How to Make a Gord Birdhouse

Gourds

Birds, especially Purple Martins, flock to gourd birdhouses. Nesting birds begin to look for a place to call home during the early spring. You can help them find it by placing birdhouses throughout your yard or garden. You can easily make your own gourd birdhouse with a few simple tools, tips and techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Gourd
• Drill
• Hole Drill Bits or Jigsaw
• 1/8 Drill Bit
• Gourd Scraper
• Light Grade Sandpaper
• Threaded Clean-out
• Caulk
• Leather String
• Decorative Paint or Clear Polyurethane

Instructions

1. Find a dried gourd that is at least 9 inches in diameter. If the gourd is hard to the touch on the outside and the seeds inside rattle when you shake it, it is dried and ready for you to make your birdhouse. You can find gourds at farmer's markets or you can order them online.

2. Decide what kind of bird you would like to nest in your gourd as this determines what size opening you should make for the entrance. Bluebirds and Carolina Wrens prefer a 1 1/2-inch opening, Red Headed Woodpeckers like a 2-inch opening, while Purple Martins require a special crescent-shaped opening.

3. Hold the gourd firmly, and make the appropriate-sized opening on the front of the gourd with a hole bit and your drill or with a jigsaw. Drill a 1/8-inch hole through the top of your gourd for inserting the leather string.

4. Make a 4 1/2-inch hole on the back of the gourd for the clean-out access. You can order threaded clean-outs online or find them at your local hardware or craft supply store. The clean-out will allow you access to the inside of the birdhouse for seasonal cleaning and to check on the occupants, if needed.

5. Lightly sand around the two openings you created, just enough to remove and shards. Clean out the interior of the gourd with your gourd scraper. Paint the gourd as you like or add a clear coat of polyurethane if desired. There is no need to decorate or paint your gourd; this is a personal preference.

6. Place the clean-out into the 4 1/2-inch opening and caulk around the outside perimeter to secure it in place. Thread the leather string through the top opening and hang your gourd birdhouse.

Tips & Warnings

• If your gourd is not completely dry, place it outside on a pallet or some other raised surface for proper air flow.

• Do not dry your gourds inside as the odor during the drying process is unpleasant.

Resources

• Examples of Gourd Birdhouses