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If you're a do-it-yourselfer, then you probably have no use for
store-bought items that you can build yourself. Building your own
bird house (or a few bird houses) is a great project for the winter or
early spring. You can enjoy the fun of crafting something yourself and then
if you've done it right, you'll see birds flocking to make their nests when
they come back from their migration.
A few tips to remember before you start planning your
bird house:
- Consider what kinds of birds you want to attract to your yard and then
do some research on their nesting and
feeding habits and what kinds of
predators they have. It's also helpful to consider if the birds
migrate or winter in your area.
- Think about placement - you don't want to place the house in the path
of predators or too high / low on a tree. Don't put too many bird houses
in a yard - each house should have ¼ acre so that territorial birds don't
get too angry.
- Consider what size of bird house you will need. This will depend on
the type of bird you want to attract to your yard. Make your measurements
carefully.
- Choose the type of wood that you will use to build your bird house.
Don't use pressure-treated or creosote-coated wood, as this is toxic to
birds. Any exterior wood, like pine, cedar, redwood or spruce will do fine
and hold up to the elements.
Bird House Plans
Planning your bird house is an important step - you will need to gather
your materials and supplies together and either follow a pre-made plan or
make one up yourself. There are plenty of free bird house plans online and
you will find a few plans included below. If you don't feel up to making a
full bird house, then why not help a bird, such as a mourning dove, make a
nest? Doves can be very bad nest-makers, often producing flimsy creations
that fall out of the tree at the slightest rainstorm. You can help by making
a dove's nest cone.
Dove's Nest Cone
You will need:
- 12" square piece of small gauge chicken wire or hardware cloth -
choose a piece with the smallest holes you can find
- Tin snips or heavy-duty scissors
- Leather gloves
- Fine wire
Once you have cut your chicken wire into the needed dimensions, cut off
the edges to make a circle. Cut out a wedge and then twist the remainder
into a cone shape, wiring it together. Make sure to fold over ½ an inch of
the chicken wire so that the edges are smooth. Wire the cone about 10 to 30
feet up in a tree and watch the doves build strong, sturdy nests!
Cantina Bird Feeder
Solar
Bird House
Egg Bird House
 We
have found this book
Birdhouses You Can Build in a Day it looks like the perfect guide to
making bird boxes with all kinds of bird house plans. 50 bird box
designs included with step by step guides. The reviews on Amazon look
great, I can't wait to get my hands on this one.
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Other bathroom related articles:
Beautify Your Bathroom by Dorothy
Evans
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are a family owned business that is currently licensed and insured in the state of CO. Since 1980 MGS Renovations has been providing quality remodeling services to customers in Southern Colorado. We offer clean, quick and reliable
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