OBJECTIVE:
Make a shed-roof birdhouse, for small birds like Chickadees & Bluebirds.
Learn to follow instructions
Learn to use tools and work with one’s hands
Provide a living space for a beautiful bird
Explore the wonderful world of birding
TIME: 1-2 hours
COST: $10
MATERIALS:
1 by 6 redwood fencing, 4 feet. (Other non-treated lumber).
1 by 6 redwood fencing, 25 inches.
15 1 1⁄2 inch woodscrews
2 Eight penny nails
TOOLS:
A saw that will make straight cuts: handsaw, saber saw, circular saw or table saw.
Electric drill
Drill bits
1 1⁄4 inch paddle bit
Tape measure
Straight-edged ruled
Pencil
DIRECTIONS:
We use rough-sawn lumber that is 7/8 inches thick. The width of the 1 by 6 is 5 7/8 inches, and the width of the 1 by 8 is 7 7/8 inches.
1. Begin by cutting the boards to the appropriate size, as shown in the cutting diagram. Be sure to trim off the corners of the floor piece, so that you can provide ventilation for the birds. It is best for you to do the cutting, unless you feel that your child is capable of handling a saw.
2. Stand the sidepieces up on the edges that are 12 inches long. Then overlay the back flush to the outside and bottom edges of the sides. Secure the back flush using three woodscrews per side.
3. Position the floor piece 2 inches from the bottom and between the sides. Secure the floor piece to the sides and back using 1 screw per board.
4. Using your pencil, mark a point on each side that is 1 inch above the bottom and 3/8ths of an inch from the front edge. Drill a 1/8th inch hold through each side at these points. Then insert the front piece between then and run a screw through each hole into the edge of the front piece. You have just fastened on the door! Be sure that the front piece pivots easily on the screws.
5. Drill a 1-¼ inch hole in diameter in the door. Be sure that the hole is about 2 inches from the top of the door.
6. Position the top piece so that it hangs over the back piece about ½ inch. Check to see that the door clears the overhanging roof, and then remove the door and the roof.
7. Cut 1/8th inch-deep horizontal grooves on the inside of the door below the hole and the floor piece about ½ inch apart. These grooves will help the baby birds climb out of the birdhouse when it is time.
8. Cut a shallow groove ¼ inch from the front on the underside of the roof piece. Replace the door and secure the roof with four screws.
9. Lastly, drill a hole for an Eight-penny nail at a downward angle and through each side, into the edge of the door. Make sure the hole is just slightly wide than the nails. That way, the nails can be easily removed so that you can open the nest door for cleaning.
10. You and your child may decorate the birdhouse on the exterior with paint, stickers or other decorative touches. However, any paint should be lead-free, and the interior of the birdhouse should not have paint or other decorations in it.
Here are some issues to consider before and after building your birdhouse:
Hang around outside your home and see if you and your child can identify the birds you see. Remember that some birds nest in trees or bushes, others nest on or even in the ground. Only cavity nesting birds like Chickadees or Bluebirds will nest in your new birdhouse.
You’ll need to base the dimensions of your birdhouse based on the birds in your area and which species you hope to provide a home for. In the table below are basic specifications for birdhouses according to species:
|
Bird Type
|
Floor Size
|
Depth
|
Entrance above floor
|
Hole Size
|
Height above ground
|
|
Bluebird
|
5”x5”
|
8”
|
6”
|
1 ½”
|
5-8 feet
|
|
Chickadee
|
4”x4”
|
8”-10”
|
6”-8”
|
1 1/8”
|
6-15 feet
|
|
Woodpecker
|
4”x4”
|
9”-12”
|
6”-8”
|
1 1/4”
|
6-20 feet
|
|
House Wren
|
4”x4”
|
8”-10”
|
4”-6”
|
1 1/4”
|
6-10 feet
|
|
Screech Owl
|
8”x8”
|
12”-15”
|
9”-12”
|
3”
|
10-30 feet
|
Definitely use plain, untreated lumber of some sort when choosing wood to build your birdhouse. Pressure-treated lumber contains toxic preservatives, and other treated woods like plywood contain additives like formaldehyde. All these bad elements will seep into the bird’s living environment, sickening and possibly even killing the young birds in particular.
After constructing your birdhouse, check it carefully for the following features:
Has ventilation holes or slots near the roof so that heat can escape the interior of the house. These holes should be on the sides of the house.
Make sure your roof piece extends beyond the front piece so that the interior of the birdhouse is protected from the elements.
Do not add a perch to the birdhouse near the entrance. Perches simply invite predators to stop by and the birds living inside don’t need it.
Make sure the door to your birdhouse is easy to open and shut, so that you can get in to clean it after one set of occupants leaves, and before new birds arrive.
Search for a good spot to hang the birdhouse. Ask your child to help you locate a spot that is sheltered from the wind and likely to be free of predators. Attach a baffle or a collar when hanging the birdhouse on a post, so that snakes and cats will have a hard time climbing up and catching your birds.
Make sure that you place your birdhouse at least ¼ acre from the closest bird nest. Some birds are territorial and will drive your birds out of their house if the birdhouse is placed to near to their nest.
