Make a home for our feathered friends to raise their young.
This is a simple open fronted bird nesting box for small to medium sized birds such as song thrushes, (European) robins, wrens and flycatchers. I was going to publish an Instructable to make a box for hole-nesting birds, but Cheapchuck has done such a good job HERE, I'm going to make a few of his.
Some birds which were once common are declining with the loss of habitat and changes in climate, and gardens are a valuable refuge. Wild birds are very entertaining to watch and any effort to attract them to the garden and help them to breed is well worthwhile.
You also have the added benefits of free pest control. Birds, especially during the breeding season, will hunt down and eat many garden pests. It has to be better to encourage a natural balance of wildlife in your garden than to upset the eco-system by spraying with pesticides.
This is a simple open fronted bird nesting box for small to medium sized birds such as song thrushes, (European) robins, wrens and flycatchers. I was going to publish an Instructable to make a box for hole-nesting birds, but Cheapchuck has done such a good job HERE, I'm going to make a few of his.
Some birds which were once common are declining with the loss of habitat and changes in climate, and gardens are a valuable refuge. Wild birds are very entertaining to watch and any effort to attract them to the garden and help them to breed is well worthwhile.
You also have the added benefits of free pest control. Birds, especially during the breeding season, will hunt down and eat many garden pests. It has to be better to encourage a natural balance of wildlife in your garden than to upset the eco-system by spraying with pesticides.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Tools and Materials
You will need a saw, a hammer, some 30mm panel pins, wood glue, a measure, a marker and a piece of wood around 3 foot (1 metre) long, 6" (150mm) wide and 1/2" (12mm) thick. A drill would be useful for drilling mounting holes, but not vital.
I used a piece of rough pressure treated timber which had been at the back of my shed for many years. If you are buying new, use plain timber. It won't last as long as treated timber, but recently treated wood can harm the birds you're trying to help. Building the box took me a bit over an hour and that included designing it, so with a bit of effort, you could make a few in an afternoon.
I used a piece of rough pressure treated timber which had been at the back of my shed for many years. If you are buying new, use plain timber. It won't last as long as treated timber, but recently treated wood can harm the birds you're trying to help. Building the box took me a bit over an hour and that included designing it, so with a bit of effort, you could make a few in an afternoon.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
thanks very much again
I live in NYC and the city is loaded with Robins with red bellies. Love your simple box! Just one question: have you had any trouble with predators with box that is right up against the tree? Or is the box small enough that none have given it a go?
Again, great bird box!
As I've said in a comment above, in the UK our main predators are the crow family and squirrels but the box is now so well hidden in the ivy that you can hardly see it.
Spring hasn't arrived here yet this year but we're hoping for another boxful of birds.
I've also made a few based on CheapChuck's design linked above which have had blue-tits in them in previous years.
our main predators are grey squirrels, red squirrles, Jays, Magpies and Survivor man
http://www.rentfort.de/2010/03/15/einfach-ein-schnes-cacheversteck-basteln#more-558
I hope you're making that one for the birds too. It's the right time of year for it.
But you're right! It's the right time to build one for the real birds ;)