For bird lovers, one easy to make project that can be placed in the back yard for bird watching enjoyment is a bird house. Often people will build more than one type of bird house so that different species of birds will be attracted to nest in the yard. There are many free bird house plans that can be obtained from different bird society websites as well as different nature lover sites and magazines. These bird house plans usually have step by step instructions for making a particular kind of bird house as well as instructions as to where to place the bird house to best attract a particular species of bird. There are some birds that use other bird’s nests for their own, so these birds are in particular need of bird houses since it makes it easier for them to find a place for their own nests. Bluebirds are one of these species and their population has been dying out since it is becoming harder for them to find a home in the growing suburban sprawl.

Materials and Placement Required For Bird House Plans

The bird house plans will usually be designed for a particular species of bird since there are different requirements for every type. There is some overlap; however, so one type of bird house plans might work for several different species of small birds while another type of plan might work for several species of larger birds. The wood for the bird houses should be something that will naturally deter insects from getting into it, such as cedar. In this way, the birds will not be deterred from nesting there because of the insect pests.

The bird house plans will also often have instructions about placing the bird house on top of a pole or other mounted area so that predators are not as easily able to get into the bird house. Cats, raccoons and squirrels will often climb trees to be able to get into the bird house and grab some eggs for a treat. If the bird house is placed on a pole, it is less easy for these creatures to access the home and get the eggs or baby birds. In addition, the bird house plans will also say how high to mount the bird house so that other predators cannot get into it but it can still be accessed by the person to see the development in the nest.

There are some bird house plans that will allow individuals to open the front of the box to see the nestlings within and watch the entire process of nesting from beginning to end. Some of these have a front that opens on hinges and has a plastic clear interior so that the nest is not disturbed but allows individuals to see within.

Finding out how to build a bluebird house is probably the easiest step in the process. Bluebird house placement and preparing the area for the bluebird house is the more important step and often takes more time the building the house itself. In addition to finding the instructions on how to build the bluebird house, there are choices in the styles of houses, since there are some decorative houses that will add an artistic flair to the yard as well as being a functional home for the bluebirds.

More Information On How to Build a Bluebird House

The reason that learning how to build a bluebird house is important is that bluebirds have to depend on other birds to build a home for them to use at a later date. These birds naturally use a woodpecker’s hole or a rotting tree to make their homes. However, with the new construction projects that are going on all the time, the land that they used to nest in is now devoid of these old trees or woodpeckers. This has caused the woodpeckers to die out and makes building artificial habitats for them to be even more imperative.

There is a specific size to follow when following the directions of how to build a bluebird house. The floor size is usually around five inches by five inches so that it is a small square. The height is usually about a foot tall and the entrance hole should be placed around eight inches from the floor. The entrance hole should be very small, just big enough to fit the bluebird through it. Usually the entrance hole is about one and a half inches in diameter. There is also a hole that is placed in the bottom of the box so that if any water gets into the box it can drain out. There should also be some ventilation holes near the top of the box so that there is proper air flow but the elements are not allowed to get in.

In order to help to protect the bluebirds, after learning how to build a bluebird house, the house should be placed on a pole or post so that it is out of reach of most predators. The problem with mounting the house on a tree is that cats, squirrels and other predators will often climb the tree branches and be able to reach into the box and disturb the mother and the eggs. By placing it on a bare pole, there is less likelihood that the predator will be able to get to the mother and eggs.

There are many environmental organizations that will put on summer camps and other experiences and workshops for children. These organizations will often look for a craft that the kids can do which will allow them to have a greater appreciation for nature as well as leave with a great product. Bird house kits for kids are often the craft of choice since it is a simple activity for the children to complete in addition to allowing the children to hang it and experience all of the birds in their environment when they get home.

Non Profit Organization Provide Bird House Kit for Kids

Different non-profit organizations that organize camps like this can often find deals on the bird house kits for kids. Usually, the more the wooden bird house kits that are ordered, the cheaper the kits are for the organization to buy. Often the company that produces the bird houses will give a larger discount when an organization buys more kits, such as giving five percent off if less than twenty are ordered, but giving twenty percent off if one to two hundred kits are ordered.

These bird house kits for kids will use simple materials that are easy to assemble with a minimum of tools. The younger the children that will be completing the kit, the more simple the supplies included in the kit. Usually the only tools that are required to put together the bird house kits for kids are a hammer and a screw driver. This allows children of all ages over seven to complete the kits with a minimum of supervision and help.

There are some kits that can be used with older children that have taken some woodworking classes. These kits will often have more detailed instructions and will create a more decorative bird house when the kit is put together. There are also some bird house kits for kids that are made especially for a certain type of bird, such as a bluebird house. These houses are made a certain size and depth which is attractive to the bluebirds so that they will want to nest there. These sizes and depths will also help to keep out other birds that might want to steal the nesting area as is the case with bluebirds and sparrows. There are also some bird house kits for kids that have a lip at the bottom of it which makes it difficult for a predator to climb over it to get the mother bird and eggs.

Bird lovers often want to help to attract more types of bird species to their yards. To do this, they will often plant different flowers and trees that the birds love to make a mini-sanctuary that they are attracted to come and nest in. In addition, they will often find free bird house plans so that they can build homes for the birds. This allows them to be able to view the natural nesting patterns for the birds from beginning to end. Often these plans will have a opening front of the bird house so that the individual can open it and see the progress within without disturbing the nest and eggs inside. These free bird house plans can be found on different internet sites, especially the birding clubs and societies’ websites. They can also be found in different magazines and books in the library for individuals to use.

Specialized Houses Under Free Bird House Plans

There are some individuals that want to attract a particular type of bird to their yards and will look for specialized bird house plans, such as for the bluebird. These free bird house plans are specifically designed for the needs of this species of bird which needs the help on individuals to continue to survive. Since the bluebird uses the nests of other birds such as the woodpecker, with the development of urban and suburban communities, these birds are having a more difficult time in finding homes. As such, their population is declining. Individuals who want to help with this problem have been finding free bird house plans or have been buying premade bird houses so that these birds can come and nest in their yards.

The free bird house plans for bluebirds require that the house be mounted on a pole or post so that predators are less likely to be able to get the eggs or nesting mother. There are cats, snakes and raccoons that will climb trees to get into the nests, so having the bird house on a pole instead can help to deter these animals. The house should also be placed at least four feet above the ground to also deter larger predators from getting into the nest. Free bird house plans will also tell individuals how to make the front of the house hinged so that they can open it up without disturbing the nest to see the progress inside. They will also specify how large to make the opening to the bird house and how to make the drainage in the floor of the house to prevent molding or water buildup.