BirdBox Company
In BirdBox Compagny we want you to know how to make your own nestbox, because it couldn’t be simpler but is one of the best ways of having birds in your garden. This project uses simple tools : a single piece of wood, costing just a couple of pounds, cut into six sections. Make sure you site your nesting box high up enough for the birds being away from predators in a site where there’re strong sunlight and wind. A north-east facing spot is best.
Design
There is no standard, accurate design for a nestbox. Birds do not insist on their nest sites being mathematically precise! What they do require is a nest site which is secure and weatherproof. Different bird species favour different types and locations of nesting sites, and so boxes must be constructed accordingly to meet these different needs. Two basic designs however will accomodate most common garden birds; either a partly open-fronted box, or a box with a circular hole at the front (of varying diameter for different species).
Materials
Undoubtedly wood is the best material to use; new or old wood, rough or planed, softwood or hardwood – it is really not important. A thicknes of about 0.75 inches for their pieces of wood will be sufficient.
Manufactured board (plywood and chipboard) are not suitable for outdoor use (except for resin-bonded marine quality ply, which can be expensive), although they are perfectly acceptable for a Barn Owl box, placed under cover or in and old builing.
After construction, the outside only of the box should be treated with a water-based wood preservative product such as ‘Cuprinol’ or ‘Sadolin’, etc., (NOT creosote) for the birdox be weather resistant. If using planed timber, clear polyurethane may be used instead. All boxes should be treated annually in this way and allowed to dry thoroughly before being placed. A piece of roofing felt fixed to the roof will also make it stonger and render it more waterproof.