Building Bird Boxes

Bird boxes placed on tree tops are a pleasing site in a landscape. Who wouldn't want to have such beautiful accessories in their own backyard? Bird boxes not only add beauty to our surroundings, but also serve as safe haven for numerous birds. With the number of trees dwindling day-by-day, bird boxes prove useful in sheltering and preserving many birds.

Bird Boxes
These are man-made objects created to provide shelter to birds. In some places they are also known as nest boxes. Bird boxes are mostly made of wood, but even synthetic ones prepared from a material called 'woodcrete' are used nowadays. Although cuboid is the most common shape in bird boxes, sloping ones are also used in some places.

Design and Construction
The purpose of building a bird box is to provide the birds with security and a place for breeding. Although shape, color, etc. does not matter to the birds, the size factor has to be carefully taken into consideration. It is important to get an idea of the types of birds in your area that might come and stay in your bird boxes. Construction of the boxes should be according to the birds' needs: the birds should be able to enter the box comfortably and move around with ease. Exterior grade plywood is the best material to construct a bird box. The wood used for building should be at least 20 mm thick. Designs used for bird boxes are simple in their appearance. Generally, there are two designs in bird boxes; the one with a circular hole as its opening and the other which partly opens at the front. Apart from the entrance hole, the sides and bottom of the box need to have holes for ventilation and drainage respectively.

Roofing felt, if attached to the box, increases its life. Use galvanized nails instead of adhesives, because unlike adhesives, nails don't block the drainage paths. Keep an opening at the top of the box to facilitate easy cleaning. Never add a perch to the bird box as predators may use it to harm the nestling.

Some companies manufacture colorful and decorative bird boxes. These look great in gardens. It is not necessary to paint the boxes. Although birds prefer unpainted boxes, purple martin boxes are an exception to this rule. These boxes need to be painted white from the outside in order to reduce heat.

Placement of the Bird Box
Place your bird box in a position where it remains least affected by rainfall or winds. Bird boxes should have an appropriate distance between them, as some birds try to create their own territory. Attach boxes to trees with the help of a wire or nails. If you choose to wire a box, try to cushion it, so that the tree bark is not affected. Place the box where it remains unaffected from human interference and predators like cats. Some experts recommend to place bird boxes on metal poles to protect the nestling from raccoons and cats. Try to pick a cool place so that direct sunlight doesn't affect it. Speaking about directions, the bird boxes should face either north or east to avoid heat.

Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning should be done from October to January. The old nesting material which gets accumulated after every breeding season needs to be cleaned. Scrape off the droppings from the earlier season. Scalding with boiling water is an excellent way to remove parasites from the box. 'Sadonil' should be used as a water repellent for bird boxes.

Camera in Bird Boxes
Surveillance cameras can be installed to view the birds in your bird boxes. People interested in wildlife can use these cameras to study birds and their activities. There are wireless cameras, which can be connected to your television or personal computer.

You can learn a lot from nature, and building bird boxes is a nice way to contribute back something. The bird box building will definitely turn into a fun-filled, fulfilling and enriching activity.