MadModder
The Shop => Wood & Stuff => Topic started by: sbwhart on April 18, 2010, 05:51:44 AM
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Hi Chaps
I've been building nest boxes for more years than I care to remember, every year I make a small batch and have got it down to a fine art, I've just nocked up two in a couple of hours, I like to give them away as presents to people, and I know they give years of pleasure as they observe the coming and going of the birds raising their brood.
Its also a great little project to get children involved in, I help my son make one when he was 10 years old, that got him interested in ornithology a hobby that's still with him 20 years on.
You can get a plan from here http://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/htm/wildlife_gardening/bird_box.htm
Over the years I've used all sorts of scrap material to make them old pallets are a good material source.
First step mark out you wood for cutting and cut out the bits,
Tip:- so the front and roof fits neat makes these from joining pieces, and make this the last cut.
To cut the roof and front set the saw blade over at an angle.
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3559.jpg)
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3560.jpg)
With the saw still set at this angle cut out a small 1" wide batten this will screw onto the back and form a slot for the roof to slide in.
These are the bits
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3562.jpg)
You can nail it together but I like to glue and screw.
So starting with the back drill three screw holes down each side, and screw on the sides making sure that the two side are level with each other.
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3563.jpg)
Do the same with the front
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3564.jpg)
Then sit the box on top of a piece off wood that will make the base, and from the inside mark the base and cut it out.
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3565.jpg)
Assemble the base so that it sits about 1/4" inside the box so that water will shed over the outside.
Then screw the short roof batten to the back so that the roof fits under it.
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3569.jpg)
Don't glue the roof in place just fasten it with two screws at the front of the box this is so it can easily be removed for cleaning out the box out after the lodgers have fledged.
Drill an entrance hole toward the top of the box this is so predators can't reach the chick inside
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3570.jpg)
Her we are two done
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3572.jpg)
Hole sizes these are for UK species
26mm Blue Tits, Coal Tits, March Tits,
28mm Great Tits
32mm Sparrows
Open front Leave top half of the front open:- for Black Bird
You can modify this basic design for other species such as bat boxes.
Sparrows like to nest communally so I've made a Sparrow tower. The decline of Sparrows has been partly put down to lack of suitable nest sites due to changes in building practices.
This is my Sparrow tower and bat box, the tower is used but we've never had a bat
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3574.jpg)
This is the box I made with my son it still get used twenty years on.
(http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Bird%20Box/100_3575.jpg)
It's not to late in the year to get a box made and for a pair of birds to raise a brood so if you've got :proj: get box making.
Have fun
Stew
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Reminds me I need to make some for the birds that visit my backyard. The Bluebird's and Purple Martins.
I like that 3 story condo you build for the birds. :thumbup:
Bernd
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Here in the US our Great Tits are much larger than 28mm. :lol:
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Absolutely super Stew, I made one last year and I have loved watching the birdies go in and out.
Chris
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Here in the US our Great Tits are much larger than 28mm. :lol:
I was thinkin' it. :lol:
Bernd
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Nice post Stew, something I'd like to do myself .... :thumbup:
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Have a quiet word with your birds Stew.........
Tell `em, there`s plenty of accommodation for them, in this little part of Derbyshire. :wave:
After almost 40yrs of boxes, in and around the back garden & house, we`ve only had 2 families...... :scratch:
I don`t think the local birds like us! :(
David D
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Stew
I looked at your accomadations you have for the feathery friends. The reason you are not having good luck with visitors is there is no way for the birds to get in unless the are good at fly straight in the hole. I have built bird houses before and I feel with the addition of a piece of dowel rod 4 or 5 mm x 60 mm long about 25 mm below the hole in the center. Try this on a some and see if it makes a difference. My wife loves the wild feathered friends
Nelson Collar
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Appropriate sized birds don't have a problem flying in. A dowel can act as a perch for predators that are too big to fly in but can reach in for lunch...
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The one you built for me Stew is being visited daily by prospective clients. So hopefully the 'to let' sign can be taken down soon.
I have also invested in some of those 'cat' spikes that go on top of my fence, to stop Vinnie the Mog getting a free lunch from all the hundreds of birds we have visiting our garden every day. They will soon have a 4 metre wide cat free flying zone in and out of the garden.
John
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John.
Next door's cats soon learned to stand on tiptoe, to traverse my prickler strips....... :bang:
So, I placed a 6' length of plastic "downpipe", along the top of the fence panels........ Stopped 'em! :thumbup:
David D
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The one you built for me Stew is being visited daily by prospective clients. So hopefully the 'to let' sign can be taken down soon.
John
:worthless:\
:D :D :D :D :D