The carpenters provided information on the size of the hole needed for each species and information about the shape of the house required and the height from the ground.
Robert Gould, left, discusses birdhouse construction with Stephanie Aucoin, 12, of Granby, Dylan Watrous, 8, of Belchertown, and Braden Dwinell, 10, of Granby, as Helen Hurteau, of Granby, second from left, assembles a birdhouse. By CAROL MALLEY
GRANBY - A group of bird lovers got an early start on spring this year by making birdhouses.
Thirteen adults and children recently attended a free birdhouse-making workshop conducted by two commercial carpenters. The session was held in the workshop of Jay Fabricius, owner of Fabricius Specialties on McDonald Avenue. The other carpenter, contributing time and experience for the program sponsored by the Granby Public Library, was Robert Gould.
Janice McArdle, youth service librarian, said the program was meant to provide a hands-on experience for those who wanted to learn how to make birdhouses and to provide birdhouses for an upcoming library fund-raiser.
John Thibbitts, volunteer coordinator of the project for the library, asked participants to hang around after making birdhouses for their own yards to make extras for the library fund-raiser.
“We’re going to have a silent birdhouse auction later on this spring,” he said.
Fabricius and Gould cut the wood donated by Phillippe Denette for the project. Other supplies were donated by Mark’s Garage.
Participants got to choose the type of house they wanted to make based on the types of birds they wanted to attract. The carpenters provided information on the size of the hole needed for each species and information about the shape of the house required and the height from the ground. They showed the participants how to nail the pieces together and gave information on how to paint them later at home.
Helen Hurteau, of Granby, said her father-in-law made birdhouses and after he died her brother-in-law made them.
“I wanted to give it a try,” she said.
Susan Lucchesi said she saw the sign for the workshop at the library and decided to sign up her son Paul, 6.