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Type of birdFloor sizeDepthEntrance above floorEntrance hole sizeHeight above ground Eastern Bluebird5"x5"8"6"1 1/2"5-8 feet Chickadee4x4"8-10"6-8"1 1/8"6-15 feet Downy Woodpecker4x4"9-12"6-8"1 1/4"6-20 feet Flicker7x7"16-18"14-16"2 1/2"6-22 feet House Wren4x4"8-10"4-6"1 1/4"6-10 feet Nuthatch4x4"8-10"6-8"1 1/4"12-20 feet Screech Owl8x8"12-15"9-12"3"10-30 feet Tits4x4"8-10"6-8"1 1/4"6-15 feet
5. Keeping these above points in mind, select a birdhouse plan for type of bird you wish to attract to house. There are number of excellent birdhouse plans on Internet as well as many great books you can buy. (See suggestions at end of this article.)
6. Never use paint or stain inside birdhouse. If you want to paint outside, wait until it is built and paint only wood that you can see. Be sure to use a non-toxic exterior latex paint that does not contain lead. Light colors will reflect heat and light, keeping house cooler in summer. Or keep house natural, without paint. Rough cedar or redwood would be an excellent type of wood if you want to go paint-less.
7. Now it's time to put up your birdhouse. They 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. If you are mounting your birdhouse to a post, always try to attach a baffle or collar to prevent snakes, cats, and other predators from climbing pole to house. Locate your house an adequate distance from each other since most nesting parents are territorial. Place birdhouse where parents and baby birds are not distracted and worried about your family's activities. The entrance should face away from prevailing wind. Remember, bluebirds prefer lots of open space in front of their birdhouse and be sure to mount house at proper height.
Courtesy: Cedar Creek Woodshop Visit Cedar Creek Woodshop for a wide variety of birdhouses. http://www.cedarcreekwoodshop.com
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