Customer Reviews

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An excellent book that illustrates how to make some very nice birdhouses that vary from the easy to the complex like the one on the cover. I'm building the one on the cover and am having a lot of fun! The best birdfeeder book I've seen so far.

I bought this for my husband 2 years ago and he has made all the large feeders. He really enjoyed building them and I enjoy showing them off. I'm currently looking for another book with different designs but so far this is the best one.

In three short pages of Introduction, the author (Edward Baldwin) highlights some Essential Info for all of us home-based bird lovers: what the birds really need and how to provide it as well & efficiently as possible--and not only with home-made feeders & shelters. In those few pages there is a rich summary of insights on birds' daily needs; how we can help them in their lives; as well as how to lure them into our vicinity--and our viewing range--with various sources of food and shelter.

Then: on the book goes to show us various forms of feeding & sheltering stations that are quite make-able by a careful adult with some kind of "craft-making" skill. I, for example, had only sewing and fabric-construction types of skills to bring to the Roosting Box I made (see pg. 87). But, the skills were transferable to the wooden pieces that had to be cut and assembled (parallel functions to what one does w/cloth for a slip-cover, for example).

A number of projects and their plans are set up to use the simplest of household objects (plastic and glass jars or bottles once empty of foodstuffs, and even an 8 oz. milk carton). So, carpentry is not necessary in all of the projects. Some of the feeders look "do-able" by small children's hands with scissors and glue -- all with the encouragement & supervision an adult might lend.

The photos and illustrations of feeders/shelters and their parts as they get assembled are nice and clear. If you don't often take to carpentry and other forms of hand-crafting of items, it might be good to read through the instructions and examine drawings & photos a couple of times before the day you plan to start the actual "making" steps. You might also make a list of items you will want to purchase or borrow while pre-reading & getting prepared. That way, anything confusing can be cleared up ahead of time and you can be truly "ready" to start-in on schedule.

The book was thoughtfully organized for me as a bird-loving "enthusiast" with only basic manual skills and basic tools at home. It helped me produce something well-built for our backyard birds. There were tasks new to me, but the small size of the end-product and the fact that I could do all the steps on one work-table kept it manageable.

I'm planning to make a Squirrel-Feeder in a couple of months (to launch next autumn)--as a variation of one of the bottle-feeders in the book. I'd like to divert the squirrels' attention to Their Own feeder and away from the part of the yard where we keep birdfeeders (one of the ideas I picked up in the Intro). AND: I'm pleased w/the book; glad to have it at home and available "as needed."

I must admit to checking this one out from the local library on a regular basis as I am too cheap to actually purchase it. This is a shame in a way, as the book is certainly one of the best "how to" on this particular subject that I have run across in some time now.

I also admit that I am one of those individuals who have absolutely no skill in making things; from crafts for the grandkids, to major projects around the house, I am at a complete loss. That being said, the instructions given in this book allow even people like myself, i.e. those that are all thumbs, to create some wonderful feeders, shelters and general "bird stuff." As the author so well points out and illustrates, you do not need a bunch of fancy tools or materials to accomplish the projects in this work, only the ability to follow well written instructions, helped along, of course, with great illustrations and pictures.

Now birds I do know! The author has given some very good information as to the feeding habits of birds, their basic needs, and how we humans can help their life along. I have found not one bad or misleading bit of information in this entire book. As a matter of fact, I learned a few things, things I did not realize I did not know, if that makes any sense.

This is an extremely easy book to use. It is very useful and a good one to add to your library, or as in my case, check it out at your local library. I really must break down and fork over the buck and get my own copy one of these days.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

The book has a lot of great ideas for birdfeeders and shelters. It on had once birdbath that you could construct but was simple to construct.

Hmmm...good book with one exception. The title is Birdfeeders Shelters & Baths...only one example of a birdbath is mentioned. Title should be Birdfeeders Shelters and Bath. Otherwise the book is great.

I bought this book for my dad. He's retired but still likes working in his little shop with wood. He loves this book!!!!

very easy to comprehend. a lot of detail goes into the specifications for the various projects, and there are many designs to choose from. there is something for everyone in here, young to old, beginner to novice. highly recommended!

This book has a lot of nice plans in it. The book was new but the pages were pretty yellowed but the binding was fine. I had bought it as a gift item for my husband and he built one house already and it looks beautiful. A word of caution to read all instructions carefully. We found a typographical error where a drill bit size for one of the holes was referenced incorrectly.

The book is OK. It just wasn't what I thought it would be from the write up.