About Us
A third generation craftsmanship business
The Family
Worley Trivette
The story of three generations of birdhouse building began in the North Carolina mountains. In 1990, the business really took off, and what had been known as F&G Birdhouses (Frank and Gazelle) eventually became Birdhouses of America. Rooted in family tradition, mountain living, and Christian values, locally sourced materials are gathered straight from the mountains in the cases of North Carolina pine and hand-collected vine. From the hollers of Todd, North Carolina, to the Lenoir workshop, and beyond, anywhere the Trivettes worked, they put their hearts and souls into their creative process.
The birdhouse business had humble beginnings. Worley and Frank ran a sawmill and dug shrubbery, creating furniture like tables. But the birdhouses were to become their main thing after a time.
As various birdhouse patterns began to emerge, the birdhouses also grew in popularity. At one point customers were driving down from Michigan to sell the birdhouses in their own businesses. One time a company sent a tractor-trailer and asked them to fill it up to be sent to California.
Under the shelter of a large former chicken shelter, the business grew to a point where they couldn't physically keep up. Sometimes they were working 18 to 24 hours straight to get an order done before a deadline. But they still stopped to take a shower, sleep, and go to church!
Seeing the success, some tried to copy them exactly. One time a woman asked for a job to build birdhouses and stayed long enough to learn their secrets, but then quit after two weeks to try to replicated the process with her husband, a person who claimed to be a believer. Greed and jealousy doesn't get you fo
When one would walk into the more recent workshop settings, you would see "pattern houses" lining the walls. Saws, a drill press for boring holes, an air compressor humming as it refilled the air pressure used to power staple and nail guns were organized in an efficient manner for "slinging them together."
A wheelbarrow sat near the door for collecting wood, and a sawdust collector was connected to various saws with piping.
A table sat outside where wooden houses were burnt to preserve them and really bring out their wonderful wood grain.
Frank Trivette
Gazelle Trivette
The Story
There is a house called the Worley house that's simple and classic dedicated to Worley, Andrew's grandfather.
Frank designed intricate musical instrument birdhouses among other patterns.
Gazelle, an expert decorator, used bark and other natural resources in a variety of finishing touches that really made the birdhouses unique.
Andrew is the current owner and operator of Birdhouses of America. The patterns and designs that he uses today are a mix of his own and his late father's. He has travelled the country selling at farmer's markets, tourist attractions like Mystery Hill, Mast General Store, and more! An adventurer, he appreciates what his family has passed down to him as a legacy, and has always strived to create quality products.