Guide on How to Make: Birdhouses for Eastern Bluebirds

Silver Award Project by Iniya A. & Mira G. Troop 61019

Materials:

• 1 untreated cedar or pine board (1" thick, about 6" wide, 6 ft long) Make sure that the wood is not pressure-treated and don’t paint/stain the inside

• Galvanized screws (1 ½ ")

• Predator guard (stovepipe baffle recommended) - 

• Metal pole to put the bird house high off the ground and away from predators- 

• Hinges for the roof so it can be cleaned out

• Tools: drills, saws, miter saw or handsaw, tape measures, screwdriver, mallet (something to put the pole into the ground)

Measurements:

1. Back: 5 ½" wide x 16 ½" long (The extra length at the top and bottom allows you to mount it to your metal pole).

2. Front: 5 ½" wide x 9" long (Drill a 1 ½" entry hole centered 6 ½" from the bottom).

3. Roof: 5 ½" wide x 10" long (Note: Since your board is 5 ½" wide, turn the piece so the extra length overhangs the front to shed rain).

4. Side pieces (Cut 2): 10 ¾" long at the back and 9" long at the front, by 5 ½" wide (This creates the slanted top edge to match the roof angle).

5. Floor: Trim this piece down to exactly 4" wide x 4" long (When tucked inside the ¾" thick side boards, this creates the perfect ¼" gaps on the sides for drainage).

Maintenance:

• To maintain a bluebird house, remove old nests immediately after fledglings leave and scrub the interior with a 10% bleach solution at the end of the breeding season. Additionally, inspect the structure every February to repair wood damage, tighten loose hardware, and clear out blocked drainage holes. 

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut wood according to measurements

• On the front piece, drill a perfect 1½ inch round hole. Center it horizontally, exactly 6 ½ inches up from the bottom of the piece. This extra half-inch is critical because it leaves enough safe space between the top of the hole and the roof line, keeping the hole away from predator reach and protecting the upper ventilation gap.

• Fledglings Grip: Take a utility knife or a saw blade and score deep, horizontal scratches into the inside face of the front piece below the hole. This acts as a ladder so the baby birds can climb out.

• Make sure the inside faces of all boards remain completely unpainted and unstained.

Step 2: Build the Box

• Lay the Back piece flat. Align Side 1 and Side 2 onto it, even with the side edges. Make sure the slanted tops of the sides slope downward toward the front before driving screws. Secure them from the rear using your 1 ½ " galvanized screws.

• Place the Floor piece between the two sides, about ¼ inch up from the very bottom (recessing it protects it from pooling rainwater). Push the floor piece all the way against the back board, which will leave the correct ¼ inch gaps on the other sides for drainage. Secure it through the sides with screws.

Step 3: Attach the Front and Roof

• Attach the Front Piece: Line up the front piece with the bottom of the sides. Secure it tightly by driving screws through the front panel straight into the side walls and the floor. This makes the main box solid and permanent.

• Attach the Roof: Center the Roof over the angled top of the box. Leave an overhang at the front to protect the entry hole from rain. Use your hinges to attach the roof to the back board so it can be opened and closed from the top.

• Ventilation Check: Leave a tiny ⅛ inch gap at the very top of the front panel right under the roof overhang to allow fresh air to circulate on hot summer days.

Step 4: Setting Up the Pole, Predator Guard & Installation

• If using the EMT Conduit Pipe, drive a piece of rebar or a smaller pipe 2 feet into the ground, then slide your 10-foot conduit right over it.

• If using the Steel T-Post, drive it at least 1.5 to 2 feet into the dirt with a sledgehammer.

• Slide your stovepipe baffle over the pole before you attach the birdhouse. Clamp a hose clamp tightly to the pole at about 4 feet high, sit your drilled end-cap on it, and snap the stovepipe around it. Let it wobble freely.

• Use heavy-duty zip ties, U-bolts, or plumbing straps to screw the exposed top and bottom parts of your Back piece directly to the top of your metal pole. With your 16 ½-inch back board and 10 ¾-inch side height, you will have about 5 ¾ inches of total wood sticking out at the top and bottom to attach to your pole.

• To attract bluebirds and protect their nest, you should mount a bluebird house 4 to 6 feet off the ground in an open, sunny area with short grass.

Step 5: Painting & Decorating

• Use an exterior, water-based, lead-free latex paint, in a dull, natural color like tan, gray, or dull green on the outside of the birdhouse only.

•  Never paint the inside, and avoid bright colors or dark shades that can harm or overheat the baby birds.