How to Make Mountain Bluebird Nesting Boxes
Mountain bluebirds are a medium-sized thrush, or songbird, and are characterized by a chunky body with a medium height. Bluebirds prefer open habitats, and are known for the males' brilliant blue coloring. As brilliant songbirds, they're quite attractive to homeowners and birders. Building birdhouses to attract bluebirds is a simple task. If the nesting house and its opening resemble natural environments, and is mounted properly, there's a good chance you'll get birds nesting in your handmade birdhouse. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sander
- Saw
- Jigsaw
- Planer
- Hammer or drill
- Nails or screws
- Masking tape
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Dowel (1/4-inch in width)
- Pine lumber (4-foot by 2-foot board, 3/4-inch thick)
- (1-foot by 1-foot board, 3/4-inch thick)
- (12-foot by 3-foot board, 3/4-inch thick)
- (1/4-inch x 2 1/2-inches, 1/4-inch thick)
- Plywood (2-foot by 1-foot board, 1/4-inch thick)
Instructions
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Instructions
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1
Cut pieces for the main walls of your birdhouse. Cut seven pieces of the 3/4-inch thick pine to 6 inches by 2 1/4 inches. Cut a 45-degree slope at the top end of each piece to accommodate the roof. Slope should run from back to front, so roof can hang over the sides of the birdhouse. Cut each piece at a 15-degree angle down each side, from back to front. This will give the birdhouse a rounded effect once constructed.
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2
Cut the back wall. Cut a piece of 3/4-inch thick pine to 10 inches by 8 1/4 inches to start. Six inches from the bottom of the board, make a mark with your pencil. From that point, cut the sides of the board at a slant, to come to a 45-degree angle at the top. This will accommodate your curved roof.
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3
Glue the seven main walls together, leaving an opening for the back wall of your birdhouse. The back wall should fit inside the curve made by the main walls. Once the frame of the birdhouse is glued together, wrap it in masking tape to let the glue set.
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4
Remove the masking tape. Sand the walls, running the sander around the entire birdhouse to smooth the curve of the structure. You should now have a semicircular hut.
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5
Cut the roofing tiles. You will need 15 pieces of 9 1/4-inch x 1 3/8-inch wood, at a thickness of 3/4 inch. Cut the tiles at a 12-degree angle, so the top side is pointed on one end and flat on the other. For the sides of the tiles, cut at a 6-degree angle so they will lay flat on a roof.
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6
Fit the tiles onto your birdhouse to make sure they're the right size and that they lay together. If they fit, glue them on. Use masking tape to keep the pieces together until the glue dries.
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7
Remove the masking tape and sand the roof until smooth.
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8
Drill a 1 1/2-inch hole in one wall of the birdhouse as your entrance. Drill a 1/4-inch hole just below the first hole. Push your bird perch (dowel) into this hole and glue it there. Drill a second 1/4-inch hole in the back of the birdhouse, to use when attaching it to a tree.
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9
Cut the base of the birdhouse using the plywood. Cut the plywood to fit over the opening in the bottom of the birdhouse. Don't glue this on--use nails or screws so you can remove the bottom of the birdhouse to clean it occasionally.
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10
Stain or varnish your birdhouse to protect the wood from the elements. Make sure your varnish or stain is nontoxic.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Put your birdhouse out in the winter to allow the "human" smell to wear off before spring. Encourage birds to stay in your birdhouse by giving them space--don't disturb the birds, particularly when there are babies in the nest.
If you have an active cat, building a bluebird nesting box isn't a good idea; the cat could kill the birds. Do not use treated wood for your birdhouse, as the chemicals may be toxic to birds.
