Mont Tremblant Chalet

Americans have been in love with the image of their ancestors living in log cabins for many years. It is a concept firmly rooted even in our political history, where as far back as the time of the Whigs of William Henry Harrison who used the symbol of the log cabin to identify with the common man. Seven of our early presidents were born to families living in log cabins, to further drive home the ties to our early history. Of course the stories of Abraham Lincoln and his youth in log cabins cement the love affair we have with the log cabin.

Some of that allure was the basic design of the house. The logs were cut and notched, and stacked together so they interlocked, and the finish was mud or grass to “weatherproof” the cabin.

Log Cabins for the Birds

So birdhouses that emulate that simplicity are a favorite design. They range in complexity from simple one room cabin designs crafted from wood. You can find some that are not even wood, but are ceramic reproductions, and these come in varied colors and themes. The ceramic houses are on the small side, and attract much smaller birds such as wrens.

For actual wooden houses, they are fashioned from traditional wood products like fir, and you will find a wide range of sizes. Simple one room houses, some that look like frontier homes, and some look more like multiple story plantation homes or mansions, but still with a log cabin exterior.

These days with an increased emphasis on sustainability in our purchases, you will find some log cabin birdhouses that are made from bamboo. This is a great material for building, and is actually stronger than some more traditional hardwoods. Some of these look more like huts, but others look like the traditional log cabin.

Shop around for some log cabin birdhouses and you can find the one that’s right for your yard.