One way to reduce the insect load in your garden is to attract birds that eat them (subscribe to our blog, below, and keep an eye out for our species-by-species breakdown). We will be holding an open workshop for folks to come and build take-home birdhouses for finch, wren, chickadee, nuthatch, house wrens, blue birds, titmice, and/or purple martins. An open workshop means that you can come any time between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to assemble the house(s) you have selected ahead of time. Bring a friend or family member to help! It is a great activity for parents and kids, friends, couples, etc. Staff will be on site to help, but all the tools and materials you’ll need are included in the purchase price.
Open Workshop Details
The workshop will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on April 6, 2024. Give yourself at least an hour or two depending on the complexity of the box and your skill level — please plan to wrap up your build by 4:00 p.m. The workshop is at the Low Technology Institute: 11927 W. State Road, Evansville, WI 53536 (located in historic Cooksville: take 14 south out of Madison; left on 59; the institute is the fifth house on the right in town with a sign out front). Parking details will be emailed to participants. Also, participants must fill out this liability waiver. Your RSVP is only complete when the waiver is filled out.
Please wear clothing appropriate for the activity: close-toed shoes, perhaps light work gloves, hair tie, clothing without dangling parts, etc. If you have favorite ear and eye protection, please bring them, but we will have some available, too. We’ll have drinking water available, but please bring your own beverages or snacks. We will be indoors.
Birdhouse Kits and Registration
To register, head to our store and buy whichever birdhouse kit(s) you would like to build. Registration closes March 31st at midnight. The price includes precut wooden parts, glue, fastners, hinges, mounting hardware (if applicable), etc. as well as use of our workshop space and tools for assembly. Each kit has a different cost because the wood, fasteners, and complexity of preparation varies. Price does not include paint, finish, or poles.
Then simply show up and your parts will be waiting for you to assemble.
Kit Details
Wrens/Chickadees/Titmice/Nuthatches/Warblers/Finch — $25
A simple birdhouse that varies by size of entrance hole and interior cavity. Attach to pole or tree at various heights depending on the species (see upcoming post for details).
Bluebirds — $25
A fairly simple birdhouse specific for the Bluebird. Best mounted on a pole in a clearing with scattered trees (more details here).
Purple Martins — $125
A more complex build and installation. Requires a specialized pole that tips up and down for annual cleaning.