Patriotic Wren House

You'll flip your lid over this inventive birdhouse. It will even give you a chance to "sneak a peek" at baby birds.

If you've longed for a birdhouse that actually allows a glimpse at what's going on inside, this one's for you.

Mary Johnson of Parsons, Kansas developed this design several years ago using two basic pieces of hardware to make it possible—a small hinge and a simple hook and eye.

Ever since Mary first heard the song of wrens near her patio, she's been building houses to encourage them to stay around. After experimenting with several different designs, Mary developed this hinged-roof house that lets her get a close look at the nesting process. She painted it in bright colors, let it sit for several days to air out any odors and mounted it on a shed as soon as she saw a wren in her yard.

"The house hadn't been in place more than 30 minutes when the wren took it over," Mary says. "If people tell you wrens won't nest in bright-colored houses, they're wrong!"

If you want to look in on the nestlings, Mary offers this advice. "Remember to only peek for a moment, so you don't worry Mom or Dad," she says. "They already have their 'wings full'." (It's best not to disturb the nestlings after about 10 days or they may try to leave the nest too soon.)

The hinged roof is also handy for cleaning out the house after nesting season. However, with wrens, it's not necessary to remove all the contents from the previous season—they'll often take care of spring cleaning themselves.

Give this easy-to-make house a try. We think you'll soon be hooked on its clever design.