Customer Reviews

Designer Birdhouses: 20 Upscale Homes for Sophisticated Birds

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One of the most memorable gifts you can give a child, a friend or someone special in your life, is a handmade birdhouse. We have two right outside our back den windows and we have enjoyed many special moments watching the families of birds come and go, from one season to the next.

Both of ours were handmade by an uncle from Maine, so I was delighted to come upon this book by Richard T. Banks to buy and send on to him as he continues to make more birdhouses for the next generation of children in our family.

The author's background as an architect is evident in the twenty elegant, simple-to-build designer birdhouse projects he touts as "Upscale homes for sophisticated birds." He devotes the introductory text to "Basic Tools and Materials," "Building the Basic Box" and "From basic to Not-So-Basic" and starts off with: "Building a birdhouse is not exactly rocket science, and you don't need a workshop filled with expensive power tools and hard to find materials to be successful..." Very practical !

A photograph of each birdhouse with a brief commentary as to where the inspiration for the design came from begins each section, followed by careful instructions regarding supplies needed, decorating, and tools, along with easy-to-understand step-by-step instructions on how the construct that partcular design.

For me, however, the real "wow" factor is in the photography and diagrams - Wow! This is an absolutely beautiful book ! The color photography is superb, well-placed and offers a soothing presence to the text.

While Banks states that he wants readers to explore and experiment, interchanging the designs, changing the colors, and so forth -- my thinking is that his designs are so beautifully done, it would be doubtful that one would want to deviate!

This book is a perfect gift for the man who loves to build things and work with his hands, esp. as a birthday or Christmas gift. Also, it's a great acquisition for public libraries and high school libraries with a vocational education program.

R. Neil Scott
Middle Tennessee State University

As of date, built the cedar lattice & pine bracket birdhouse illustrated on the cover. I enjoy working with cedar, using cheap cedar fencing which I put through a planner bringing out a smooth nice wood grain finish. A coat of Tung Oil further brings out the wood grain and seals the wood.
Electric tools I used were bandsaw, drill press, 12" planner and belt sander.
The instructions are easy to follow. All 20 birdhouses are of unique design and easy to make. I will probably make most of these just to add variety and color to my yard.

The adjective that leaped to mind when I firsst read Designer Birdhouses by Richard T. Banks was: impressive. This book is a visual phenomenon...with instuctions. Whether one is a master carpenter unequalled or a would-be carpenter challenged by a hammer and nail, Designer Birdhouses is unrivaled in its beautiful illustrations, ease of understanding as well as clarity of instructions. In a brief perusal of the book, it becomes readily apparent that Banks executed a brilliant accomplishment in his ability to tie together the relationship between birds and their nesting habits. This relationship is imbedded in the many birdhouse designs.
Banks is a professional architect, author and artist. There is some evidence in the pages of Designer Birdhouses that he has accepted Southern culture, language and some of the humor, e.g. in the design element called "Baffles" he wrote "it's from below that you need to thwart those clinbing critters." For the unfamiliar, "climbing critters" may be squirrels, possums or cats. Later on, in forgiving the would-be carpenter's faulty transgressions he wrote "birds are creatures of he wild...they don't go about measuring holes or potential nesting boxes. So, Mr. spprentice, stop worrying about your mistakes.
Designer Birdhouses covers all aspects of design, building and placement of the completed birdhouse. Note the clever idea of starting many of the designs with a "basic box". this concept would show the apprentice carpenter that he has the ability to recognize and build a "basic box" then move forward with various design embellishments. To assist the apprentice carpenter even further, Banks asks the question, "What makes a good birdhouse?" He answers that question in simple relevant terms. Wow! What more can one ask for in a specialty book such as Designer Birdhouses.
Designer Birdhouses sets a new standard and ranks in the summa cum laude category. It would make a wonderful gift for bird enthusiasts as well as do-it-yourselfers and other hobbyists.

I can't believe this book didn't come up as one of the first when I was looking for birdhouse building ideas. If you like contemporary innovative designs this is the book for you. The designer is an architect and it shows in the original designs. Colorful photos and detailed instructions. I highly recommend.

Great for grandparents to make a special project with grandchildren. You can premeasure & cut as needed depending on their age and ability. The houses are made with common materials which makes them very do-able. The designs and colors are fantastic. Inspirational for all!

I recieved this book as a christmas present and I love it. It's really easy to follow, the pictures and diagrams are wonderful. My favorite birdhouse is the Board and Batton Shingle house. I recommend this book if you enjoy interesting and stylish birdhouses.

This unique book has inspired me to really get going! A little slow on the delivery, but I was totally excited about getting started when it arrrived. I am new to wookworking, a woman with very little wood experience, and needed instruction to get it all going. This book has managed to allow me to learn how to build some really great birdhouses and all the people who see them want one for themself...(Even the guy who mixed my wild colors as suggested in the book.) It is rewarding and great fun to see the beautiful unique structures in my yard and sell them to people equally excited about putting them in their yard! The finished product is a little wacky, yet sophisticated, stands out in the landscape and makes great protection for my beloved birds!

Hello,

I am from holland, I have read maybe 20 books of birdhouses, but this is the best book you can buy!! Do not look further this is really the best!! I made al the birdhouses in the book and I love them al!!

Regards

Jelle van Balkom
www.jellys-birdhouses.nl

I have always wanted to build bird houses. But I'm not a carpenter, never did workworking before, and didn't know much about tools. This book gave me the push I was looking for to get started. The cover caught my eye, the instructions were easy to follow and now I've got the "make birdhouse fever!". Not only can make some but I can also design new ones. Again, I love this book! Thanks!

I am interested in trying my hand at making birdhouses and this book looked very different. It has wonderful ideas and excellent directions. Probably the only book you need!