How to build a birdhouse

In the wild, birds naturally nest in the nooks and cavities of trees. But if you live in an urban environment, you can entice them to your backyard with a well-designed, properly positioned birdhouse.

First, you need to do some homework. Determine which species you're likely to find in your area by flipping through a birding field guide, or check out fact sheets for common Canadian residents on the Hinterland Who's Who site.

Of the three species of bluebird found in Canada, the Eastern bluebird ranges from Manitoba to the Maritimes while the Western and Mountain varieties are found west of Saskatchewan and as far north as the Yukon.

The right entrance for the right bird
Whether your build or buy a birdhouse, you should consider the right inhabitants for the right home. "There is no 'one size fits all,'" says Birds Studies Canada (BSC) biologist Jody Allair. "The aspect that really determines what species are going to use it is the diameter of the entrance hole."As with many species of smaller songbirds, bluebirds prefer a hole about 1- 1/2" in diameter: anything larger and they won't feel secure enough to make it their home.

In addition to species-appropriate sizing, a good birdhouse should keep predators out (including kids and pets), allow access for a spring and fall cleaning, and have drainage holes in the floor.

What you'll need to build a birdhouse
Building your own birdhouse can be a fun, family-friendly activity. Other than the appropriate sized drill bit for making the entrance hole and a table saw or mitre box to cut some angles, you can build one with basic hand tools and materials. There are free step-by-step illustrated plans on dozens of websites, including the North American Bluebird Society (NABS) and canadianhomeworkshop.com.

Basically, you're constructing a 4"-wide by 4"-deep box with a roof that slopes from back to front. (For larger birds, like wood ducks, the dimensions will be up to 10" x 12".) Solid pine and cedar are weather-resistant options that won't leach or off-gas chemicals, like pressure-treated lumber or plywood can. Fasten the parts with corrosion-resistant galvanized or stainless steel screws.

Click to continue for tips on where to put your birdhouse...

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Where to put your birdhouse
Generally, birdhouses should:

-be mounted eight feet or higher from the ground
-have an opening that faces away from prevailing winds
-look out over as wide open an area as possible

If your hobbyists' skill-set is more bird-watcher than box-builder, you can always buy a readymade birdhouse, such as the NABS-approved eastern bluebird box and 17 other BSC-endorsed models from Quebec-based Junco Technologies.