For the past several months I’ve been busy chasing other interests and haven’t been a regular contributor here at Thursday Doors.
The problem of course is that the longer I’m away, the harder it’s becoming to get my head back into blogging in general and doors in particular. I may be a bit generous with myself when I suggest that I’m back because I’m not really featuring any traditional doors today.
More like doorways.
Ok – they’re really just holes … or as I prefer to think of them – doorways for birds.
In previous posts I’ve written about places that have been featured in a book called Top 150 Unusual Places To Visit in Ontario by Ron Brown. One of those places is Birdhouse City located in Picton, about 2 hours east of Toronto.
The numbers labelled on the individual birdhouses suggests there are over a hundred of them in the large grassy field. Most of the birdhouses are replicates of an existing building in area.
Birdhouse City was started in 1978 by the Prince Edward Region Conservation Authority, but before long local businesses and schools got involved in the development of the unique structures.
You should know by now that I like the unusual so I was prepared to make the drive to Picton even though it was a dull, gray day with a numbing Arctic-like wind blowing.
On this frigid day, there wasn’t a bird in sight. In fact, the entire neighbourhood looked a little tired and rundown. It seems that this community hasn’t been immune to budget constraints for repairs and maintenance.
Many of the houses were perched at precarious angles and one church had fallen.
Only in hindsight after looking at my photos can I appreciate how cold I was and the lack of good planning that went into most of my shots. It’s a lesson learned as winter approaches.
Thursday Doors is a weekly photo feature hosted by Norm Frampton at Norm 2.0.
My Life Lived Full 
This is just great! I’d certainly have a builder build off some of those designs (that is, if I had the money…sigh). Enjoyed.
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You’re right! There is a lot of inspiration here to work with 🙂
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I know I am inspired! I say to myself, “Keep up the hard work.” Inspiration itself is not enough! Sigh…
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I know what you mean – why can’t something just be easy once in a while?!
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Haha, agreed!
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Wow! Quite extraordinary. I have never seen a birdhouse like these. Well done for going anywhere on an unpleasant day.
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Thanks Manja. If I stayed home any day when the weather was too cold, or too hot, or wet, snowy, or windy, I’d spend most of the year indoors 😏
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Isn’t it interesting how one person’s passion project leaves something for others to enjoy (including the birds).
Jude
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That’s an interesting way of seeing it. It proves we can leave a legacy in many different ways.
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Bird houses are very specific to species, so my guess is there are rarely birds here. But these are interesting and spirited birdhouses, to be sure.
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Thanks Jet. I suspected this was true, and I appreciate you confirming it.
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What a neat park, and bird housing area! I loved the bloomcopter, and the church I hope it gets propped up again by Spring. It would be fun to return in the Spring when the birds tend to be active to see if they occupy any of these neat birdhouses.
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This area is now on my radar for a revisit. There are so many treasures to explore – including this birdhouse city in the spring – and hopefully much warmer temperatures! 🙂
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Well even if the birds have flown the coop the place is fascinating, albeit in need of some repairs. After our 40 cm of snow early in the month we now have summer. You never know what to wear in Calgary. I totally get what you mean about taking photos in the cold. However these look good to me Joanne. After all pretty tough to climb the poles to get a different perspective. 🙂
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Now that would be a sight to photograph! … me trying to climb a pole 😆
… yeah, we’ll just park that image 😏
It seems to me that winter is trying to sneak in a bit early this year. I think we could be in for another long, cold one like last year.
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what a great set of doors! I love bird-spotting and would put this on my go-see list if I was closer.
Hubby and I went out one day on our recent visit to Florida to a Nature Preserve and I only saw 3 birds the whole time we were there. I was told that you really need to look for birds in early morning or early evening. So… apparently to see that bird city bustling, you not only need to worry about time of year, but time of day!
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From years of hiking … and my own backyard … I too have learned that birds are most active in the early mornings and early evenings – which is also true for any chance of catching a glimpse of wildlife.
I really need to get into the habit of going out earlier or staying out later 😉
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I love Picton, preferably without an Arctic breeze. Thanks for the idea. I will forward it along to my bird-chasing family members.
