The Domik Ptashki (Домик Пташки) is Russian for “bird’s house”. It also just happens to be the name of a birdhouse created by Russian design studio, Dydykin. After studying various natural nesting grounds, artificial birdhouses, and even consulting an ornithologist (“bird expert”), the studio settled on a hollow, egg-shaped, and very unique looking birdhouse.
You might have noticed the Domik Ptashki isn’t brightly painted like some birdhouses you see in stores. The designers wanted the birdhouse to be as unintrusive among nature as possible. It doesn’t have any sharp edges, smells, or distracting even colors, but blends in and is tough enough to withstand strong weather changes and extreme temperatures (from -30℃ all the way up to +30℃).
In fact, this birdhouse more closely resembles a tree hollow, which is a perfect natural place for native birds to settle in. The idea is to place the Domik Ptashki among the branches of a tree, where it entices traveling birds to build their home. Perfect if you live out of town or even in a neighborhood where there are fewer trees if you can manage to mount it.
The circular design of the Domik Ptashki allows natural elements like rain, wind, and snow to slide right off, while the 40mm (1.6″) diameter inlet makes it easy to keep predators outside. Inside, a box-shaped space measuring 120mm (4.7″) square in width and 220mm (8.6″) in height allows the birds to stay comfy cozy without fear of wobbling about.
By far the coolest feature of the Domik Ptashki is the construction. The inlet slides out while the top twists to unlock and allow access to the inner chamber. Once all feathered occupants have left the premises, you can easily disassemble and clean each of the three individual parts.
Since the Domik Ptashki is made of wood, it’s only natural for cracks and other forms of wear and tear to occur. Though easily repaired, it also adds to the natural character of the birdhouse, much like a traditional cedar board, ratan, or bamboo nesting box.
The Domik Ptashki is a design project and not in production but it’s sure to add some inspiration for your own bird house project. See more about Dydykin and their projects at their website.
