Ready to know more about San Diego?

Subscribe

Wanted: South Park’s Anonymous Birdhouse Maker

What we know about the craftswoman who gifts her neighbors with artwork, all incognito
Jeff Lancaster

By Erica Nichols

A little bird told us that some of the best things in life come in small, anonymous, mind-blowingly detailed packages.

Like this birdhouse, for example. This little treasure arrived at Peyton Robertson’s forest-green Craftsman in South Park last November, with a note simply signed “The Bird Lady.”

“I pulled my car into the driveway and noticed something on my porch. As I got closer, I realized it was a tiny replica of my own home,” says Robertson. “I just burst into tears.”

We don’t know much about the identity of South Park’s bird lady, only that her note says she’s inspired by the historic homes in the neighborhood and wanted to offer a random act of kindness. She has an incredible eye for detail: The likeness of Robertson’s 1917 home is exact, right down to the dormer windows, which she replicated with clear plastic. The color matches, the roofing shingles were glued piece by piece with material that’s similar to the real thing, and as far as we can tell, everything was made by hand. It’s a selfless act, and one that came at just the right time.

“I was really feeling the weight of the pandemic and the election,” Robertson says. “It’s a very community connecting gesture and it completely blew me away.”

As this birdhouse settles into its new nest overlooking the neighborhood, we can’t help but hope that in addition to the finch and chickadee visitors, one day the bird lady herself will stop in to say hello.

Birdhouse

Jeff Lancaster

Share this post

Contact Us

1230 Columbia Street, Suite 800,

San Diego, CA