These birdhouses are perfect for our feathered friends
For 18 years, creative bird lovers, or those blessed with woodworking talents, have done their best to come up with the dream birdhouse.
These are the homes birds would pick to live in and nest, if they had a sense of design, that is.
Earlier this month, the 18th annual Birdhouse Competition at JC Raulston Arboretum attracted plenty worthy of being on the bird version of HGTV.
There are categories for both adults and children — "Serious" or "Flight of Fancy".
The birdhouses in the Serious category could be used by real birds and are judged on craftsmanship, functionality for humans and birds, mountability, type of material, ability to be cleaned out, the hole, roof, chamber and aesthetics.
The “Flights of Fancy” birdhouses need to look like a birdhouse, but are more artsy. They’re judged on aesthetics; theme or concept, use of form, texture and color and execution; craftsmanship and functionality for birds (the hole, roof, and chamber).
There also is a category for people with mental or physical challenges.
Here are this year's winners.
Adult Serious
1st place: Patrick Fullwood, "Slate-ly Manor"
2nd place: Ann Sumner, "Cottage Garden"
3rd place: Richard Kane, "The Canarywood Retreat"
Adult Flights of Fancy
1st place: Susan Lamatrice, Cozy Quilted Cottage
2nd place: Jennifer Midthun, Untitled
3rd place: Deborah Brogden, Bowling Ball Basket Birdhouse
Adult Pathways for People
1st place: Untitled
2nd place: Untitled
3rd place: Untitled
Youth (ages 10-12)
1st place: Macy Harding, Bird Cottage
2nd place: Meredith Overcash, Untitled
3rd place: Dylan Bauer and Lilly Collier, Untitled
Youth (ages 7-9)
1st place: David Morgan, Modern Mud Hut
2nd place: Tyler Harding, T's House
3rd place: George Midthun, Untitled
Youth (ages 4-6)
1st place: Allison Morgan, Flower Hut
2nd place: Emilie Thigpen, Unicornia
3rd place: Kai Tomasini, Juju Bird
This story was originally published April 28, 2018 at 1:07 PM with the headline "These birdhouses are perfect for our feathered friends."