This disclosure is concerned with a bluebird house and includes features not only for the bluebird, but also for an observer who might wish to monitor the nesting processing of the bird from beginning to end. The invention includes a viewing window in one of the sidewalls of the house having a hinged shutter which may be opened momentarily to view the nesting operations but also closable to insure the bird's privacy. The house also includes an extended entry-way to prevent most preditors from reaching the nest and a means for helping the newly hatched fledglings to reach the entry-way for their initial flight to freedom. Means are also provided for the quick inspection and cleaning of the nest by removing a portion of one of the sidewalls of the structure without disturbing the nest itself.
A bird house assembly (10) includes a housing (12) defining a bird-nesting enclosure (13) therein. The housing (12) includes at least one deck wall (18) and sidewall (24, 26). An access hole (124) is defined in housing (12) for permitting ingress to and egress from the enclosure (13) by a bird. The sidewall (24) is preferably connected to the deck wall (18) using at least one locking connection tongue (98) depending from each sidewall (24) and configured for receipt within a corresponding tongue-receiving slot (54) defined in the deck wall (18). The housing (12) is coupled with a support member (16) in order to suspend the housing (12) above the ground. For such purposes, a pair of clamp assemblies (14) are preferably used and are configured for coupling with the support member (16) in a spaced relationship for engaging and holding the housing (12) therebetween. In preferred forms, the housing (12) includes an additional deck wall (20) and structure (28, 30) for defining a plurality of multi-story, bird-nesting compartments (32) within the enclosure (13).
A bird nesting box is disclosed for viewing the nesting behavior of birds. The apparatus includes a housing with an opening and a perch. The back wall of the housing is transparent to allow viewing the interior area of the housing. The roof of the housing is preferably translucent to increase the natural lighting of the interior area. For safe and convenient viewing, the bird nesting box is removably attachable to the outside facing surface of a window pane with suction cups. An opaque cover is removably attachable to the inside facing surface of the window pane. In one orientation, the cover entirely covers the transparent back wall. A view port in the cover allows for partial viewing of the inside area with the cover in this orientation. In a second orientation, the cover uncovers the back wall for complete viewing of the interior area. In another embodiment, the housing is supported above the ground by a post. The back wall is transparent hand has a frame. An opaque cover is hinged to the frame and can be swung open to allow for viewing of the interior area through the transparent back wall. Rings of different inner diameters may be snapped into the opening to selectively change the effective size of the opening to accommodate different species of birds.
A bird observatory mountable adjacent a glass window of a room of a building has a bird enclosure with an opening permitting birds to enter and exit the enclosure. A one-way window lies adjacent one side of the glass window. An opaque cover is positioned adjacent the other side of the glass window opposite the enclosure and is moveable between two positions. The first position covers the one-way window so that birds in the enclosure cannot see through the one-way window into the interior of the room. The opaque cover's second position exposes the one-way window so that observers may see the birds in the enclosure through the one-way window. The opaque cover is used in the first position to cover the one-way window when the interior of the room is darker than the interior of the bird observatory preventing birds in the observatory form seeing into the interior of the room.
A birdhouse where breeding pairs of birds build a nest, lay eggs and brood young birds with a fledging board or platform which is deployed just below the entrance hole in order to provide an exercise area for the young birds so that they may test their legs and wings just prior to taking their first flight. During the incubation period and when the young birds are growing up the fledge board is concealed in such a manor that no accouterments are present that would offer a footing to a predator who might otherwise use the board as a staging area to reach inside and raid the nest. The fledge board is deployed only when the young birds emerge from the cramped interior of the nest for the first time allowing them the opportunity to flex their legs and wings before taking their first flight into the world thereby reducing the likelihood of injury or death.
A birdhouse includes a one-way viewing wall or window which allows the birds to be viewed inside the birdhouse without allowing them to see their observer. The birdhouse can be mounted on a window sill such that the one-way viewing wall is adjacent to a window pane, thereby allowing any number of observers to simultaneously view the birds in their natural environment without intruding on their privacy. Thus, the birdhouse functions as an observatory.
