Steps
Step 1
For the teardrop birdhouse, I sanded off some scrap oak pieces from an antique wardrobe and cut some scrap merbau decking into pieces. I also drew a teardrop template to cut the oak pieces for one of the birdhouses.
Step 2
I glued and dowelled two oak pieces together and sanded the pieces to ensure a flat finish, then cut two, large access holes into each piece of oak for the birds to gain entry. I drilled two holes for dowel perch sticks and used them to line up the endpieces. I measured the distance between the teardrops and cut the merbau decking pieces to fit, nailed the pieces around both ends of the shape and finished off with two coats of Cabots Exterior Stain and Varnish before fixing the hanging chain with screws.
Step 3
For the regular birdhouse, I used pieces of scrap decking to make the perch sides, the roof and the gables. I screwed pieces into place to form the house and finished with two coats of Cabots Exterior Stain. I added the cake pan as a bird feeder and installed the birdhouse on a treated log post with brackets and screws. The birds seem happy with their new diner.
