How to Build a Birdhouse (That Birds Will Actually Use)
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- Birds are choosy about their homes and not every birdhouse is suitable for every bird. Gardener Scott discusses the important factors in deciding what kind of DIY birdhouse to build and demonstrates an easy and effective method for building a birdhouse that is proven to attract birds. (Video #260)
Birdhouse reference sites:
www.thespruce.com/bird-house-...
www.thespruce.com/birds-that-...
www.thespruce.com/bird-house-...
www.thespruce.com/how-to-hang...
www.thespruce.com/wild-bird-r...
www.thespruce.com/free-birdho...
www.birdsandblooms.com/backya...
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Gardening and woodworking! My 2 favorite things.
Just hang a hanging flower decoration on your covered porch and you will get tiny wrens nesting in it. I've had them for 2 years now.
That's awesome idea.
I appreciate how you take the time to explain and demonstrate how to do this, Gardener Scott. Good stuff! Thank you.
I have made it a mission to attract blue birds for 20 years. Last year I had three different blue bird families in one of my blue bird houses. Here in New England, blue birds start looking for a home in March. I have this year's first blue bird family in it now. You have to clear the old nest after the first family leaves or a new family won't use the house. You also have to clear any nest another bird (like chickadees) might try to build in the house. I have other houses on trees that the other birds can use. Blue birds don't mind you opening up the house to take a look. I also get more blue birds in the house I have on a pole in an open space, (surrounded by a 12 foot diameter of echinacea), as they don't like any tree or structure around their home. They love berries and I have a lot of wild blackberries for them so I cover my cultivated berries. Good Luck!
Nice video, . Appreciate. A few suggestions:
(1) If you rub a bar of soap on the wood (inside) wasps cant build their nests. The way you built the door to pull down (rather than up) makes it easier to reapply each season.
(2) A metal plate over the hole keeps animals (I.e. squirrels) from chewing the wood and making it a squirrel house.
(3) Attach a mesh or glue small mixing sticks to wall (where hole is) to helps chicks climb out.
(5) Drill holes in corners at bottom to allow drainage and venting/circulation of air
Good tips. Thanks!
Some builders miter small 45° meters on the corners of the floor for drainage and ventilation.
Ventilation is extremely important !
The biggers predetors of bird houses in the wild are snakes.
Fine hardware cloth guards probable work best.
Like how you saved and used the old fence material.
This is awesome. It's nice to support the birds, which are a vital part of our ecosystem. Cheers, Scott!
Thank you so much Gardener Scott, birding is one of my favorites hobbies, and like you said so important for anybody but specially for gardeners .Cheers
I would love to learn how to make bat houses as well. Since so many trees were knocked down last year the bats have been desperate to find homes.
I built two birdhouses out of fence pickets a few years ago and had my kiddos paint them, but I only took into account the hole size. I don't think I've had any tenants in them. It may be time to get more precise with the other dimensions. Thank you for this. Your content makes me a more precise gardener and woodworker.
Thanks for the video. I have 4 bird houses that I didn’t know what birds would use it. Now I can record the sizes in my garden journal and what birds could use them.
Birdhouses are next on my list of builds. Thanks for the informative vid!
Thank you for sharing the woodpecker specs - great weekend project
Great tips about what birds to attract. I’m not handy so I’ll buy some houses.
Such a great vid! And so true ! On my 10 acres in Mich. I had 50 birdhouse ALL over the place! the swallows would fly and dip in the pond in mid air. Had a bunch of those and bluebirds, Oriels, hummers, eveything! Even a krestel! I grew dipper gourds and dryed those out in the greenhouse. And would work on them as well as build birdhouses in winter. I love birds. And had so many different types. And not all birds use birdhouses either. I also planted things birds like. My whole side yard was dedicated to “birds”. I guess it all just goes along with being a “gardner”. It expands to bugs, birds and just plain nature! ( not to mention the ferals I fed as well 🤣).I like photography too and took some awesome pics with my DSL! Great detail. ❤️ moving to FL changed that! I thought I’d get some great assortments. I just get the common birds. I think most birds down here are more aquatic. 😢
Thank you. Your research has been... So educational. Sir well done.
