Bennett Valley
Woodworks
Cedar and redwood birdhouses, built for Sonoma County birds, made one at a time.
Where to find us
Saturdays at ACE Farmers Lane 8:30am – 1:00pm, year-round 1501 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa
Built for the birds that live here
When UC Berkeley researchers put bluebird boxes into Sonoma County vineyards, insect-eating bird density nearly quadrupled and caterpillars disappeared three and a half times faster. Cavity nesters are insect eaters. That is the reason to hang one near a garden or an orchard — provided the box actually works.
Most birdhouses sold in America are built for people. Mine are cut from cedar and redwood — a good share of it salvaged fence stock — and put together to a spec:
- 1½″ entrance hole. Admits bluebirds, chickadees, titmice and swallows. A European starling cannot force its way through.
- No perch. Songbirds don't need one. A perch is a handhold for a cat or a jay.
- Hinged clean-out door. Antique bronze hinges and latch. Old nests hold mites; if you can't get inside each fall, it's an ornament.
- Predator guard and brass entry plate. Stops a raccoon reaching in, and squirrels from chewing the hole wider.
- Vented at the roof, drained at the floor. Heat out, rain through.
- Bare wood inside. Always. Finish goes on the outside only. Chicks peck at the walls.
- Extended back board. Mounts to a post, a fence, or the conduit kit below.
Two models
Painted CedarBest seller
Cedar, painted two-tone — body one color, roof another. Enamel bird charms, house numbers, and small welcome signs by request.
Oiled Redwood
Redwood rubbed with tung oil, which soaks into the wood rather than sitting on top of it. The grain stays visible and the color deepens with age.
$35 painted cedar. $45 oiled redwood. Predator-proof mounting kit — rebar stake, conduit, and straps, cut and ready — $20.
Every house comes with a hang tag and care card, because a birdhouse only works if it's sited right:
- Face the entrance north or east
- Mount four to six feet high
- Partial shade preferred
- Clean out each fall, before nesting season
The proprietor
I grew up here — Santa Rosa High, class of 2010. After college I served in the Peace Corps, then came home to a county that had burned. My family's house was one the Tubbs Fire took in 2017. I spent the years after that helping communities recover from disasters.
These days I'm back in Bennett Valley for good. I build birdhouses in the garage, sell them Saturdays at Farmers Lane, and drive seniors to their appointments during the week. Slower than the last decade. Better, too.
Come say hello. My mom usually helps me set up.
— Adrian Baker-Kang
Custom orders & questions
Want a specific size, a set for a wedding, or a box built to match a house? Send a note — happy to talk it through.
or call & text (707) 933-6500