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Having
a birdhouse in the garden can provide a great source of interest
and enjoyment for the whole family. There are so many different
designs offered for sale these days, that it is all too easy to
become spoilt for choice. However, it can be relatively easy, good
fun and much more rewarding to make your own birdhouse. This can
be performed in your garden shed or garage, using basic tools.
Before
you embark on your birdhouse project you need to do some important
research first. You need to find out which species of birds inhabit
your area and which ones you wish to attract, as this will have
an effect on the dimensions of your birdhouse. Each bird species
has different requirements such as, preference of ‘hole size’, distance
of the box from the ground, size of the base, etc. So it is important
to get these things right from the outset.
To
ensure that your birdhouse is strong and durable and able to withstand
the elements all year round, it is important to use good quality
timber (at least a couple of centimetres thick). Cedar, pine, fir
and plywood are all good options and these can be sanded down and
treated, or painted once complete – always use non-toxic materials
and never paint the inside of the box.
Birdhouses
can be made using a basic design, consisting of two square sides,
a square front and back panel leading to a point at the top, a square
base and two rectangular roof panels. This design is easy enough
to construct and can be adapted to suit your selected species, by
adjusting the measurements accordingly - this design will obviously
not suit all species.
Before
you begin, you will need to make sure that you have all the required
tools available in order to carry out your job satisfactorily:
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
- Screws
- Nails
- Hinges
- Fasteners
- Drill
and Bits
- Circular
Saw
- Pencil
and Ruler
- Find
a suitable flat and secure surface to work on. Then place your
pieces of wood down flat. Mark out the appropriate size on each
piece of wood with a ruler and pencil and then cut out each
panel using a circular saw.
- Using
an appropriate drill bit, drill a suitable hole in the front
panel at the correct height – this will allow the bird to enter
and leave the house.
- Using
suitable nails or screws, attach the front panel to a side panel
and continue until all four sides are attached, keeping the
edges flush with one another.
- Attach
the base; making sure it is flush against all the sides.
- Attach
one side of the roof, making sure that it is flush at the back
of the box with a slight overhang at the front - for protection
against wind and rain. Finally, attach the second half of the
roof with hinges and a fastener to allow for easy cleaning and
monitoring of the box. Do not attach a perch as this can encourage
predators. It is a good idea to drill some small holes near
the top of the box to assist ventilation and some at the bottom
corners to allow any water that gets inside the box to drain
away.
- After
a light sanding, your box will be ready to paint if you wish.
When painting your box, do think about the colour of paint,
as some birds prefer certain colours. You could also fix a small
piece of roofing felt to your completed roof for extra protection.
- Once
dry, your box will be ready to put up.
Side panel Side panel Front
panel Back panel Base
Once
your box is ready to hang, apart from using secure fixings to mount
it, it is important to decide on the correct location. Make sure
you choose a position away from predators, strong winds and sunlight.
Getting everything right from start to finish will help to ensure
that you have the best chance of attracting birds to your box.
- Jane Grimshaw
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