How to Make a DIY Bluebird House
Table Of Content
Drill at a slight downward angle, going through the front of the house and into the side. Make the hole large enough for a double-headed nail to slip in and out easily. Position the sides flush with the top of the front board. Fasten the right side to the front with two 2-inch finishing nails. Fasten the left side to the front with a 1-5/8-inch deck screw near the top (drill a pilot hole first). Be careful not to over-tighten this screw because it will serve as a hinge for the side door.
Gilbertson Bluebird House Plans by Nest box builder
I hope you have enjoyed my definitive guide to bluebird houses! At over 4,000 words, it’s one of the longest posts you will find on Bird Watching HQ. If you plan to set up multiple pairs of bluebird houses, then you need to provide adequate space in between each set. It can get extremely hot inside of a bluebird nest box. Your birds will appreciate some holes drilled into the top to help with airflow and cooling. Best of all, the swing-open side will give you a chance to peek in on the nestlings for whom you’ve provided a sturdy and safe home.
Bird House Hole Size
Some examples of predator guards are conebaffles or metal/PVC sleeves around the pole, tree, or post the house is mounted on. The wood should be at least 3/4 inches thick to provide insulation from heatand cold. If you place your house in a more wooded area, you are more likely to attractchickadees or nuthatches. I simply drilled a few drain holes in the bottom and an entry hole on theside. There were at least four young fledged from the nest that year. They onlyhung aroundfor a day or two after they fledged, and it was very confusing when other adultsand possibly other young birds came to the box.
How many bluebird houses per acre?
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Also, if predators or house sparrows get in the nest, at least the adultshave a chance to escape through the second hole. If you plan to place your box in the open (bluebirds for example) in a warmarea, you should consider a double roof to keep the box cooler. Robins, phoebes and barn swallows are not cavity nesters so instead of a closed-inhouse, they rather prefer to nest on shelf or platforms with the front being completely open. So it is important to choose the appropriate bird house plan for the speciesyou wish to attract. Your answer will guide you the specific birdhouse or nestboxes you need.
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Bluebird Diet for Creating Bluebird Habitat
We often see numerous bluebirds of varying ages while we’re out working in the field or garden during the spring, summer, and fall. In the fall, clean out the boxes and leave the fronts open to prevent mice and house sparrows from nesting in them over the winter. In early spring, it’s time to close them up so they’re ready for the nesting season.
Should a birdhouse have a perch?
It’s important to keep a close eye on the house to make sure no predators make a home there while you are hosting bluebirds. You can also report the number of birds in your house so scientists can better track them. We recommend using an automatic camera that lets you see into the house without disturbing it. Another way that predators can hurt your bluebird families is by reaching directly into the entrance. The easiest way to fix this problem is to add a guard or extend the hole to make it harder for hawks, cats, and other predators to reach inside.
While we have had some success with this house, you may need something with more floor space for raising chicks to get long term residents. Bluebirds start looking for nesting cavities as early as February each year, and they will use them through August for breeding. During the winter, bluebirds will often use nesting boxes for roosting. House Sparrows CAN’T be allowed to stay inside of a nest box (at least if you want to attract bluebirds!).
We all like the feel of a smooth sanded wood, but the truth is, the birdsbenefit from a rough surface. It can also be educational to watch them as they spend hundreds of hoursworking to build their nests and to raise their young. I think it is a good Idea to keep the hole as small as possible, butafter watching the Tree Swallows struggle to squeeze through the 1 1/2 inch hole,I expanded and re-shaped the hole.
Proper Ventilation
Woodpeckers, Bluejays, and House Sparrows will remove eggs and evict Bluebirds. I’m going to drill just about as deep to the first head of the nail. Doing so will allow my nail to easily slip into the hole, and lock the door.
Any stock thickness between one-half in up to one inch should be acceptablefor a nest box. To make sure the box did not slide down the pole, the roof rested on top ofthe conduit and I also attached a wooden block to the conduit with a hose clamp tohold the bottom of the log. I also used a very long (x inch) drill bit to drill holes from one end ofthe log to the other. If the nest log wall is 1 1/2 inches thick, the minimum requirement is met withan 8 3/4 inch log. The nest log was still very heavy with two inchesof wood left around the edge of the log, so I thinned it down to 1 1/2 inches.
However, this may be two to three months later at their northern limit. During the breeding season, check nests at least once a week. Since bluebirds typically lay eggs in the morning, the ideal time to check nests is in the afternoon.
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