Build a birdbox

Step 1

You will need:
• Rough sawn, untreated timber, 150 mm wide x 1500 mm long x 15 mm thick
• Scrap rubber, such as an old inner tube from a bicycle tyre
• Galvanised 20 mm (¾") nails
• Carpentry saw, hammer , hand brace or drill (with 25 mm, 28 mm, or 32 mm diameter cutting bits), pencil and ruler, and scissors for cutting the rubber.

Step 2

Marking out

Mark out the pieces for the nestbox with a pencil and ruler to the dimensions shown below, and write the name of each piece onto the marked out wood. Where possible, try to ensure that the grain will run vertically in the finished box; this will help drainage.

Step 3

Cutting

• Saw the panels apart
• Front panel: decision time! Decide which type of nestbox you want to make:
Hole fronted tit box
Use a hand brace or drill to make a round entrance hole of:
25 mm diameter for blue tits
28 mm diameter for great tits
38 mm diameter for sparrows
Note: The entrance hole should be no less than 125 mm from the floor level

Open fronted robin box
Simply saw off 75 mm from the top of the front panel to make a ‘window’ entrance

Step 4

Nailing

• Start by nailing one of the sides onto the back plate through the back (as in the diagram); then nail on the floor (this can be quite tricky go carefully to avoid splitting the wood); then nail on the other side panel
• Nail all the other panels into place except for the roof panel
• Drill some small holes (1-2 mm diameter) into the floor panel to allow for drainage.

Step 5

The Roof

• Fix on the roof panel with a rubber flap hinge made from scrap rubber. This should cover the join between roof and back plate completely so as to be waterproof. Nail the rubber into the back plate first, then pull it tightly over the join and nail it onto the roof. The roof should open and close like a lid.

Step 6

Putting up your nestbox

• Bird boxes should be positioned 2-5 metres above the ground, out of direct sunlight, opening away from the prevailing wind, and tilted downwards slightly against rain.
• Fixing your nestbox with nails may damage the tree. It is better to attach it with wire around the trunk or branch. Use a piece of hose or section of car tyre around the wire to prevent damage to the tree. Remember that trees grow in girth as well as height, and check any fixing every two or three years.
• Avoid placing boxes too close to other birdboxes, bird tables or feeders to avoid any struggles over territory
• Try to make sure there is a clear flight path to the box and plenty of perching opportunities nearby, but not too close. Open fronted boxes benefit from being situated amongst cover such as climbers or shrubs.

Step 7

Maintaining your nestbox

• Clean out your birdbox once a year, 2- 3 weeks after nestlings have fledged (Oct-Nov) remove any old nests or bedding and wash out the box with warm soapy water. Do not use pesticides or flea powder
• Check to see that the box is still securely attached to its tree. As the tree grows, its girth will widen, which may force out the fixing nails. The nails may also start to rust. If you tied your nestbox to the tree, the bands will need to be loosened slightly each year
• Do not disturb your nestbox during the breeding season
• In spring, put out odds and ends which birds can use to build their nests, such as feathers, wool, string, moss, pet hair (but not cotton wool)
• In autumn after cleaning out your nestbox, put in some clean hay (not straw) or wood shavings for roosting birds and other wildlife