Attracting Bluebirds: How to Build a Bluebird Bird House

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Written By Eva Stock

I love gardening, building, making and fixing things. 

 

 

 

 

Attracting bluebirds is sometimes difficult due to other birds utilising the bird boxes first. The Bluebird is a member of a family of birds known a the thrush, and is related to the Robin.

Its a welcome member of the garden to most people because of its very great beauty, the brilliant blue feathers and red breast feathers. They tend to be somewhat rare but given a proper diet and a nesting box that is what they like, you will likely lure one into nesting in your own garden.

This is a plan for an easy bluebird house, which is of the variety that they bluebirds seem to like and has a vented bottom to permit the escape of moisture.

To Begin

Use real solid wood, not plywood, unless it has been aged at least a couple years outdoors to get rid of the coating.

The wood must be solid, not veneer as it will take some weathering when the wintertime arrives.

The best selections will be pine, cedar or oak.

Cut two pieces of the slanted top sides, dimensions will be as in the image. These are the sides

  • one piece that is 9 1/2 x 8 inches this is the roof
  • one piece that is 9 and 3/4 inches x 5 inches this is the front
  • one piece that 10 and 3/4 x 5 inches this is the back
  • one piece that is 5x5inches square and round the corners using sand paper to make them so that they do not exactly meet at the corners. This is the bottom. This will permit air flow in the bird house.

Your bird house will need to be all natural wood, not veneer or resin, as the very smooth materials will not permit the birds to get a grip to get out of the bird house. Take care to make it at least t 5/8 inches thick.

Blue Bird Box

Bluebirds do not appreciate or like a perch on the front of the bird house, and don’t require one to exit or enter their home. When wild they live in simple holes in trees that have been excavated primarily by woodpeckers. They fly both into and out of the house in a very graceful way and do not perch prior to entering curiously enough, so a perch will only be in the way.

Using drywall screws, attach the two sides to the bottom. Attach the back, and taking a drill bore about a two inch hole in the center of the front and then attach the front and the roof, centering it on the box you’ve built.

The location must be the correct one or your work is in vain. Like humans, the location of the home is as important a the home itself.

It needs to face away from the prevailing winds, so that the wind does not blow directly into the house or prevent the birds from entering or exiting easily.

Blue birds don’t seem to mind overly if the house isn’t perfect, but their location is just about everything, however it is worth the trouble and if you succeed, here is what you will see next summer in your own garden.

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