A nice easy and cheap woodworking project for beginners. Suitable for anyone who has two simmilar planks of wood and some basic tools. This project is perfect for teaching kids how to use basic woodworking tools and introduce them into building interesting stuff out of scrap !

Step 1: Tools Needed:

Tools:

• Wood saw
• Hammer (or a screwdriver if using screws)
• Pencil or marker
•

(Optional) A drill with a hole saw (1"-2") or a drill bit for wood.

Materials:

• A handful of 1,6mm x 40mm nails (woodscrews would be better choice, but they are more expensive)
• Two reclaimed wood planks from a pallet. Dimensions of my planks were (120cm X 9cm X 1,5cm)

Step 2: Mark and Cut

If your plank is about 9cm wide, cut them as shown in the images. If it is wider, you can still use my dimensions but the finished product will be wider.

You need to get following pieces:

• 2 pcs. 18cm length
• 4 pcs. 18cm on one side and 9cm on the other
• 4 pcs. 14cm length
• 2 pcs. 15cm length

Step 3: Put the Pieces Together

Put it all together using nails, screws or even wood glue will do just as fine. Using wood glue you will need additional clamps and a bit of patience, as wood glue sets quite slowly.

Step 4: Drill a Hole

If you have a drill with a hole saw, drill a hole between two front pieces.

Pay atention to the size of the hole. Most common sizes are from 1 to 2 inches in diameter. (2,5 cm to 5 cm).

Don't be affraid to experiment, larger holes will be suitable for larger birds, such as Finches (2"), Kestrels (3"), or even Owls (6"). Although smaller birds in such birdhouses will be prone to be evicted by predators or greater birds.

If drill or the hole saw is not available, you can cut a sizeable notch on the sides of both front pieces. Residents won't mind if the entrance is not circular. It just need to be big enough to fit through.

Step 5: Improvise

Add any modifications and customisations such as perches, mounting brackets and so on. The birdhouse is ready to be painted and put into the tree.

Be carefull with addition of perches, as Carpenter Guy mentioned, they can help predators to squeze inside or reach nestlings.

Tips for painting:

• Do not paint or varnish the house interior, which could and most likely will be toxic for residents.
• For exterior painting, choose natural colors that blend with the surroundings.