Providing wild birds with a suitable nest can encourage them to return year after year bringing beauty and song to your garden. Read on for instructions for building different types of birdhouses.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Classic House
Step 1. Glue the bottom pieces
You will need two pieces of raw wood with a 2.5x15cm section. One must be cut by 14 cm in length and the other by 16 cm. Secure them so that they overlap each other and that the upper ends are at the same height. Glue them and let them dry.
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When dry, nail or drill a through hole to secure them firmly (use two equally spaced nails / screws).
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Step 2. Secure the back panel
Cut a square-shaped piece of plywood with the side of 17.5 cm. Glue it along the back edge of the two pieces of wood and press it to secure it. When the glue is dry add 4 equally spaced screws to lock it on the edge of the two front pieces.
It is best to drill the lead holes for the screws in advance
Step 3. Connect the roof
Place the house on a stable work surface with the back panel facing down. Take two pieces of wood for the roof, they will need to be 2.5x15cm. The first needs to be cut to the length of 22.5 cm, and the second - 21.5 cm. Join them so that they overlap and rest the edges against the back panel. Glue them and secure them with 4 equally spaced screws, just like you did earlier.
Step 4. Add the support braces
Take 4 'L' shaped supports and attach one to each corner of the box you have formed. Make sure you don't use too long screws, they only need to reach half the thickness of the wood.
Step 5. Cut the front panel
Use a 3.5 cm diameter hole saw to make an opening in the front panel, the hole must be 6.5 cm from the top corner of the house.
Step 6. Add the perch
Get a 0.6mm wooden pin. It will need to be cut to become the perch. Drill another hole, of a suitable diameter, about 1.5 cm below the entry hole.
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The spinet must be at least 7.5 cm long.
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Step 7. Add the front panel to the house
Glue it to the edges of the roof and then add 8 equally spaced screws to secure it more securely. Use two screws for each side of the roof and bottom.
Step 8. Sand the edges and the entrance
Use sandpaper to make them smooth.
Step 9. Add the hooks
Screw two ring hooks equidistant from each other into the top of the house. It is useful to drill the holes in advance.
Step 10. Add the perch
Cut the pin to 7.5 in length and add the glue. Put it in its slot and wait for it to dry.
Step 11. Add the finishing touches
If you want your house to be used by wild animals, paint it in soft colors such as brown or green, as birds prefer these shades. Add all the details you want and hang the house.
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Enjoy your creation!
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Method 2 of 4: Pumpkin House
Step 1. Find an appropriately sized pumpkin
Make sure it is firm and dry before starting work. The size of the pumpkin will determine the type of birds that will show up to use it as a nest. Pumpkins have irregular shapes, follow the steps below to choose the pumpkin.
- Swallows: they prefer an internal space that measures 13x13 cm in width and that is 18 cm high.
- Wren: internal space of 10x10 cm and 18 cm in height.
- Woodpecker: interior space measuring 10x10 cm and 23 cm in height.
- Finch: internal space of 13x13 cm and 20 cm in height.
Step 2. Drill an entry hole
Choose the size of the cutter according to the size of the type of bird that will house the house. This is perhaps the most important aspect of the process; if you drill too large a hole you will attract predators who will attack and disturb your little birds. The height of the hole is also fundamental, since different animals prefer different spaces to nest. The following guide will help you choose the size of the hole.
- Swallows: they prefer a 4 cm wide hole placed at 13 cm high.
- Wren: hole of 2, 5 cm wide and 13 cm high.
- Carolina wren: 3.5 cm wide and about 13 cm high.
- Blackcap: 2, 8 cm wide and 18 cm high.
- Woodpecker: 3.5 cm wide and 18 cm high.
- Finch: 4 cm wide and 15 cm high.
Step 3. Clean the inside of the pumpkin
Use a spoon to scrape the seeds, fibers, and debris inside the pumpkin. Don't worry if it doesn't turn out perfect, birds are used to digging their nests and won't be sorry to get rid of what you have left out.
Step 4. Make a small hole in the pumpkin for hanging
Using the drill and a small bit pierce the top of the pumpkin / house so that you can thread a strap, wire, etc. into it. Don't worry about wind and rain entering the gourd through the holes, the ventilation will make it healthier for its inhabitants.
Step 5. Drill 3 to 5 holes in the bottom of the pumpkin for drainage
Use 3mm to 10mm bits.
Step 6. Add a perch if needed
You can glue a piece of branch or a piece of wood of a suitable size to fit in the small hole below the entry hole, to make it more stable. If you decide to glue it, wait a long time before hanging the house, so as to allow the intense smell of the glue to dissipate.
