The wonderful thing about working with wood is being able to create beautiful and functional projects that the wood worker can use, and sometimes even his backyard friends. Building a bird house is perhaps one of the easiest woodworking projects that a beginner can start with. Bird houses are forgiving projects with plenty of straight edges and only one or two curved cuts to allow access.
First decide if the birdhouse will be fully functional, decorative, or both. A functional bird house requires a few alterations that aren't necessary in purely decorative bird house. There should be drain holes in the floor of the house just in case driving rain manages to get inside, the roof should be angled to prevent standing water, and the doorway should be cut to size for the specific species of bird that the bird house will be built for.
Building a Basic Bird House
Although other materials can be used for building a bird house, wood is the best and most natural material to use. Metal and plastic have the tendency to become too hot in the sweltering sun.
Bird House Building Supplies:
- 1/2” plywood
- wood screws
- scroll or jig saw
- drill
- set of small hinges
- wood glue
- 1/2” wooden dowel
- ruler
Bird House Assembly
- Measure out one 5”x5” square for the base of the house, four sides of equal dimension but at least 1/2” 3/4” smaller than the base, and a single piece for the roof. The roof should be 2” to 3” longer in the front to provide an overhang for the door. Ideally both sides and the front walls should be cut at an angle to allow the roof to slope down about 1/2”, but for a first time birdhouse this step can be skipped.
- Using a pencil draw a circle 1/2” to 2” in diameter about two to three inches above the floor on the front wall of the bird house. It will be easier to drill the drain holes for the floor before cutting out the pieces to be assembled, after which cutting may begin. Once all of the pieces are cut, assemble them using the wood screws. The roof should be attached using the hinges to allow for easy cleaning.
- For the finishing touch drill a hole beneath the door of the bird house to insert a length of wooden dowel and secure it with wood glue. Next, paint the house with a non-toxic, low odor, outdoor paint and allow it to dry. When dry, secure it to a post several feet above the ground and wait for the new residents to set up housekeeping.
Finding Plans for Bird Houses
Bird house plans can be purchased online, or they can be found through various wildlife conservation websites, usually for free or for a small donation. Even the simplest plan can be embellished upon to make an amazing bird house. Research specifications for specific bird species and try drawing up plans from scratch and experimenting with them. The birds will appreciate the effort.
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