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on leaving your gourd all natural, these spots will add interest and character to the birdhouse and if you plan on painting the gourd, then they won't be visible anyways. If you have some sort of pressure washer, this will speed the process along, but be prepared to get a little messy if you go this route. Once your gourd is clean, thoroughly dry it with a towel. Paper towels work great.

Now it is time to decide where you want your entrance hole to be. The placement of the entrance is an important decision and you need to consider the type of bird that you are trying to attract. Most birds prefer to hop down into the gourd, making a hole that is positioned in the upper portion of the gourd more favorable. A hole that is up higher will also prevent the baby birds from falling to their deaths.

It's not time to pick up that saw just yet. That is, if you plan on painting your gourd birdhouse. Any painting should be done before cutting or drilling any holes. There is much debate over the best colors to use when painting your gourd birdhouse. Some suggest sticking to greens and browns as they are colors found in nature and will be more attractive to birds wishing to conceal their nest from predators. Others like the flair that the bright colors add to their yard and insist that they won't deter birds from taking up residence. Other people get really fancy and paint various designs, such as insects or flowers on the outside of the gourd. Gourds have become quite popular materials for many craft projects and there are a myriad of different ways for you to decorate the finished product. There are even books available on the subject, which often include patterns and can be purchased at craft stores on online.

How you decorate your gourd is really up to you, just make sure that you let the paint thoroughly dry between coats, as it will most likely take a few coats to get an even finish and cover up any natural imperfections your gourd might have. Whether you choose to paint your gourd or leave it in all its natural glory, you will need to cover it in several coats of shellac to protect the birdhouse from the elements. Gourd birdhouses that are properly preserved can last many, many years.

Now that your gourd is cleaned and decorated, its time to make the opening for the bird to enter through. Different sized entrance holes will attract different species of birds, so keep in mind what sort of bird you are trying to attract when cutting the hole. You can use a variety of tools

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