Why a Bird House

[Dick Veitch]

This week I am demonstrating the making of a Christmas Tree Bauble to our local club - South Auckland Woodturners. I will put a photo of that below. It is a little complicated and the plan instructions use the word "Exactly" twice which is quite a rare thing for woodturning. Those instructions will be on www.sawg.org.nz just as soon as our webmaster gets there (but he does have a day job) so I am attaching the project sheet pdf here.
This demonstration will be supported by Santa, Mrs Santa, an Angel, a Star, and a miniature bird house. I can make a connection between Christmas in the frozen north, Santa, Angels, stars, icicles, and the like. But I would like to know if there is any logical, historical, or mythical reason for a bird house to hang on a Christmas Tree.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

#1. It's pretty and you like it.
#2. It's a tree, birds live there.
#3. It makes more sense than most of our ornaments which include deer, bears, houses, cars, a train and even other Christmas trees.

 

[Dick Veitch]

Thanks. I like those reasons, particularly number 3.

 

[hockenbery]

birdhouses are artificial nests

Possibly related - A birds nest in a Christmas tree is said to bring good luck.

In case a bird did not choose the tree you put up, a lot of folks added their own birds nest.

The little houses hang nicely on branches an look nice so they are popular.

 

[Richard Coers]

For me it's logical. I do a holiday show at a nature center. Having a bird house ornament with a little plastic cardinal on it is like printing money. Probably sold a hundred of them over the last decade, at $25 each. I make the parts by the bucket full.

 

[John Torchick]

Originally, Christmas trees were decorated only with candles.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Going out on a limb ... I found this interesting read while Googling the origin of the Christmas tree: History of the Christmas tree

 

[Dick Veitch]

Thanks, Bill, quite clearly we can't blame Americans for any part of this tradition - apart from following a very long tradition.

 

[George Stratton]

Just finished 22 Bird house ornaments out of Cherry, as Christmas presents for all the daughters and granddaughters. My wife also has them on our tree. I never make 2 alike.

 

[Dick Veitch]

Thanks, George, that confirms the first reason given "It's pretty, and I like it."

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Same hier, I like turning Birdhouse ornaments, have made hundreds over the last 18 years or so, you can give them personalities and they are liked, I just had to turn 6 as I got an order for them,and I had all the ones I had turned packed and brought to the gallery and a specialty store that has them in stock year round.
I like using raw branch wood as well as small left overs that seem to be just right for them, looking at the different house styles and buildings around the world, or persons or things around, one can put these looks to reflex in what you turn.

 

[Dick Veitch]

Awesome and thanks for the gallery.

 

[Mike Zip Hamilton]

Leo, thanks for sharing! I hadn't thought much about bird house ornaments, but now I'm inspired. I've made mushrooms and soap dishes out of branches, but I think I'll try a dish with 2 live edges like the one roof.

 

[George Stratton]

Leo, those are fantastic. My wife would have the tree covered with them.

 

[Perry Hilbert]

This week I am demonstrating the making of a Christmas Tree Bauble to our local club - South Auckland Woodturners. I will put a photo of that below. It is a little complicated and the plan instructions use the word "Exactly" twice which is quite a rare thing for woodturning. Those instructions will be on www.sawg.org.nz just as soon as our webmaster gets there (but he does have a day job) so I am attaching the project sheet pdf here.
This demonstration will be supported by Santa, Mrs Santa, an Angel, a Star, and a miniature bird house. I can make a connection between Christmas in the frozen north, Santa, Angels, stars, icicles, and the like. But I would like to know if there is any logical, historical, or mythical reason for a bird house to hang on a Christmas Tree.
View attachment 31150

I asked the same question a year ago.

 

[Perry Hilbert]

The town of Bethlehem, PA was founded 12-24-1742 by Moravians. In the Bethlehem city records, there is reference to Christmas pyramids decorated with fruit nuts and lit with candles in 1748. Moravians were from further east like Czechoslovakia. Trees were a Lutheran thing. The Moravian stars did not come along until much much later.

I thought perhaps there was some tradition attached to birdhouse ornaments, sort of like a pickle ornament..

 

[Dennis J Gooding]

Like Leo, I have done many different styles of Christmas ornaments for gifts to friends and family. Most recently, I have been doing mostly rustic birdhouses from green saplings or limbs. Here are a few most recent, which feature "natural" perches rather than pegs. The one on the far right is a duplex.

 

[Grant Determan]

For me it's logical. I do a holiday show at a nature center. Having a bird house ornament with a little plastic cardinal on it is like printing money. Probably sold a hundred of them over the last decade, at $25 each. I make the parts by the bucket full.

What is your source for the little birds? I was looking for them the other day.

 

[George Stratton]

I bought them retail at “Hobby Lobby”. 6 on a card for $3.99. They also have them in blue and yellow.

 

[Tom Albrecht]

Leo, That's a great gallery, thanks.

What are the average dimensions of one of those homes?