Best of the Nest:

Birdhouse Competition & Display

This spring, Peddler’s Village is introducing a new event with two terrific partners – AIA Bucks County and the Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow – that celebrates nature, habitats, feathered friends, and human creativity.

The Best of the Nest: Birdhouse Competition & Display invites members of the public to create unique birdhouses that could win cash prizes. In addition, participants will have their craftsmanship on display to thousands of Peddler’s Village visitors—who will be voting on their favorites! The birdhouse entries will be on display throughout the Village from April 13 through May 19, 2024.

Call for Entries

People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to take part, and entries from those in the design/build industry are particularly welcome! The deadline for entries is April 1, 2024. Free to enter. Contest details are below.

New to birdhouse-making? You can find tips and tricks on Nestwatch.org!

The Competition

Categories and Prizes

Modeled after human houses and inspired by standard depictions of birdhouses in illustrations, film, and literature.
PRIZES: 1st: $300 | 2nd: $200 | 3rd: $150 | (2) Honorable Mentions: $50

An out-of-the-ordinary structure designed to dazzle the human eye.
PRIZES: 1st: $300 | 2nd: $200 | 3rd: $150 | (2) Honorable Mentions: $50

A reproduction of a recognizable building or attraction in the region. Journey around Bucks County for inspiration! (Must include a picture of the real thing.)
PRIZES: 1st: $300 | 2nd: $200 | 3rd: $150 | (2) Honorable Mentions: $50

A durable structure suited to the needs, habits, and preferences of a specific type of bird. (Must indicate type of bird.)
PRIZES: 1st: $300 | 2nd: $200 | 3rd: $150 | (2) Honorable Mentions: $50

Show off your skills in any of the four themes listed above (Traditional, Whimsical, Bucks County Landmark, and Natural Habitat)! Birdhouse entries created by professionals will be judged as one category. Professionals may only enter one birdhouse creation.

Please enter the Professional category if you work in the built environment: architect, contractor, woodworker, engineer, etc. Professional entries may place a company business card in their display. Professionals who enter a General Adult level will be disqualified.

PRIZES: 1st: $400 | 2nd: $300 | 3rd: $20 | (2) Honorable Mentions: $100

Show off your skills in any of the four themes listed above (Traditional, Whimsical, Bucks County Landmark, and Natural Habitat)! Birdhouse entries created by students will be judged as one category.

Entries must be solely constructed by the individual(s) entering the competition. Student competitors may be supervised, for safety precautions, by a parent, guardian, or classroom teacher.

PRIZES: 1st: $100 | 2nd: $75 | 3rd: $50 | (2) Honorable Mentions: $25

This category is for our 11-and-under guests. Have fun and be creative!

Entries must be solely constructed by the individual(s) entering the competition. Kids Only competitors may be supervised, for safety precautions, by a parent, guardian, or classroom teacher.

GIGGLEBERRY FAIR PRIZES:
1st: Pizza Party for 10
2nd: 6 One-day Activity Passes
3rd: 4 One-day Activity Passes
Honorable Mention (2): $15 game card for arcade

Entry Forms

There is no fee to enter. The deadline for completed entry forms is April 1, 2024. A single entry may not be entered in more than one category.

Entry Drop Off

Completed entries must be dropped off on Sunday, April 7 between 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. upstairs at Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant.

Entry Display

Entries will be displayed outdoors at Peddler’s Village from April 13-May 19, 2024. Peddler’s Village reserves the right to remove any entry which begins to look in disrepair.

Judging

Judging will take place from April 7-11 to determine 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mention prizes. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
• Overall appearance/composition of the design
• Originality/use of materials
• Craftsmanship
• “Fit” in the category
• Level of difficulty in the design and execution
• Suitability for bird type (Natural habitat category only)

Winners

Ribbons will be placed on winning entries. The winners will be posted on the Peddler’s Village website. The winners list will not be available by phone. Prizes will be mailed to the winners the week of May 6.

