Building a Birdhouse

This project will be easier if you have a band saw, table saw or scroll saw; however, power tools are unnecessary. Many people receive tremendous satisfaction from constructing bird houses using only hand tools. For the benefit of those with no power tools, the following list includes hand tools only. If you do have power tools, they may be substituted for hand tools where appropriate.

This project is the perfect opportunity for parent's to discuss tool safety with their children. Wearing safety glasses is vitally important—flying nails from glancing hammer blows can seriously damage eyes. Hand tools can be very sharp. Improperly used, they pose a serious risk of injury to the user. Loose clothing can get caught in power tools and pull fragile limbs into sharp, rapidly rotating bits and blades. Children should learn that tools are useful and necessary, but they demand respect and attention from their user.

1. Lay out the dimensions for the birdhouse elements as per the drawing. Use a carpenter's square to lay out perfectly square corners. You'll want the walls and floor of the house to fit together without gaps.

   Laying out the elements:

   The front and back—

   a. Draw two rectangles, 6 1/2" x 8 5/8", using the short sides as the top and bottom.

   b. Place a mark on each vertical side 5 1/4" inches from the bottom.

   c. Mark the center of the top side of each rectangle. These marks will serve as the points where the roof will peak.

   d. For each piece, connect this top mark with the marks on the sides. The resulting lines define the roof-line of the birdhouse.

   The sides (2)— 5" x 6 1/2"

   The floor— 6 1/2" x 6 1/4"

   The floor attachment rails (2)— 5 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/2"

   The roof halves (1 each size)— 6 1/2" x 9 1/4"and 6" x 9 1/4"

   For your first birdhouse, we recommend that you use the sizes included with the drawings. If you wish to build houses of different sizes later to accommodate different types of birds, use the figures listed in the size option table at the end of this article to adjust the drawing as appropriate. The construction methods are the same for all sizes.

2. Cut the elements to size.

3. Drill a 1 1/2" diameter hole for the bird entrance on the front. Also, predrill the 1/4" hole to accept the wooden perch to be added after the house is assembled. (Consult the drawing for hole placement.)
4. Mount the floor attachment rails to the insides of the front and back walls.

   a. Mark the horizontal center-line of the floor attachment rails with a pencil.

   b. Mark the center-line from the bottom of the inside front and back walls.

   c. Center the floor attachment rails on the inside of the front and back walls using your pencil marks as a guide. The rails should be parallel to, and flush with, the bottoms of the walls.

   d. Use waterproof glue and galvanized nails to attach the pieces.

5. Attach the sides between the front and back walls using waterproof glue and galvanized nails. Be sure to accurately align the bottoms of the walls.
6. Attach the roof halves to the top of the house.

   a. Attach the 6" wide roof piece first, with the top edge aligned with the peak of the roof line. The 6 1/2" piece overlaps the edge of the first piece at the peak
   
   

7. Turn the birdhouse over and attach the bottom with wood screws. The screws should go through the bottom and into the attachment rails located inside the birdhouse at the front and back walls. Don't use glue here. You will be able to remove the bottom for cleaning between seasons simply by removing the screws.
   
   
8. Sand your birdhouse for a nice, smooth finish.
   
   

9. Insert the dowel into the predrilled hole on the front of the house.

• If you decide to paint your new birdhouse, remember that different birds prefer different colors. Martins, for example, prefer white. Do some research on the species you are attempting to attract.
  
  
• Don't paint the inside of the house. Birds will not nest in houses which are painted inside or which smell like humans. Expect your new house to hang unoccupied for a few weeks before birds settle in.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Finish the bird house with two or three coats of exterior latex paint. Finish with three coats of polyurethane. Water-based polyurethane finishes have been developed which work well over paint and do not yellow the finish color. These new finishes are environmentally friendly, and clean up easily too.

Once you have constructed your basic birdhouse, you may hang it up and enjoy your handiwork. Or, if you are feeling adventurous and want to create a work of art, you may decide to get fancy. All you need is a pine board, some paint of different colors and some imagination. Illustration 5 shows an example of a face which can be cut out, painted and attached to the front of your birdhouse. Be creative! This is your chance to add your personal touch to the birdhouse project.