Drying gourds for birdhouses

Whether you're interested in attracting bluebirds, robins, or chickadees to your backyard, a great birdhouse is a necessity for any rural homeowner. Although it's easy to purchase birdhouses in a variety of styles, making your own is a great craft project -- especially if you have small children at home. After drying a bottle gourd, simply add drainage holes and a sturdy hanger. Your kids will have a blast helping to decorate the gourd with colorful designs. Use white or light colored paint to help keep your feathered friends cool in the summer. Unlike commercially purchased birdhouses, homemade gourd birdhouses lack significant insulation.

Radio Interview Source: James A. Baggett, editor, Nature's Garden Magazine

To learn more about drying gourds for birdhouses, we recommend visiting the following links:

• Gourd House and Feeder: Plant and harvest gourds to make your own birdhouses.

• American Gourd Society: Learn more about how gourds can be dried for use in a number of craft projects.

• Birdhouse Hole Size Chart: Find out what size of hole to drill in your gourd in order to attract a particular type of bird.