One Tweet Bug Buster
Photo by cruadin, under a Creative Commons license
In the “Ask Martha” column of August’s Martha Stewart Living, one reader asks for ways to banish flies and mosquitoes in her yard without using chemicals.
The grand dame herself—or some lesser mortal on her staff—replies:
Birds are the best insect control nature has to offer. They’re much preferable to chemical sprays and bug zappers. Swallows, in particular, subsist mainly on winged insects. A pair of swallows can eat thousands of mosquitoes in a day! That’s one reason I keep so many birdhouses on my properties. Swallows are common all over the United States. They like open spaces, so hang your birdhouses—ideally bluebird boxes with an entrance hole of one and a half inches—near fields and lawns, rather than in heavily wooded areas.
Banishing creepy crawlies and fliers is one thing, but you can also help stem the dangerous decline in once-common backyard birds, some of whose numbers have fallen more than 80 percent in the past 40 years, according to the National Audubon Society. Here are sustainable birdhouse and bird-feeder options (besides thrifting or making your own, natch) that will garner you some frequent-flier privileges of your own.
 Sanctuary, sustainability, and self-sufficiency are the cornerstones of the vocational training at Brown’s Foster Home for men with developmental disabilities. The residents hammer out hundreds of birdhouses each year from reclaimed materials, including rusty hardware, driftwood, and 200-year-old barn boards. Aside from providing some income, these birdhouses are also a source of accomplishment and dignity. Each house is numbered, dated, and cataloged. ($35-$75, Recycled Reflections)
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 Untreated cedar, salvaged from a local Portland contractor, was used to shape the classic lines of this handmade birdhouse, which will fit wrens, chickadees, bluebirds, downy woodpeckers and other similar-size birds. The overhang helps with drainage, and the door flips open for easy interior cleaning. “Most birds prefer untreated wood because it allows their claws to grip the naturally rough walls more easily,” says Emily, the store’s owner. A percentage of the profits go to the Nature Conservancy or the Portland Audubon Society. ($12, PaperSeed Shop at Etsy)
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 The birdhouses and feeders of this family-owned business are constructed by hand from wood reclaimed from fallen barns in northwestern New York. Natural cracks, splits, nail holes, peg holes, insect damage, knots, and warping from age lend each birdhouse distinct characteristics that make it a unique piece of American history. Includes a decorative grapevine wreath wrapped around the exterior of each mini abode. Bonus: Free shipping within the United States. (From $19.99, Poppy’s Birdhouses)
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 Smaller birds such as finches may prefer to mob around this recycled-plastic bird feeder, which comes with multiple perches. Shatterproof polycarbonate windows ward off feathered troublemakers, while spelling long-term durability. This Smith & Hawken exclusive’s regular price is a somewhat steep $49, but it’s currently on clearance for half that. The company also sells a matching window-mountable birdfeeder ($33.99, clearance), so you can peer in on the action and drive your cat batty at the same time. Eat your heart out, Animal Planet. ($23.99, Smith & Hawken)
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 I’m a tad ambivalent about PopOutz’s birdfeeders. On the one hand, they’re lightweight and can be flattened to save space, lowering their fuel and transport demands. But while the company fashioned its feeders out of 100 percent recyclable polypropylene plastic, it could also have done one better and used recycled plastic, as well. The low, low price of two bucks could go either way—ubiquity or disposability. You gotta admit they’re cute, though. Comes in six colors. ($1.80, Unipeck of America)
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kelley said,
July 12, 2007 at 7:56 am
thanks, martha! this actually might not be a bad idea for my house, now that i think about it. so many moths.
peppylady said,
July 12, 2007 at 12:53 pm
mmm, interesting! The only bird feeder I have is a hummingbird feeder. But I can see having extra birds that will cut down on the mosquitoes
This Single Spark said,
July 12, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Don’t forget about the bats! My ex-roommie, who is now living in her own place, is able to enjoy mosquito-free evenings thanks to the family of bats living under her eaves. She’s waiting until they migrate to block up the hole they’re using, and then putting up bat boxes for next year. Not as pretty as birds, but adorable in their own way (right?!?) and very effective bug hunters.
Two New Recycled Wood Birdhouses « said,
July 13, 2007 at 10:03 am
[...] I just finished two new birdhouses to list for sale on Etsy tonight. Plus I want to say a big thank you to Jasmin at The Worsted Witch for featuring one of my birdhouses on her One Tweet Bug Buster post! [...]
The Worsted Witch » said,
July 26, 2007 at 5:35 pm
[...] If you’re making or putting up a birdhouse, check out these specifications, ordered by species, from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. [...]