Entry Pick Up

All entries not donated to the auction to benefit either Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow or the AIA Bucks County’s George J. Donovan Memorial Scholarship must be picked up on Monday, May 20, 2024, between 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Any entries not picked up by this time will become the property of Peddler’s Village.

Entry Specifics

  • Mounting Options:
    • Option 1: Hung from above using an eye hook. Make sure it is in the center of your birdhouse to distribute and balance the weight properly. After drop off, your bird house will be hung by its eye hook from a shepherd hook and pole.
    • Option 2: Mounted on a sturdy display board (½” or ¾” plywood recommended) using foundation anchors. The display board should be an integral part of the design and be size-appropriate for the birdhouse. After drop off, your birdhouse will be attached to a support pole.
  • All entries must be under 12 pounds in weight and must be portable.
  • Size limitations: All entries must fit into an area no bigger than 20” x 20” x 20.”
  • All entries must have an entry hole and an interior space for a bird to nest.
  • To protect birds and avert potential disruption when the display is completed, all entries should include a mesh piece that can be placed over the hole(s) so that birds will not inhabit the house during the temporary display.
  • All entries must be made of weather-resistant materials. The birdhouses will be displayed outdoors.
  • Please securely attach a 3” x 5” index card on the bottom of your birdhouse with your name, address, email, phone number, the category you have entered, and whether you would like to donate your birdhouse to benefit one of the two named local nonprofits (and if so, which one). For the Natural Habitat category, please indicate the type of bird. For the Bucks County Landmark category, please include a picture of the real landmark.
  • Please do not include lighting, movement, or other electronic or battery-operated components in the construction or decoration of the entry.
  • Peddler’s Village is not responsible for any birdhouses on display.
  • Best of the Nest is a family-friendly display. Peddler’s Village reserves the right not to display an entry that is deemed offensive, controversial, inappropriate, religious, political, or poorly constructed and may remove entries based on guest complaints or damage.

Support Local Nonprofits

For this event, Peddler’s Village is proud to partner with the Bucks County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow.

By participating in this event as either a birdhouse creator or a visitor, you can support two local nonprofits. Creators can donate their birdhouses to a fundraising auction, and visitors can donate either directly or by “buying” additional votes for their People’s Choice favorites. Donations can be made and ballots can be obtained at the Visitor and Event Center on Street Road.

Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow

Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow was founded in 1969 to educate and engage children and adults of the greater Bucks County region about our natural world, with an emphasis on conservation and stewardship, including protection of birds, wildlife, and habitats.

We’re just around the corner from Peddler’s Village. Bucks County Audubon Society maintains a thriving nature preserve with over six miles of hiking trails that are open to the public from dawn to dusk every day for hiking, bird watching, or just enjoying. The grounds boast an organic vegetable garden, Audubon Pond, meadows, forests, and of course, the Honey Hollow creek.

Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow offers a wide variety of programs for all ages. Each year Bucks Audubon provides high quality educational programs for over 5,000 people, from children at summer camp and field trips to birding trips and lectures for all ages. Visit BCAS.org for more information on our programs. Venmo: @HoneyHollowTrails 

AIA Bucks County’s George J. Donovan Memorial Scholarship

AIA Bucks County’s George J. Donovan Memorial Scholarship assists Bucks County high school graduates (graduating seniors) interested in furthering their education in architecture and related fields. The scholarship was created in memory of George J. Donovan, AIA who was instrumental in shaping the architecture of Bucks County during his career of over 50 years until his passing in 2018. In his retirement, Mr. Donovan was a prolific watercolor artist who displayed his work in the former Upstairs Gallery at Peddler’s Village. Over the years, Mr. Donovan and the firm that is part of his legacy, Phillips & Donovan Architects, LLC, have been instrumental in the planning and design of many of the buildings in Peddler’s Village.