Good video!
Squirrels, in case there are some living in the area, are a real threat to the birds. Squirrels can easily enlargen the hole so that they can go in and eat the eggs and all.
I have made a steel ring around the hole to prevent the squirrels from butchering the birdhouse. The steel doesn't need to be very thick. Most of the time tin is thick enough. Of course all sharp cornesr must be smoothed out.
Comment for the algorithm! Awesome video as always Gardener Scott!
I been building Bird house for years and enjoyed your video, I had a set of birds that came back every year , and I had taken the post and box down and they came and flew around and around my yard so I had to go and put the post with there house back up LOL I had moved the fence line back
Thank you gardener Scott!
Hey Scott getting ready for this year’s garden. Last years was great thanks to you and your videos. We’re blessed with the Rocky Mountain Blue Bird here at the ranch and I’m making more bird houses this weekend. Great video.
Excellent video, watching and learning.
Thanks for the information and how to build the houses
Nice, detailed information. In addition to the hole and nest box dimensions - Bluebirds also prefer an eastward facing abode.
You’re creative inside the house and out😳😳😳😳👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️
I literally knew none of this. I really appreciate the scope of these videos, Scott.
wow such wealth of information thank you. Best video I`ve seen on feeders
Yeah, the size of the hole matters, totally right.
Last week was the first time I saw two birds I wanted in my garden- mallard ducks! You can have very raven, bluejay, red breasted robin, and cardinal here! With the ducks I get to wave good-bye to my snails and slugs!
Such of educational video. Tha k you so much
exciting stuff
Pretty cool, I’m gonna make some next week 😁
Respect!🤝
Thank you so much!👍
All the best!
The nail to pre drill...
Life changing
This is a very nice video. Thank you. I’m looking to attract birds to my orchard to help me with the caterpillars and such
Thank you
D'awww, those are sooo cute! we have red birds (cardinals) that come and tap on the windows in late winter to wake up the cats.
Excellent explanation. Good voice easy going not too fast. I joined ""
I love bluebirds.
Thanks, I built one today for a couple of swallows trying very hard to find a home on my property.
Thank you!
You remind me of my dad. I like this videos a lot!
I'm lucky to have a partner who built several houses and both house wrens and Carolina wrens took up in them the first year, but no clutches. Hoping to see some babies this year. We had to put a predator guard on them after we saw a woodpecker looking for a snack.
Heard that best to have no perches/short sticks by the hole. A bird expert noted that (in general) birds never use these (watch videos of the parents landing), but they make a great foothold for predators like crows, raccoons, snakes, etc. Don’t forget air holes for ventilation, and a couple small drain holes in bottom (more ventilation and so won’t fill up in sudden downpours if roof issues).
Thanks Gardener Scott I downloaded the check list for the wildlife sanctuary. I've built 3 houses for blue birds my wife is just nuts were feeding and watering the birds and the squirrels. Next Friday I am starting to build a large shallow birdbath. Again the wife and I want to thank you.
I'm inspired to build a couple of these. Love the birds around the house. You should check out an impact driver type drill. It will change your life with screws.
Thanks. I have an impact drill and use it often. I try to show typical tools that most people have.
I use an air stapler. Bostitch.
Oh, and I wonder if a flicker would use a woodpecker house with the dimensions you've specified. I definitely see more flickers than downy's down here on the plains.
Thanks for this one mr Scott! I’ve been trying to get more birds into my garden for several years,but with limited success. I have a bird feeder,but often have grey squirrels chasing the birds away. Grey squirrels are invasive in my area. I just really don’t feel inclined to trap/poison them or anything🤷🏻♂️ i don’t like the squirrels,but I also don’t feel like harming creatures that are just doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Aside from that I guess I have a general feeling that since people introduced this critter to my area,it’s not really the squirrels fault! Lol I just want to bring in more birds. The houses seem like a great idea.
