Build it yourself now
Winter is a good time for Backyard
Wildlife Sanctuary carpentry projects.
You don’t have
to be a carpenter or woodworker to create something to help wildlife in
your backyard. Simple patterns and easy directions for building nest boxes,
nest platforms, roost boxes, and feeders for everything from bats to flying
squirrels to woodpeckers are available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/backyard/
.
The following
plan is for a Basic Songbird Nest Box:
| Materials |
 |
One
1x6" x 6' rough cedar board |
|
Eighteen
1-1/4” outdoor wood screws or # 7 galvanized
nails |
|
Wire
to keep side door shut |
|
|
Click
to enlarge
|
Click
to Enlarge
 |
Pivot
screws work as hinges. To allow the side to open easily,
the two pivot screws need to be level |
| |
Loop
wire around nails |
 |
Holes
for attaching box to a tree or post with nails, lag bolts, or
wire. |
| Exact
Entry Hole Dimensions |
| |
Chickadees
1inch to 1 1/8" * |
| |
House
wrens 1 1/8" * |
| |
Violet-green
swallows 1¼" * |
| |
Tree
swallows 1¼" |
| |
Nuthatches
1¼" * |
| |
Bluebirds
1½" |
| *
See Optional Entry Hole |
|
|
|
Assembly
Sequence
| *
Optional Entry Hole
NOTE:
This diamond-shaped entry hole is designed to prevent access
by house sparrows. To work properly, it is extremely important
that the final entry hole be made to these dimensions. To
accommodate Violet-green Swallows, file down the area
inside of the entry hole, as shown in the side view. |
Click
to enlarge
|
|
|
