Continued from page 1
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
