Bluebird nest boxes

[WV Sawmiller]

I did this long, picture intense new thread then lost it at the end and am not smart enough to find it in my drafts so I'll just try again.

I debated whether to put this in outdoors because it is for Bluebirds or in Woodworking and decided to put it there. I might should have put it in outdoor as anybody who loves bluebirds can build this nest box and none of the measurements have to be precise or exact for it to work.

Several years ago I spotted an Eastern bluebird here in my yard in southern WV so I looked on line for how to build a nest box to attract them. The sizes I use came from a post I found somewhere but the top and several other features are my own idea/design.

Basically the sizes are as follows:

Front: 10"tall X 6" wide
Sides: Slope from 12" to 10" and 6" wide
Back: Anything over 12" (I like at least 14-16 inches) tall and 6" wide. The excess length is used to fasten to the support post.
Entrance hole: 1.5" diameter
Bottom/Floor: Approximately 4" X 6"
Top: 12" X 12" (Can get by with 10" wide X 12")
Nest Chamber is approximately 4" X 6" and about 6"-7" tall to the entrance hole
Basically a 4' long, rough, 1X6 makes the sides, front and back of one box. Any kind of wood can be used but be sure to leave the inside rough so the chicks can climb out easily. You can paint the outsides but do not paint the insides.

I started with a recently cut 1X6 Tulip poplar board 8' long. I cut it in half to make the bodies of 2 bluebird boxes.

I cut a 10" board off each 4' board.

I cut a 22" board off each 4' board

This left a 16" board (Actually longer because the board was 8'6" to start)


I marked the 22" board at 10" on one side then 12" on the other, marked a diagonal line between my marks with a straight edge and cut along my mark leaving me with 2 – 10"-12" side panels from each 22" board and no waste.

I always cut the top edge of the back panels at an angle on my table saw so it does not touch the cap/roof.



I clamped and drilled a 1.5" hole approximately 3" from one end of the 10" front board. You can use an auger if you have one this size or a spade or Forstner bit but the 1.5"  size is critical to limit unwanted birds.



I took these front boards over to my RAS, raised it then just barely kissed 4-5 parallel lines about ¼" deep under the inside of the entrance hole to make a "ladder" to help the chicks climb out when the time is right. (May not be needed but I like the idea and it can't hurt – as long as you keep your thumbs out of the blade)

I bored 2 pilot holes in each side of the sloped side pieces about ½" from the side and another centered in the bottom of each also ½" side panel.



I laid one side piece down and lined the front and back up and placed the other side on top and nailed the side to the front and back then flipped it over and did the same thing to the other side. I used 6d (2") galvanized nails for fasteners but you could use screws, glue or dowels or whatever you have handy and like to use.


This is the finished chamber without a roof or floor

Next I cut up a 1" X 1" sticker in 4- 6" lengths and drilled 2 pilot holes in the center of each approximately 1" from each end.





Then I cut a 1X12 off at 12" long for the top (roof).



I laid the top on my work bench and placed the top of the nest box on the 12" square, roughly centered it, marked the back and 2 sides, removed the box then nailed 3 of the 1X1 strips just outside my marks leaving a U shape.





I put the next box back inside the U and placed the final 1X1 strip along the edge and nailed it in place. Be sure not to get these pieces too tight against the edges of the next box. The strips on the top make it into a cap that slides down over the nest box. This way you can open the box to clean it out. I have never had one blow or get knocked off.

Note: Instead of a cap you should be able to use a small hinge at the top/back and to the attach the roof but I'd worry it might be flipped open by a predator or strong wind.


The last part is to cut and install the floor. I measure the space and pick a piece of scrap out if my box and cut it about ¼" or so thinner and shorter than the hole and I cut the corners off. I don't want the floor tight because I want plenty of air flow in the nest box to help prevent mold and mildew.



Here is the finished box ready to nail to a fence post. I nail mine to my wooden pasture fenceposts and place them about 4-5 feet above ground.

Bluebirds will not re-use a nest so remove it as soon as the chicks leave and they will raise multiple clutches in the same box. I once was late removing an old nest and the birds just built another on top of the first one.

The only other bird I have had nest in mine was once a pair of barn swallows nested in it and could access the 1.5" opening. When they left I removed their nest and days later bluebirds took it back over.

I do not put a peg for a perch at my entrances as I think it encourages predator birds to come steal the eggs or chicks.

I find bluebirds like a sunny spot around short grass like a pasture or yard. They seem to like to have a nearby cable line or tree limb overhead and in front to perch on just before and just after leaving the nest box. Bluebirds are territorial and will not nest within certain distances of others. I have 2 boxes about 80-90 yards apart and I think they are too close. They use both but never at the same time. I don't know if it is the same bird alternating homes or different pairs.


This is my second clutch of the season. They will likely leave in a week or so.

I love my bluebirds and this is a fun project to do with your kids or grandkids or such.

[thecfarm]

thank you for doing this great thread!!!!
The blue birds thank you too.

Below the hole I use the claw of my hammer to rough it up for the chicks to climb out.

[Machinebuilder]

you remind me i need to clean mine out

[YellowHammer]

Nice post.  
We have bluebirds too, they are bug eating machines and never cause any problems.  One of my favorite birds.

