How to Build a Bird House

In recent times, the popularity of birdhouse as an essential garden accessory has increased enormously. This is partly due to the decrease in the habitat of birds, which results in their declining population. Vast areas of woodlands and forests have been cleared due to human intervention for agricultural and industrial purposes, thus disturbing the wildlife. According to the environmentalists, the population of birds has decreased tremendously in the last few decades. Some of the bird species are on the verge of extinction and are included in the IUCN Red Data List for endangered species. Considering this, building birdhouses by creating habitats that resemble their nests is a conservatory step for increasing the number of birds.

When birds are in artificial birdhouses, they don't have to compete for food and shelter as well as they are protected from the natural predators. This promotes the growth and reproduction of birds. For some birds, it is observed that the percentage of successful breeding is higher in birdhouse than in the wild. Many hobbyist and those who are concerned about conserving birds are fond of building birdhouses on their own. There are several designs of birdhouse, each of which can be used for a specific bird type. Let's take a look at the tips on how to build a birdhouse.

How to Build a Bird House

While planning to build a birdhouse, first decide on the type of bird that you want to keep in the birdhouse. Based on the type of birds (either large or small type), the size of the entry hole should be made. The hole should not be very big, so as to avoid entry of predators such as squirrels and cats. Certain things that you should keep in mind while building a birdhouse are building material (roofing and side walls), drainage holes, painting, perches and other designs.

Wood is the best building material for birdhouses as it provides cooling effect during summer. If you are planning to use metal for roofs, you can opt for aluminum; avoid other metals, as they increase the temperature within the birdhouse. While purchasing wood, always choose an untreated wood; chemicals used in treated wood can distract or affect the birds. The wood should be thick enough to provide insulation during hot months. You can purchase redwood fencing of 4 - 6 inches thickness. Then, mark the wood with pencil as per the size and cut the wood pieces into two roof sections, front and back sections and two side walls.

Drill drainage holes on the floor of the birdhouse, also make sure to make small holes on the side walls, near the roof to keep the birdhouse cool. Align the wood pieces accordingly; the roof section should be aligned in such a way that it overhangs the back. The front side should be easy to open for regular cleaning. Fix the joints with nails and then apply waterproof glue along the joints.

If you want to make the birdhouse more artistic, then you can paint it with bright and vibrant colors of your choice. It is always better not to paint the birdhouse, as birds usually prefer a natural looking habitat. If you really want to paint it, you can use colors that match the surrounding environment; make sure you paint only the exterior of the birdhouse. After completing the construction of birdhouse ensure that it's waterproof, airy and easily accessible for cleaning.