As we get closer to the warmer months, now is a great time to start to prepare the home and the outdoor areas for impending Summer days. But, it doesn’t just stop at the facilities for humans.
If you’re into a bit of DIY, you may want to consider a small project to help out the animals in your local area. If you’re a fan of birds and would like to attract some new wildlife into your backyard, a bird house will be the perfect project. They also provide a lovely, fun and creative design element to your home. Best of all, you can customise it however way you please. You can paint it, stain it or even decorate it to match your home or other outdoor decor. It’s a great opportunity to let your creativity flow on a small project over a weekend.
A bird house isn’t a very complicated project to complete and with a bit of handy work, you can have a new birdhouse ready and installed in your backyard over the weekend. Not only will you be able to enjoy the birdlife in your yard, but you’ll also be providing a lovely nesting area for birds to stay and eat, if you provide them with some seed or foods. To get started, you just need a few simple materials and tools.
You will need:
- Finishing nails
- ⅜” Plywood
- Wire
- Wide head screws
Tools:
- Hammer
- Saw
- Measuring Tape
- Pen
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- 1 ¼” or 1 ⅛” hole saw
Instructions:
Step 1
You will need to cut seven pieces to complete the house. These pieces include the floor, the walls and the roof.
Step 2
The dimensions for each piece are as follows:
Floor x 1: 4” x 4” (piece 1 in image)
Side Walls x 2: 4” x 8” (piece 2 & 3)
Roof Side Left: 4 ⅜” x 6” (piece 6)
Roof Side Right: 4 ¾” x 6” (piece 7)
Step 3
The front and back of the birdhouse (piece 4 and 5 in image) will need to be cut to the following dimensions. The front and back overlaps the sides and will be 4 ¾” wide. The plywood should be 4 ¾” x 10 ⅜”.
Step 4
In the middle of your front piece, you will want to drill a hole large enough for birds to be able to enter the home. Using a hole saw, drill a hole into the plywood.
Step 5
Nail the side walls to the front and back so that you can see how it will stand. Only nail together three sides, as the last side will be able to be used as an opening. By the end of this step, you should have a front, back and one wall nailed together.
Step 6
For your last wall, It will be nailed at just the top end, so it can be nailed as though it is hinged in place (with nails). Make sure each nail on either side is in the exact spot so that the side opens correctly. To keep it closed, place a nail halfway through the front wall, and bend it across over the hinged side to keep it close. The nail can then be moved across when you wish to open the side.
Step 7
Nail one side to the roof of the house, then continue by nailing the second side on to the opposite side.
Step 8
As an optional finish, you can hang your birdhouse so it’s easier for birds to use. Alternatively, you can have it perched on a tree or screwed to a fence post (whatever you have available in your yard). You can hang the birdhouse by feeding some wire through the front of the birdhouse under the roof through to the back end and hang it accordingly.
Finishing touches
You can choose to paint your birdhouse a bright colour to try and attract birds to it, but one of the easiest ways to attract them is by using food. If you have a water source, such as a bird bath or a fountain, it will be even easier. Wild bird seed and feed is often available at the supermarket or at your local pet shop. Place some seed in the birdhouse to attract them and make them feel secure enough to enter the home. Depending on the types of birds in your local area, some may even enjoy various fruits, but it’s best to research what birds can eat what fruits, so that you don’t burden them with illness or disease.
Bird houses are a great way to attract the local birdlife into your yard and enjoy their company. It’s also great for budding photographers looking for a creative outlet and would like some great close up shots of the birds that enter the yard or stay near the home. You can have a couple of different sized bird houses around your home to try and attract different species and different sized birds. You will definitely have an enjoyable time making the project and will have the company of some beautiful birdlife for years to come.
