How to Make a Wild Dove Shelter

Mourning doves can have up to six broods in one season.

March brings about the mating season for common birds such as the mourning dove, robin and phoebe. Creating a shelter or nesting box for wild mourning doves uses the same building instructions and design used for robins and phoebes. These birds use platforms for shelter and breeding. Building your own wild dove platform offers you the opportunity to observe one to six broods of doves that will be born and raised in one season.

Things You'll Need

• 1 1-inch-by-10-inch-by-4-foot board of western cedar
• Jig saw
• All weather screws
• Ruler
• Tape measure
• Power drill

Instructions

1. Measure and mark all the pieces you will need, on the board, before cutting.

   For the back panel, cut one 13-by-9 1/4-inch piece; for the base, one 7-by-8-inch piece; for the top, one 8-by-8 1/2-inch piece; and for the sides, two 8-by-6-inch pieces.

2. Bevel the top, using the jig saw to 18 1/2-degrees; this is so later it will have a slant when assembled.

3. Mark your first of three angled cuts to the side pieces. Starting at the bottom right edge of the wood, measure 4 1/2 inches to the left. This is the width of the base of the side; mark this point. Next, measure 3 1/4 inches up from the bottom and place a mark. From that point measure from the right to the left, and mark 3 inches. Now connect the marks from the bottom left, to where the 3 1/2-inch mark and 3-inch mark intersect; this creates a diagonal line.

4. Mark the second of the three angled cuts to the side pieces. Begin at the bottom and measure up 6 inches, making a mark. Measure 6 inches from the right to the left. Draw a line where these two intersect. This is the end point of the second cut. You will also need to connect the line to where the 3 1/4- and 3-inch marks are from the first measurements. This line will look as if it is angling to the left and hangs over the 4 1/2-inch width of the base.

5. Draw the third angled cut of the series of three to the side pieces. Starting at the top left side of the panel, measure down 2 inches and mark. Next, draw a diagonal line from the 2-inch mark to the right upper corner -- this angle should be 18 1/2-degrees.

6. Mark over your cut lines so you can see exactly which lines you will be cutting. The end product will have no cuts on the right, and the left side will have three uneven cuts. The top cut is angling down so the roof remains slanted, and the tip of the second cut is a slightly wider triangle shape (with a 6-inch width at the point) than the one below it. The last uneven cut runs from the narrowest part of the center, angling down to the bottom left measurement (the 4 1/2-inch base measurement). Repeat to make the other side, and then use the jig saw to cut the sides to shape.

7. Flip the base piece so the underside is up, measure and mark 1 1/2 inches from two of the sides. These are your screw guide marks. Flip the base over, and line up the base and one side so the corners meet at the back. The "back" of a side is the uncut side. Insert the screws, at the marks, to connect the two pieces. Repeat for the other side. Now you have a base with two sides attached.

8. Take the top piece, measure and mark 3 inches from each end of the 8 1/2-inch sides. These are your screw guides. Connect the top to the sides by drilling screws into the markings.

9. Mark the back panel. Measure 2 inches from the top in two or three spots. Draw a light horizontal line connecting the points; these lines serve as guides for screw and shelter placement.

10. Pick which side will be the back of the shelter and measure in 3 inches from both ends of the line and mark it. These are your screw insertion points for connecting the top to the back.

11. Connect the base and sides of the shelter to the back panel by measuring 2 inches from the center of the pieces, in both directions, to set the screws. For instance, find the center point of the base, from that point measure to the right two inches, and to the left two inches; these are the screw insertion points. Finish by attaching screws.

References

• A Home for Wild Birds: Building a Birdhouse is Fun and Easy
• US Geological Survey: American Robin and Barn Swallow
• Wild Bird Watching: Attract Doves - Robins - Phoebes To Nest Where You Can Watch, With A Handcrafted Nesting Shelf
• All Birds: Mourning Dove