We put out lots of bluebird houses, and one of our customers is a "bird lady" and they love watching them when they come to buy wood.  

Bluebirds and their comeback are one of the great bird recovery stories of the century.   

[WV Sawmiller]

Ray,

    I don't know how critical the "ladder" is but I can see where a hammer, chisel, big screwdriver, etc would accomplish the same goal. I've used my RAS, Circular saw or tablesaw to do them but anything works. They don't show to the outside anyway.

  I see really fancy ones for sale at flea markets but don't know if they get used. I saw some yesterday but you could not open or access them for clean-out.

    I think the ventilation is critical so I deliberately leave plenty of air space for the fit of the floor and notch the corners off for good air flow.

    Most birdhouses I see for sale are for art, not function. Bluebirds are looking for a woodpecker hole in a dead tree or post and my boxes closely mimic that. It is a great use for scrap boards and anything 6" wide or wider and over 10" long can be used. Different woods make great contrast and I like to use a walnut or cherry front or top to off-set the white of the poplar when it is available.

  Knots and knotholes and splits and such as long as they are not a structural issue are fine.

  I found 3 years ago when the birds have multiple clutches the older siblings will help raise the younger chicks and have looked out my upstairs bathroom window to the TV cable below and seen 4-5 bluebirds all lined up on the cable. Each had a bug, grasshopper or worm in its mouth and one after the other they would dip down and feed the chicks so it was obvious it was not just the parents feeding them.

    I first built 2 of these boxes and nailed them to my pasture fence. One is 35 yards from my wife's easy chair in the front yard in front of where we park and the other is in the back yard on a gate post. The birds set up housekeeping within 2-3 days of me putting the boxes out. As I mentioned they use both but alternate and I think they are 2 close.

  I have even had bluebirds visit the boxes in the dead of winter as if they were house hunting. They'd light on the front hole and dart in and look around but not stay or build a nest. Maybe they thought it was an AirBNB or something.

  Usually the adult birds light on the entrance hole and feed the mate or chicks or light then dip in. I have seen them where it looked like they flew in without stopping and I still don't know how they can do that.

    I have had parents attack me, my horse, a doe deer and an unwary Fox squirrel who climbed on top to eat a cicada one time when they had eggs or chicks in the box. The current parents don't seem that aggressive. Maybe they know it is me and I built it for them.

  They are not precision woodworking. Anything close will work whether the board is 5-3/4 or 6-1/2 inches wide. The tops of mine will typically not fit another as I custom fit them. If you were doing it commercially it would be easy to make jigs and  make them all exact but the birds don't care and I just toss my scrap boards in the bin and periodically cut them into birdhouse pieces.

  In the past I have even cut them up into kits and shrink wrapped the boards together so they did not take up so much space and assemble them at home or let the customers build them at home. They make a bundle about a 2" thick, a foot side and 16-18 inches long when you do that and you can stack them to store or transport them easily. After talking with Tom one time I did the same thing with some of my benches and that seems to work well for storage issues. You could make a bunch of birdhouses in the off season and store them for future use/assembly and not tie up a lot of space.

[WV Sawmiller]

   I checked and confirmed my bluebirds had left the nest (I hope under their own power) so I removed the old nest and it is ready for the next occupant.

[21incher]

I got plans from the local bluebird society and they specify the top must extend 6 Inches past the front of the box. Without that raccoons can sit on top of the box and reach in for the chick's. With the extended top they leave them alone. Apparently that has been a problem in our area.

[beenthere]

I've not had problems with raccoon getting the baby bluebirds since mounting the nest box on a pipe pole. That has been since the last 45 years, no problem.
Very disappointing when you know there is a clutch of baby blues, and then suddenly they are gone --- no thanks to the raccoon.

[YellowHammer]

We have lots of bluebirds, and the first time the "bird lady" came out she was telling me how rare they are and I laughed and said I had them everywhere, and pointed to the power line, and about a half dozen were lined up, and she was amazed.

Blubirds seem to eat bugs constantly, like me with a can of Pringles, so they are always welcome!

We have found they really like to nest in old wooden fence posts where the knots have rotted out, making a cavity.  We also have a bluebird house that looks like a cat sitting on a fencepost, and the hole is its open mouth, and the bird lady was amazed when she looked in there and some BB chicks looking out at her.

The biggest problem we have with them is they fight when they see themselves in a mirror, and if a customer comes up and leaves the vehicle windows down, invariably the birds will attack the mirrow and then fly inside the vehicle, and sometimes drop a load of poop on the seats.  Oops..

We have a BB house right next to our Porta Potti, it lets the customers watch something while they do their "thing" and the bluebirds seem to keep the wasps away.  I guess they eat them? 

 

[WV Sawmiller]

    Yes, there are other steps you can take to help protect the eggs and chicks. 

   I had not heard or thought about the extended top but can see where that would work. Mounting on a pipe or putting an inverted collar on the post would help. Snakes are another predator to consider. The extended roof would not help with them. 

    Greasing or tar on the top or post might help with both. Electric fence is an option. I am sure traps would help with the coon's if properly used. 

     the nest box is just one option to mimic and provide a near natural opportunity. Feel free to improve it as you have the time ability to do so.

[LeftFinger]

Raccoons are still listed as an invasive species so can be eliminated on sight
or as GAB puts it vaccinated