How to Build a Birdhouse for Your Garden Visitors
Building a birdhouse is a fun and rewarding project that adds a bit of nature to your backyard while giving birds a safe place to nest.

Birds are wonderful garden visitors; they’re interesting to watch and pleasant to listen to. Many people put up birdhouses to attract birds and help raise their young.
In this guide, we’ll go over the steps to build a birdhouse, the tools and materials you’ll need, and different design ideas, discusses important considerations when choosing a design and why birdhouses matter.
Steps to Build a Birdhouse for Your Garden Visitors

These are the steps to build a birdhouse for your garden visitors;
1. Pick the Right Spot: First, choose a sheltered site in your garden where the birdhouse will be safe. For extra security, you could always attach it to a fence post. Always make sure to wear eye protection while handling any tools.
2. Measure the Wood: Mark out six pieces of wood-four for the walls, one for the floor, and the other for the roof.
3. Cut the Pieces: Carefully saw the wood into those pieces, ensuring each is the proper size and shape. By the end, there will be six pieces ready for assembly.
4. Assemble the Birdhouse: Assemble the parts together with wood glue and screws. A power drill may be needed for this operation to make sure that they attach properly.
5. Make the Entrance & Perch: Using a coping saw, cut a round entrance hole in the front. If you have any wood leftover, you can make a small perch below the entrance hole.
6. Install & Paint: Fix the birdhouse at a reasonable height for yourself and the birds to see it best. Nails must be strong.
To finish up, paint the birdhouse the color you like to have this brightening effect on your garden.
Tools and Supplies for Building a Birdhouse

The required tools and supplies are;
1. Wood-is-1 × 6 poplar wood for the main structure of the birdhouse
2. Nails-1 1/4″ stainless steel nails are used to put together the house and the roof.
3. Copper Flashing-Used for the roof.
4. Worx Maker X–A multi-tool that comes with accessories for cutting and finishing.
5. Compound Miter-Saw-For accurate cuts on wood.
6. Dowel–Used for the perch.
7. Wood spade bit (1″)-To drill a hole for entering.
8. Hammer-used to drive in nails.
9. Measuring Tape-To ensure proper measurements of the wood.
10. Framing Square-To ensure cuts are straight and equal.
11. Paint-to decorate the birdhouse.
Different Bird House Ideas to Choose
Some of the best house ideas to choose from are;
1. Stick to Classic Birdhouse

A wooden birdhouse will be just fine in your backyard. The generated bird calls will bring wrens, bluebirds, and purple martins to your garden.
That’s why, the best material is wood, and, if possible, rough, unfinished wood is preferable as it helps the birds hold on to it.
2. Open Nest Box for Blue Jays and Robins

Unlike usual houses, which have a small entrance hole, open nest boxes are open in front. Birds prefer blue jays, robins, and doves.
For these boxes, putting them in a safe, sheltered spot is crucial, as they are very exposed.
3. Use Metal Plate in Protecting Birdhouses

Install the birdhouse in a place that is hard to see, if not completely shaded-such as under a tree branch or a hedge-so as to provide some protection for the birds from predators.
It should also be away from strong winds and direct sunlight, if temperature is to be stabilized.
A further method of preventing entry by larger animals would be to surround the entrance hole with a metal plate to deter such attempts.
4. For Swifts, a Nesting Brick Would Be Good

The swift is under threat as a result of a fall in nesting sites. As swifts return to the same nest each year, they are not good candidates for a traditional birdhouse.
A special swift nest box could be installed in the eaves of your house or shed, preferably at least 16 feet (5 meters) off the ground.
5. Consider Nesting Pockets

Instead of wooden birdhouses, some birds prefer nesting pockets or roosting pouches, which are made from woven plant fibers.
These small shelters protect birds from cold, wind, rain, and predators. While they are mostly used for resting, some birds may build their nests in them too.
6. Try a Hanging Birdhouse

Hanging birdhouses are a great alternative to fixed ones. Instead of being mounted on a post or tree, they hang from a branch or bracket.
They offer better protection from predators and stay cooler in the shade. Since they’re higher up, fledglings (baby birds) can fly straight into the trees without landing on the ground first.
7. Create a Cup-Shaped Nest for Swallows

Swallows build cup-shaped nests using mud and grass, attaching them to the eaves of barns, sheds, or cliffs. However, modern buildings have fewer entry points, and drier springs make it harder for them to find mud.
This means they use more energy building nests, making survival difficult. You can help by placing artificial swallow nests under eaves or sheltered areas to give them a safe place to raise their young.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Birdhouse Design
Some of the factors to consider when choosing a birdhouse design are;
1. Add Your Personal Touch
Paint your birdhouse to give it some character. Whether you go for bright colors or natural tones, a little paint can make it look more inviting and add charm to your garden.
2. Pick the Right Spot
Place the birdhouse in a safe, sheltered area, away from predators and direct sunlight. This keeps it comfortable for the birds.
3. Use the Right Materials
Stick to sturdy materials like wood, nails, screws, and waterproof glue. Make sure you have the right tools, such as a saw, power drill, measuring tape, and safety gear.
4. Choose the Best Design
Different birds prefer different house styles. Ensure the entrance hole is the right size for the birds in your area.
For example, bluebirds need a 1.5-inch hole, while chickadees prefer a 1.25-inch opening. A well-designed birdhouse will attract the right birds and keep them safe.
Why Birdhouse is Important?

The reasons why birdhouses are important;
1. Shelter from the Cold: In the coldest winter nights, birds lose much heat through their feathers. A well-placed birdhouse can provide them a warm and safe place to stay.
2. Nesting Sites: Birds start nesting during winter, and enclosing birdhouses are also available in your garden to invite them, offering a safe place to raise their young when the time comes.
3. Protection from Predators: In winter, birds are more vulnerable to being hunted and eaten by predators. Often very hungry, cameras will not wait for birds to get their munches. A birdhouse can offer some safety from any threats that can crop up quite unexpectedly.
4. Access to Food: With the ground largely covered with snow, it becomes tough for birds to look for food. Birdhouses afford a safe place for the birds, at the same time becoming food-storing places for them.
Making birdhouses is some simple fun activity about the house in providing birds’ shelter to be outdoorsy.
With a fair idea of how to make a birdhouse and a good set of materials, including untreated cedar or pine, you can build a birdhouse to attract different designs with more elegance in your garden.
Ensure you include proper ventilation and drainage holes to keep them disease-free.