Squirrels are so smart. Kind of fun to watch them figure out every single bird feeder eh!
I had that problem too! Plus coons raiding nest at night. I got a post and would mount my bluebird house on the post with L brackets. But first, I made a baffler out of a 10” stove pipe and cap. (They r cheap at lowes). I also got carpet tacking. U know those strips with the spikes. And nailed it vertical on the post. Plus. Keep that 10’ from any bush or anything a squirrel can jump off of to land on it. Oh I had more fun watching the squirrels. It was impossible for them. . I also use this method on my bird feeders. Finally. After awhile. They don’t even bother coming around! Because NOTHING gets into my feeders, unless it flies! 👍
Another tip. Swallows LOVE soft feathers. I’d get a few packs of soft feathers in craft section at Walmart (in craft section.) The swallow would have his head poking out watching. And I’d let the feather go in the breeze, holding it high in air. I’d release it aNd it would swoop and get it and bring into house. Was fun. And they kind of get use to you.
That's a tiny hole, so only tiny birds can use it. It's great to have birds around, I love listening to their happy chirping sounds.
Good video.
About the hinge: why not to make the front hinge in the bottom? This way the locking screw could be replaced by just a simple nail in a pre drilled hole.
Sure, you can do that.
I just built two bluebird birdhouses this winter and both have been taken by bluebirds. Mine are 5 feet off the ground with a flat roof that the bluebirds perch on looking for bugs.
Are you in Colorado?about zone4?
I hing mine on the top, bottom pulls out, just easier to clean.
Are there any sort of considerations for the orientation of the houses for the different birds. Is East or perhaps north ideal, and should it be in full sun or shade? Where I am the holes sometimes get chewed (by squirrels? ) so a small plate of some sort of soft metal like tin or thin aluminum sheet drilled to the same size is said to be beneficial.
For the most part, avoid orienting the hole in constant shade. Morning sun can be beneficial in warming the house when small birds are inside.
To keep wasps out of bird houses…. Take a bar of soap and rub it on the inside back, top, and sides which prevents the attachment of paper wasp nest . As close to corners, and sides. Place’s where wasps like to build nests. 4-29-2022
I have bee boxes that attract mason bees that would be beneficial to your gardens that I sell. Set them up around your garden area . They are of cedar and fur construction treated with Thomson's water seal. Interested?
How can we find out which birds are beneficial and that we want to attract?
Hole saw tip. Once the pilot bit is thru but before you drill all the way through, stop and continue from the back. You will get a cleaner hole with less splintering and sanding.
See if you have a local Audubon Society group. Or Extension office. They should be able to tell you what birds are native for you and how they interact with the garden. Thanks.
Hi Gardner Scott ! Another Great video ! I just was wondering about location of the birdhouse, Is it ok to put it in a spot that you or other people will be walking near often, it wont prevent the birds from using it as a home due to feeling threatened ? and or abandoning it later on if you are near it with their babies in it? I just wanna make sure I put tit in the ideal spot and don't cause any harm. Thanks for all your wisdom ! :)
Often it's difficult to find a good spot in a small garden. I've found that the parents will fly away when I walk near, but the babies are fine inside. The parents return once I'm safely away.
I'm observing the birds for the last few months here at my fazenda. gold finch, blue tits, collard doves, barn owl, swallow, sparrows, blackbird, robin.. what to build? :)
What was your reasoning for opening the birdhouse from the top out ??? Cleaning would be a lot easier from the bottom. Also, why are you using steel nails ??? I would think that using stainless screws would be the ideal material. So nice to see you have listed the appropriate sizes for birdhouses for specific birds. You win the prize fella. Peace and out.