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Thanks for the comment. I would imagine that this is a great place for birders 🙂
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Really interesting take on doors. Sad to see how it is all a bit run-down. It could all do with a bit of TLC.
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I agree it’s a little unorthodox 🙂
Sadly, I’ve learned that building something is relatively easy compared with trying to maintain it over the years. Considering the park is now 40 years old, I guess it’s looking pretty good 🙂
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I loved the heli-bird-copter house the best, but they were all fun, Joanne. Thanks for sharing and I wouldn’t worry about being away from Thursday Doors while you’re enjoying the rest of life. I can’t remember the last time I shared doors or fully read through the posts here. I would probably give Norm a heart attack if I showed up one day out of the blue! 😉
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I appreciate that the real world does take priority and even on days when I am inspired to write about something, time gets in the way. I had no idea that life in retirement could be SOOOO busy 🙂
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These are wonderful little doors. I love watching the birds in our yard as they go in and out of the birdhouse.
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Our backyard is surrounded by trees and it gets very active with the air traffic around here. I too love watching and listening to them. They’re quite fascinating.
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Well, Joanne, they are the cutest doors by far this week. Love the castle birdhouse.
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Thanks Jean. I love the imagination that went into this idea and all the houses that were built 🙂
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The “doorways for birds” line made me laugh more than it probably should have…. You are one very witty woman, Joanne. 🙂
I want to say this place looks fun but I’m actually feeling slightly depressed by how abandoned it looks. I think you might need to go back and do a revisit in spring or summer. It would be good to see if it would be buzzing with little birdies. (My fave was the barn, btw.)
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PS I love how it tells me I left my comment at 2.34pm on Saturday when it’s 6.34am on Sunday. Time travel, anyone?
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Isn’t the barn amazing?!
There are so many places I’d like to go and visit thinking it would be perfect in the spring … or the summer … or the fall. The problem is that there is only so much time and my timing is often ‘off’. I have a choice of not going, or doing it in the ‘wrong’ season or less-than-great weather. Then I try and promise myself that I’ll go back ‘someday’. That’s how my list NEVER gets any smaller 😉
I do have a feeling that Picton will be a do-over though. There is just so much there to explore!
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So much to see, so little time. Several people have asked if I ran in the Melbourne Marathon recently. Standard response was “Why would I? I’ve done that one.” So many places to run, so few years left in my legs. It’s a problem.
Sounds like you might have other good reasons to revisit, though, so that will make it worth the time commitment I reckon.
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Maybe someday once Gilles has retired too … although at the rate he’s going, it may be a while still.
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Well that’s a novel idea. The mood though. I don’t know if it’s because you were cold or disappointed, but I feel both. Very evocative of loneliness in desolation, that last shot.
I truly don’t think anyone should apologize for not blogging. Living is the important part 🙂
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Agreed! Living is definitely the important part 🙂
I wasn’t disappointed with the birdhouses – I thought they were wonderful – but I was disappointed with my photos. It seems that even when I think I’ve finally figured things out on my camera, reality gives me shake 😏
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That’s a really cute idea, Joanne, but the place does look a little forlorn. I love birdhouses in general – especially when they are actively used by the birds. I can imagine the place would require a lot of upkeep. (I barely maintain my two birdhouses, and the bats are on their own). And yes, this qualifies as a door post! You find the most fascinating places!
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The maintenance and upkeep of anything is often the hardest part. I still found it an amazing place. There was obviously a lot of work that went into each of the birdhouses.
The gray gloomy weather certainly added to desolate mood.
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Great finds Joanne! I love interesting birdhouses and these were all so different and the work that must have went into creating them is phenomenal.
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I’m actually quite fond of birds. I think they are so fascinating and I wish I could have at least a feeder in my back yard. With my cat Theo though, that would be a very bad idea.
I love the creativity of the people who came together to make these different bird houses 🙂
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Hi, Joanne – I am so sad that I have not been back to the Toronto area since following your blog (my last visit there was August 2015). On my next visit, I will definitely be digging out some of your posts for cool places to check out!
