairs so, its adjacency to our comings and goings don’t seem to deter the birds from nesting there. Plenty of places to perch on this unique old man.
Muscadine House
Recently relocated to the far end of the fence where we grow our muscadine grapes, this weathered old structure sits next to our strawberry high tunnel and is currently occupied by bluebirds. I’m sure they are hoping to indulge in the strawberries ripening nearby, however, unless they have found a secret entrance we haven’t discovered, they are out of luck and will have to make due with the muscadines later in the summer. I don’t think they’ll suffer much.
The Secret Garden House
This lichen-covered bluebird house sits on top of an old tree stump once used as a fence post. I like that the old stump has a new use as a home base for the birds. If you look closely, you can see the deep scars left by the old fencing that once cut through the farm. We have since opened things up now. Once upon a time, we had pygmy goats and a miniature horse to keep up with, but now it's just pecan trees in the pasture and no need to fence them in. I wish we could fence out the squirrels that steal so many of our pecans.
Sunflower House
A gift from my husband and son for Mother’s Day, this bright and happy sunflower birdhouse was created by Chapel Hill metal artist and sculptor, David Hall. It’s beautifully crafted from sculpted metal and salvaged wood and is one of several treasured pieces we own from this gifted artist. It is strategically hung from an Autumn Flowering Cherry tree so that I can see it from my office window. It is a nice shady spot for any bird family, and well protected from predators.
Lavender House
This diamond shaped cutie is hanging from the eaves of the little cabin that houses our certified farm kitchen where all of those amazing fruit turnovers, seasoned pecans and other delicacies you get at the farmers’ markets are baked by the equally amazing Suzie and Stephan, our contracted bakers. Not only is it appropriately named for the hand-painted lavender sprigs that adorn it, but it also happens to be hanging just above our lavender beds on each side of the walkway up to the Farm Kitchen. The birdhouse was inhabited very quickly after we hung it this Spring (2023).
The Bluejay House & Feeder
We put this rustic house and feeder up in the Spring of 2023. It was, of course another gift to the Lady of the House (that would be me) from my husband and son. When you live on a farm called Feather Village Farm, and you’ve been watching and drawing birds for most of your adult life, you tend to get birdhouses as gifts. We call it the Bluejay House and Feeder because, although it does have a birdhouse in the middle, it’s the two trays on each side that attract the birds. As soon as we put the structure up in the small apple/peach orchard, the bluejays immediately checked it out and have been the primary visitors ever since. Usually, there are 3 to 4 of them at a time scarfing up the seed…and usually, there is a black cat sitting patiently nearby or underneath it waiting for the opportunity to strike. He usually misses, thank goodness. We have plenty of other feeders about for the smaller song birds, so I’m fine with the bluejays hogging this one. I don’t think we will ever see birds nesting in this house. Purely decorative. But it, nonetheless deserves a spot in this list.
Rosemary House
It has long been said that planting rosemary at your garden gate, will bring clarity and positive energy into one’s home. We have huge rosemary bushes growing at two of our garden gates and this well-built cedar bluebird house is mounted next to one of them. It’s in a nice shady spot and adjacent to some of our blueberry bushes. When I took this photo, the birdhouse was occupied. Whomever is nesting there will have a ready supply of fruit for nourishment. Here’s to positive energy, clarity and nourishment for all!
Sedum House
One of my favorites, this lime green house is nestled in a shady corner near one of the side entrances to the farm. It has a shallow bed on top that we planted with a little sedum, hence the name “Sedum House.” I just love the color and how it glows in the shade of the big tree it’s mounted on.