Weathered Nesting Box Watercolor

Weathered

Shelter, the defense against elements.
From scorch of sun to bite of frost;
From blast of wind to deluge of cloudburst
This haven worn by diligence,
Protects.

Nature does not relent,
Sweet but fierce,
Power by intent.

Some say the signs are in the sky,
I say it’s from what’s left behind.

Weathered.

This watercolor was done from a picture I took a few years ago. I was struck by the story of the nest box. The elements carved out such character, that its story had to be told.

Did you know that it is a myth to take down your birdhouses for winter? Birds need protection. You should clean out the old nest, but leave the house up. Better yet, you can make or buy a roosting box and put it up for the winter.

What is the difference between a birdhouse and roost box? The roosting box has the entrance hole near the bottom to conserve heat. It also can contain pegs inside for multiple birds to roost.

Here is a link to an easy roosting box blueprint from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, if you would like a nice weekend project.