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I hope that if/when you are back in the Toronto area you will give me a shout. It would be nice to meet and perhaps do some exploring together 🙂
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Such cute doors and “houses” Joanne:)
By the way, you don’t have to apologize about the way you choose to spend your time! As long as you’re enjoying it:)
Am writing you from Los Angeles, since hubby has a job here for a few weeks – I decided to tag along to visit old friends (we’ve lived in this area for 3 decades), and who knows to have some doorscursions:)
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Lucky you! You get some ‘new’ territory to explore. Enjoy 🙂
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An obvious lack of serious zoning in that city! 😉 – Marty
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Ha! True! So much mixed-use buildings 🙂
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The Lakeshore Lodge is delightful. Ooh-la-la!
I only do Thursday Doors when I feel so moved. Norm doesn’t seem to require weekly attendance to remain a part of it. I figure if being a door dilettante is ok with Norm, it’s ok by me. 😉
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We’re lucky that Norm is so easy going 🙂
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btw – have you noticed that the upper windows of the Lodge appeared to be faces? 😱 Or is it just me?
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Oh! I went back to look at the photo and yes I see what you mean. I liked the symmetry of the building, that’s what drew me to it… but yep there are faces, too. 😳
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Well these birds sure are spoiled with some awfully fancy homes.
Looking at some of the bigger condo style houses I wonder if birds enjoy having their neighbours living so close or if they get annoyed when the chirping baby chicks next door keep them up all night 😀
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Ha! I can speak from experience that it’s around 4 am that the chirping begins! Birds are highly discouraged from building nests anywhere near our bedroom windows 😉
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I think I see a bit of straw in the fallen birdhouse, that suggests at one point they were being occupied. Hopefully the spring will bring back some occupants needing a place to raise their families. Another cool find. Thanks Joanne!
Deb
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I’d like to believe that this is a very active community in the spring when all the birds return from the south. I’m guessing this area would attract a lot of birders 🙂
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Those are pretty fancy houses! Usually there are retired men who dabble in woodworking that like to fix things like that. I know my husband would do that if it was local.
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I agree, Kate. I’m surprised some local group hasn’t taken up the cause.
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I love birdhouses, what a great collection you showed here. They are all Martin’s houses I assume? Great find!
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I suspect you’re right. From what little I know about martin’s, they like this kind of house.
Truth is, I wouldn’t know a martin if it flew into me.
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I just pictured it. Loud laughter here!
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What a great little neighborhood for birds. I hope some one (some group) comes back in the spring to fix up these houses. They are so darn cute!
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I agree, Lois. These kinds of whimsical things make a community stand out. It’s worth preserving.
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What a cool find – again! Love the bird houses, too bad they weren’t occupied. I especially like the bloomcopter. Looks like an interesting day in spite of the weather.
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I wish I could have lingered longer. I was snapping photos as quickly as I could and my hands were quite numb from the cold. If I’d had more time to think through the details of the shots, I would have done them differently. Too many of the photos were ‘meh’ because of the upward angle. In hindsight, I wish I had switched to the zoom lens and shot from further away at a flatter angle. Part of the learning I guess 🙂
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I think Birdhouse City needs a group of ‘Friends’ to help with maintenance because one can tell a lot of work went into creating these unique houses. Nice tour, and I understand about the weather. It was 28°F this morning when I made coffee. Too cold too early. 🙂
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At least we managed to dodge the snow that fell a bit further north of us yesterday. It is much too early for my taste. I was hoping for a milder fall but it looks like that’s not going to happen 😕
Maintenance is always a problem especially with any feature that is free for viewing. It would perhaps be a great project for local schools.
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This is just the best Joanne!
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Thanks Lisa. I know you are such a bird lover 🙂
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It’s a shame there were no birds around! Any chance they were huddled up inside the houses? I think the whole concept is excellent. Looks like somewhere I wouldn’t mind visiting, although maybe during the spring instead…
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I think the spring would be a much better choice!! Especially on a nice sunny day 🙂
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I have to say that this post captivates my attention. Love the variety of designs. It’s a cool art form, or craft, perhaps…
In France I’ve seen pigeon housing at castles. Cool turrets filled with “ rooms” for the pigeons. Pigeons were a means for long distance message/note carrying across long distances. It was very interesting to see. In this case they all looked the same.
