Similarly, predators such as cats and raccoons can more easily reach through larger holes. No. This article received 17 testimonials and 92% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. You can get metal rings in most building supply stores from the plumbing or hardware dept. Leave the house unpainted or choose a light tan, natural shade. Hold each screw perpendicular to the wood and firmly but carefully drive them into the side pieces. If you use a urethane-based glue, such as Gorilla glue, be sure to secure the joints with screws before it dries. Hole guards to make a 1 9/16" hole are hard to come by, but … If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. She has over 16 years experience writing about wild birds for magazines and websites. If you decide to install bluebird houses in pairs next to each other, keep them 5 to 25 feet (1.5 to 7.6 m) apart. They will nest in backyard houses as well, provided there is sufficient open space for foraging and nearby perches to use. Size Is Important! The finest box in the world will not attract birds if you do not locate it properly. It is easy to use the proper dimensions when building a birdhouse, but birders who prefer to purchase birdhouses should carefully measure first to be sure the size and proportions are ideal for bluebirds. The entire nesting box can be constructed from a one-by-six inch board roughly 5-feet long. any hole that a bluebird can, and will chase away or kill bluebirds. Yes. Baffles are essential on poles or posts to deter birdhouse predators, and further protect both the adults and nestlings. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. "I bought a bluebird house at Lowe's. Bluebirds may also be subject to brood parasitism from brown-headed cowbirds, and young cowbird chicks can smother bluebird hatchlings and keep them from getting sufficient food and care. The entrance hole must be large enough for the bluebird to enter, yet small enough to keep out the larger sparrows and starlings. Proper habitat is critical, and open woodlands and forest edges along golf courses, in parks, near pastures, or adjacent to farmlands are ideal places to encourage nesting bluebirds. Get creative! Paint the birdhouse in bright colors or your favorite design. House sparrows look for homes with 1 3/16- to 2-inch openings. These also create a countersink, which is the indentation that the screw head sits in. Other locations suitable for bluebird houses are cemeteries, golf courses, new sub-divisions, and farmsteads. For mountain bluebirds, create a 1.5625 inch (3.969 cm) hole. Once a house is mounted, it should be inspected regularly but can be left out year-round for roosting birds. Bluebirds are highly desirable backyard residents with their attractive plumage, insectivorous diets, and melodious songs. That vegetation will provide convenient foraging for adults, and it is a safe and reachable escape for fledglings when they first leave the nest. 1-inch to 1 1/2-inch Entrance Holes Many wild birds prefer entrance holes that range between 1 and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. One front piece 5 in (13 cm) wide and 10.75 in (27.3 cm) tall. One bottom piece 5 in (13 cm) long and wide. Double checking the layout may save on materials. Add a metal ring to the hole on the outside. ", "Instructions were easy to use and understand. Be sure that the side pieces are perfectly perpendicular to the back piece before holding them in place onto the glue. The Eastern Bluebird, also known as Sialia sialis, is a member of the thrush family. It gives a place for predators to sit on or get inside the nest. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Clean out the old nest after the first brood. It’s also crucial making the appropriate size hole to exclude undesirable bird species. No birdhouses should have perches. Mountain and Western Bluebirds need a 1 9/16" hole, and EABL like that size too.) wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Avoid nearby insecticide use and consider offering mealworms or suet (crumbles, shreds or other small chunks) for adults to use as a. To build a bluebird house, start by cutting a 1-inch thick piece of wood into 6 pieces so you have 2 sides, 1 front and 1 bottom piece, 1 back piece, and 1 piece for the roof. European starlings and house sparrows, both invasive species, will easily usurp nesting cavities, evicting and even injuring or killing bluebirds in the process. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If you have the money, purchase 2 drills to avoid switching drill bits. ", "Very good pictures of the steps to take.". To learn how to install your bluebird house after you build it, scroll down! Use a ruler to draw a cutline from one 12.25 inch (31.1 cm) side to the opposing side 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) downward. If the hole is too small, bluebirds cannot enter the nest box. Young birds typically leave about 11 days after their eggs hatch. Melissa Mayntz has been a birder and wild bird enthusiast for 30+ years. If not, try going to a woodworker or figuring it out yourself. During the summer, bluebirds feed mainly on insects. Bluebirds can be wary and may take a few seasons to become accustomed to a house and choose it for a nesting site. Where can I get a drill to make the hole? We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. ", "Placement, plans, and hole size/where to put it! This will help keep the rain out of the interior. How do I open the birdhouse to clean it if the entire house is glued and screwed together? ", "It is always helpful to glean information from another's experience. It is larger than a sparrow but smaller than a blue jay and can be found everywhere from Canada to the Gulf States and East of the Rockies. One back piece 5 in (13 cm) wide and 15 in (38 cm) long. Remember that the birds may nest two or three times in a season. For more details, see our. One of the most critical elements of a bluebird nest box is the size of the entrance hole. Thanks!". In the winter, they depend on wild berries. If you're not sure where to go, try googling "hardware store near me.". You can rent or buy drills from places like Home Depot, or other hardware stores around you. ", "Knowing the material you need was helpful. Keep children and pets out of the workshop while creating the birdhouse. Even a perfectly sized house will be of little use if bluebirds don't like where it is positioned. Bluebirds are some of the most desirable cavity-nesting backyard birds, but they need a safe, attractive place to nest. Finally, assemble all of the pieces using heavy-duty glue and screws. The hole size for a bluebird house plan differs as compared to a birdhouse for chickadees. With the right bluebird house positioned properly to attract tenants, any birder can become a bluebird landlord. You should do 2-3, spaced out. If no bluebirds are showing an interest in your house, there are several steps you can take to encourage them to take up residence. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.