Because the hole is at the top I've had some problems with the old wood cracking if the hinge was at the top, so it is more stable at the bottom. I used the nails I had on hand, but stainless steel is a good option.
@@GardenerScott Hello Scott, thanks for letting me know about placement of the hinged door face. I would of never thought of it myself. Look forward to making me some birdhouses this week. I will take your advice on placement of the hinge. Will use stainless as I have a few boxes of these screws. Good day and peace to you fella too. vf
Not trying to "bust your orbs".... but using a chop saw on a floor like that increases your changes of losing your hand or fingers. The saw will pull your hand in rip it to shreds!
Yep its so simple its complicated.. Lol i've built bird houses but why does this feel like i've never done it. I guess it might be because i'm going to use wood flooring that i have left over.. I guess i can't just throw a piece of wood up and say here ya go.. Lol So my issue is i've found like 10 dead maybe birds this year so its pretty clear the birds in the neighbors roof are falling out which is why i decided to use the spare flooring to make some bird houses, However i was thinking that a open bird house seems to be liked by birds, i don't have the tools for a open one, but i was thinking about throwing plexiglass or something i the sides so its not open but rather they can still see around them. Just a interesting idea.
I neglected my bird houses and ended up with wasp nests. Interestingly, the wasps never attack or sting. Are they accustomed to me? Maybe they are good for the garden too, I wonder?
Wasps do have a role in the garden and usually have little interest in people unless we attack them.
In my experience paper wasps that make the little honeycomb style nests are considered beneficials and non aggressive. They will be understandably agitated if you remove their nest, so do early in the season so they can find a new location. .
Have the Front ..swing out from the Bottom. Not the top. 👌
Just curious I got excited found a birdhouse cheap I painted and want to use a a polyurethane on the outside not inside will this house I'm almost done with be safe for any birds?
Polyurethane on the outside shouldn't harm the birds.
@@GardenerScott thank you so much for letting me know!🪺🐦
i am wanting to build a crow bird house, what size hole do they prefer?
They prefer a large opening to enter, not a hole. Here's one plan: www.ehow.com/how_5503250_build-crow-birdhouse.html
I wish more woodworkers were birders. Unfortunately this design needs a few additions to make it safe for eggs and chicks. Aways put a predator block over the access hole to prevent predators from reaching in the box, There is inadequate ventilation which means eggs and chicks can over heat, the floor needs drainage, just four small cuts off each corner. I prefer the access dor to be on the side, but I guess a front door is ok.
Hi I’m a little confused. You said 6-10 inches from the ground but needs to be mounted 3-6 feet from the ground. Can you explain what you mean by hole from the ground
The hole is 6-10 inches from the wood bottom of the birdhouse and the birdhouse is mounted about 6 ft from the ground.
@@GardenerScott thank you so much!
What birds eat squash bugs?
Sadly, squash bugs aren't usually eaten by birds. I'm in Colorado zone 5b.
I think you meant to say "thickness" rather than "width"
🤯
This guy is the Bob Ross os gardening
I had wrens in a decorative house🤣😅🤣
Will birds avoid a nest that has wasps? Wasps can help with catarpillars.
Most birds will avoid a wasp nest in the house so it's good to clean them out.
Why not make the hinge on the top?
You can, but it would require removing the house to dump it out. With the front door the house can stay in place and you sweep it out.
Hello
No need for a metal faceplate over the hole to discourage squirrels from chewing the opening wider?
I haven't had that problem, but it is an option.
Why not hinge the top and open from the bottom?
That is an option.
How about bats? Are they good to have around.
They are. I built and placed a bat house at the school garden. Its build specifications are very precise and it needs to be mounted very high, but can benefit the garden and the bats.
I'm bummed about Saruman, can you be my Gandalf?
Don't birds eat fruits too? Can they damage your fruits harvest?
Some birds do, Different birds have different diets.
Feel free to send some of your weed seeds to me. 😉
Gee, birds sure are picky...
Thank you