Also wondering if the birds ever (hopefully) actually use them.
Peta
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I wondered too about how or if the birdhouses were actually used. I don’t know very much about birds, except that I suspect birds nest differently from each other. Not all types would be attracted to the birdhouses, but it would be fun to watch in the spring when they’re breeding.
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Kind of reminds me of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. I wonder if birds occupy those houses during warmer weather, or if the tourists scare them off. Or maybe the birds scare the tourists off.
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hahaha! I think Hitchcock is responsible for making a lot of people wary of birds! 😆
I suspect birdhouses attract only certain types of birds, but I’m really not a birder.
I have one friend who is definitely not fond of birds and would never consider this a good tourist spot 😆
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Well I am loving the variety that seems to be unfolding with Thursday doors – just read Rosena’s college days post and now the bird houses – and the book sounds really good – I can see you just taking off to visit this place – kinda stuff that we need to do to stay fresh (dare I say wind benath our wings)
But I wonder why there were no birds around ?
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Like you, I love the variety too 🙂
I’m not a birder but I think there are a few reasons why there were no birds around.
Most of the migrating birds will have left by now for their winter homes in the south.
I’ve also noticed from my travels hiking that birds tend to be inactive at mid-day and on blustery days. It was both mid-day and very windy when we were there.
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that makes a lot of sense and I wonder if there is a food source in the area.
any bird feeders?
either way – the post mood here was fun because you showed us details we do not often see in a brochure – like the fallen bird house –
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You know how blog posts have a way of taking you in a direction you hadn’t intended? That’s what happened with this one. The fallen bird house wasn’t included in the original ‘concept’ of this post … but the post took on a life of its own and the fallen house made sense 🙂
I suspect there is a lot of food available in the area. The Birdhouse City is located on the edge of a Conservation Area so there would be a lot of natural habitat for the birds to feed from.
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oh I had a rabbit trail post today with my trees post – so I really know what you mean – and sounds like there is amble food.
And I really enjoyed the art/design on each house
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Ha! I like that description ‘rabbit trail’ post 🙂
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🙂
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Door ways count . . . especially when you’re counting birdhouses in the cold. Fun post.
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hahaha! Thanks Nancy for the nod. I think anything done in the cold deserves bonus points 😉
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As a collector of birdhouses, I found this post most enjoyable!
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You literally collect birdhouses, or just photos?
I actually really like birds and would love to have feeders to attract them. That however would be a very bad idea with Theo around. He’s agitated enough by the birds that fly over the yard and settle in the trees that border the fence. He has to content himself with barking at them.
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I’ll have to blog about our birdhouse obsession someday. Many of them are too fragile to actually function as a home for a bird!
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In other words, they are works of art 🙂
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What a cool place; sad that it is a little neglected. An excellent variation on the doors theme 🙂
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Thanks Su. In hindsight, visiting on such a cold day probably wasn’t the smartest idea. I would have liked to linger a while and get the photos right. On the other hand, if I hibernated whenever it was cold, I’d spend too much time indoors!
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These are reall cool looking birdhouses Joanne 🙂 Excellent work.
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Thanks Joe. In hindsight, I wondered if perhaps I should have used a zoom lens to get shots from a straighter angle instead of pitched from below. Of course a sunny day would have helped too.
That’s one of the challenges of exploring on a cold day – I’m not likely to linger trying to figure out the best way to grab a shot.
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They do look a bit neglected, but I like them. I did birdhouses not long ago, too, so I approve of your foray into alternative “doors.” 🙂
janet
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Nothing seems to be immune to the financial squeeze. It is an interesting little treasure though. If I hadn’t been looking for it, I don’t think I would have known it was there.
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Welcome back, Joanne. Love those birdhouses!
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Thanks Angela. As the weather gets colder perhaps I’ll get to spend more time writing and less time running around 🙂
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Now I am curious as to whether, and which, birds actually ever occupied these during the breeding season?
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I was curious about that too. Not surprisingly, we didn’t see a single bird that day. If I’m ever back in the area in the spring/summer, I’ll have to check it out again.
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