The first thing I noticed about the small house was the front screen door. It was crudely made, painted white with real screen. It reminded me of the old basement screen door I’m about to replace (or repair) in my 1920s-built house.
That screen door is also made of wood, it looks to be original to the house (or close to it) and handmade. Mine is designed differently, but both have the look of vintage or antique doors.
When I first saw the small structure on a table among the furniture on the outside ramp at the auction house, I immediately thought “doll house.” It didn’t occur to me to check to see if the back was open; doll houses have no back covering so furniture can be placed in the rooms. I also assumed it was a doll house because I had seen another house – a tad bigger – not far away on another table.
Looking at this house closely, though, I saw a round hole on the side. A bird house? Apparently that hole was an opening for birds because it was not covered as the windows were. If it was a birdhouse, the hole seemed so small that it could only accommodate a certain type of bird. I can only assume that it was not made to hang from a tree.
Apparently, birdhouses can be made for certain birds. Different species prefer their own unique spaces for nesting and resting, and it can be based on the size of the hole and the distance of the structure from the ground, according to a company that designs birdhouses.
The hole is considered very important because it determines what types of birds will use the house and to protect them from predators. Small holes, presumably like the one in the house at auction, would attract small songbirds.
This was a spiffy little abode for birds, seemingly made by someone who wanted them to live in style and wanted himself or herself to enjoy their company.
I always thought of birdhouses as either utilitarian looking with weather-beaten wood or bright with spring flowers. This one was quite unusual for me. Googling, I found that they come in all shapes, forms and sizes – some whimsical, some artistic, some fancier than the places we live in.
What do you think of this little house?
