Museum Birdhouse
Category: Outdoor
Posted by: Anthony on 8/8/2005 11:29:00 AM | Digg | Stumble It! | del.icio.us
I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your (bird)house down.
Don't be swayed into thinking your feathered friends, living large in their Modern Birdhouse, will be safe. Modern Birdhouses, in case you hadn't noticed, are constructed of wood. And just like the second little pig found out, houses "built of sticks" are sure to fall down (or get chewed up by rabid squirrels).

The Museum Birdhouse is constructed of stainless steel and was inspired by Gehry's Guggenheim Museum. It's available in round or teardrop shapes and the opening can be sized according to the needs of the birds. And best of all, it's squirrel proof.

Link: Tom Dukich





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Heat
Posted by Terri di Lorenzo on 8/9/2005 12:47:00 PM

Can these withstand the heat of the summer? I would not want baked bird in my back yard.
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Good Point
Posted by Anthony on 8/9/2005 1:11:00 PM

Well, you know, baked sparrow is a delicacy in some countries ;-)

Fortunately, they addressed the heat issue along with a few others:

"Over 20 vent slots on the rear wall of the interior provide ventilation in addition to vents on the edge of the back wall. There are drainage holes in the bottom and there is even a ladder inside to provide young birds a good grip when they leave the house for the first time."

Just to be safe, I think I'd keep it in the shade.

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Additional Comment: Heat Not a Problem
Posted by Tom Dukich on 9/5/2005 1:32:00 AM

Heat is a common concern and as the designer/builder of these things it was originally one of mine as well. During the design the houses were temperature monitored with digital data loggers right inside the house and compared to the temperature buildup inside a traditional wooden house. You can check out the monitoring setup and results at http://tomdukich.com/monitoring%20setup.html.
In sum, the stainless houses only get about a degree hotter than wooden houses. Why? I think the physics is complicated but basically it boils down to the fact that stainless is a relatively poor conductor of heat. Ever notice all the stainless coffee mugs? You don’t burn you lips. You would if they were made from other metals. Also, stainless radiates heat back to the environment at a fairly high rate (mugs are insulated).

The pictures are birds that actually nested successfully in the Museum Houses in 2004 and 2005. Heat buildup wasn’t a problem.

But your initial reaction is a common one and is difficult to overcome from a marketing standpoint even though the test data and actual field experience indicates heat isn’t a problem.

And as already noted, it's a good idea to put ANY birdhouse in an area where there's shade during a good portion of the day.

Tom Dukich

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What about freezing temps?
Posted by Susan LL on 11/14/2005 4:51:00 PM

Very interesting birdhouses...unusual, to say the least. Why metal? (Just asking.) I believe the data on heat, but when the snow is falling, do the birds stick to their metal house? (Most birdhouses have wood or plastic perches just for that reason--because the birds' feet can freeze onto metal perches.) No doubt you have an answer, Tom. You seem to be a dedicated designer. Susan
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Note on Freezing Temps
Posted by Tom Dukich on 6/21/2006 12:51:00 AM

Susan, Metal to form more interesting shapes, for long lasting durability, and just as important, for aesthetics. Most birds do not stay in their nesting places through the winter but I have seen Chickadees go into a Museum Houses when it’s cold. Their feet are insulated from the cold by little dry scales so they won’t stick to cold metal like Ralphie’s nemesis Flick in A Christmas Story! Check out the birdhouse movie on my web page for more info: http://www.tomdukich.com/birdvideo.html. Tom Dukich
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A Long Way From the Rat Lab
Posted by Bruce A.Wald on 9/3/2006 10:00:00 AM

Tom,

Steve Heaps told me about your new venture. How interesting. Maybe I will install a few when I finally retire.

Bruce
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Please note: Land+Living is journal of modern design. We do not sell the products featured on this website nor do we provide design-related services. If you are interested in more information about a product or service mentioned on this website, please contact the manufacturer via the links provided. Thank you!
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