Tips to Build a Birdhouse
• Figure out the types of wild birds you see around your backyard. Then figure out which ones will use a birdhouse. Some birds build nests in trees or bushes. Others may make their nests on the ground or even burrows down in the ground. Only cavity nesting birds will use a birdhouse. Examples of common cavity nesting birds are chickadees, flickers, and bluebirds.
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Determine the dimensions of the birdhouse. Most wild birds require different sizes of birdhouses as well as entrance holes.
• When selecting the wood to use, use plain untreated lumber. Plastic and metal often overheat in the hot summer sun.
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Never use paint or stain inside the birdhouse. If you want to paint the exterior, paint only after the whole house is built and only use non-toxic exterior paint that does not contain lead and it should be of light colors so that the house is kept cool.
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Birdhouse can be attached to wood or metal fence posts, trees, or their own wood or metal posts. Bluebird boxes seem to attract more predators when on trees.
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Care should be taken that the birdhouse has holes on the opposite side near roof for ventilation two 5/8-inch ventilation holes near the top of each side of the house.
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Has drain holes or small slots in the bottom of the nest box for drainage. Drill at least four Ľ-inch drain holes in the bottom of every house
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Should have a door on the roof or on the side of the wall so that the birdhouse can be cleaned properly.
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Birdhouses should be placed at locations inaccessible to natural predators. The opening should face away from the prevailing wind, and if possible, the houses should be situated in partial sunlight.
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Space next boxes at least 25 feet apart (300 feet for bluebird houses) to reduce conflicts. Most birds are territorial and protect the area around their nest. Golden eye, mergansers and wood ducks are not territorial, so you can place their houses closer together. Purple martins live in colonies and prefer "apartment houses" to single-family houses.
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Do not use tin cans, milk cartons or metal for nest boxes. They can overheat and kill the eggs and young birds. The only exceptions are commercial aluminum martin houses.
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