- Don't try to make the nest more accessible than necessary. If you place a perch that is too large, you will make the house vulnerable to predators, including large birds.
- Birds like woodpeckers and warblers don't need perches, which is an advantage because it makes the nest safer. Consider whether or not the birds are able to enter the nest before deciding to add the perch.
Step 7. Sand the outside of the pumpkin if you want
Use fine-grit sandpaper to remove rough spots and blemishes. It doesn't give the pumpkin a completely smooth look though, its natural texture is what gives it a rustic look.
Step 8. Color the pumpkin
Use exterior paint and a water repellent finish. You can use any colors you like, but remember that birds love natural, neutral shades.
Step 9. Seal the outside of the pumpkin
You can apply a layer of polyurethane varnish, a lacquer or an ecological wax to protect it from the elements. If you apply products with a strong smell, leave the pumpkin outdoors to lose it before hanging it. Otherwise the birds will not come close.
Step 10. Thread a string through the top of the pumpkin to hang it
The exact height and location will depend on the type of birds you want to shelter. Here you can get an idea of the ideal conditions:
- Swallows: they prefer to have a height of 1.5 to 4.5 m above the ground with a lot of open space near the water.
- Wrens: height of 1.25m up to 3m above the ground in fields or near bushes.
- Carolina wren: height from 1.5 m to 3 m above the ground in the fields and near bushes.
- Titmouse: height from 1, 5 m to 4, 5 m from the ground in wooded area.
- Woodpecker: variable height from 1.5 m to 4.5 m above the ground in wooded environments.
- Finches: height from 1, 5 m up to 3 m. The house can be placed in the courtyards.
- Enjoy the cottage!
Method 3 of 4: House with a Bottle of Soft Drink
Step 1. Gather what you need
Take a one-liter bottle of soft drink and another two-liter. They should have the bottom section straight and not curved. Get thick wire, at least 90cm long and at least 2mm in diameter. You will also need a pair of scissors, nails, hammer and paint.
Step 2. Empty the bottles and clean them
Eliminate labels and glue residues.
Keep the cap of the larger bottle
Step 3. Cut the one liter bottle at the center point between the bottom and where the neck begins to widen
Keep the bottom of the bottle.
Step 4. Cut the 2 liter bottle where the neck is widest and the body of the container begins to form
Keep the top. You can also cut it out with fancy shapes.
Step 5. Cut the entrance
Make a hole about 3.5-5 cm wide in the side of the smaller bottle about 2.5 cm from the bottom. But be careful that it is not less than 1.3 cm from the top edge.
Step 6. Check if the two pieces match
The larger bottle will be the roof and the smaller one the body of the nest. Approach them to see if they fit together. If the roof overlaps the entrance hole, or seems too large to you, trim the edges to make it look more like a roof on a house.
Step 7. Drill the fixing holes with a hammer and a nail
Through these holes will pass the wire to hang the house.
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You will need 2 holes on opposite sides of the small bottle. They must be about 1.3 cm from the top edge and not on the same side as the entrance.
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Now make 4 holes in the cap of the 2 liter bottle. They must not be too close to the edge of the cap itself.
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Step 8. Paint the house
Use acrylic, gouache, or other paints you have available. This is a very fun project to get kids involved. Make the house beautiful! Wait for it to dry before continuing.
Make sure all holes stay open
Step 9. Assemble everything
Cut about 45 cm of wire and pass it through one of the holes on the cap. Then take it out of one of the side holes of the small bottle. Repeat the same process with a second wire and for the second side hole.
Step 10. Hang the house
Make sure the ends of the threads are the same and overlap them by about 5 cm. Curl them together to join them together, you can add electrical tape or other wire for added strength, or just curl them. You are now ready to hang the house!
Method 4 of 4: Other Types of Houses
Step 1. Build a generic birdhouse for your garden
Build the one you like best and then see which species are attracted.
Step 2. Build a sialia house
Know that houses for this species can also attract swallows. There are several breeds of sialia:
- Sialia Mexicana
- Sialia sialis.
- Sialia currucoides
Step 3. Consider making one for baeolophus bicolor
Remember that houses for this bird are also suitable for woodpeckers, tits, nuthatches and wrens.
Step 4. Make a house for house martins
These animals live in colonies, so you need to think about nests with multiple compartments.
Step 5. Create a nest for the sparrows
These birds love to nest in the eaves of houses and it is easy for them to decide to live in an area that is anything but rural.
Step 6. Build a house for the bride duck
If you have a large enough pond, you can also attract this bird and encourage it to nest.
