Probably, the fathers and grandfathers of many of us in our childhood made birdhouses. And today, on many trees, these small wooden houses are installed in which the birds find shelter. Making a birdhouse with your own hands, the dimensions of which are very small, is very simple, and you do not need to stock up on a large number of materials or tools.
The origins of tradition
Attempts to provide birds with housing have been undertaken by man since ancient times. For example, in India, where all animals are humanely treated, bottle gourds were hung for starlings , which were specially grown. In Europe, the first to tame birds began in the Netherlands, but actually birdhouses actually first appeared in Russia. They were created from wood and at the same time were so interestingly designed that they could well pass for a work of art. The original tower with carved decorations and a gable roof looked very bright, and it was very difficult to create them. This indicates a great love of people for birds and their work. Today, birdhouses are not made so often, but still in many cities and villages they can be found.
Cooking accessories
It is imperative that children be introduced to wildlife so that every child from childhood develops harmoniously and correctly. It’s worth starting with arranging the environment, for example, making a bird house. The size of the birdhouse is such that it does not take a lot of time and special skills to make it. So, we need to find and prepare:
- edged board with a length of one meter, a thickness of 18-25 mm and a width of 200 mm;
- a board for the sides of the house 800 mm long and 150 mm wide;
- nails or screws,
- tools (hammer or screwdriver, pencil, hacksaw, drill).
In general, the size of the birdhouse can vary depending on what parameters the board that you have on hand has.
We make a drawing
As you know, in any construction process an important role is played by a plan or project. In our case, we will draw up a simple drawing in which we outline the details of the future house. Already at this stage we will need the exact dimensions of the birdhouse so that the boards fit well together. After the drawing is ready, transfer it directly to the material using a square and a simple pencil. All details should be marked out carefully and carefully, otherwise in the end the walls simply will not converge. We get seven blanks with the parameters that we ourselves set: two side walls, two for creating the bottom and bottom of the roof, three more will serve as the facade and the back wall with the lid of the house.
We cut and proceed to installation
So, the drawing is transferred to the board, now you need to carefully cut out the details and be sure to sign them so as not to get confused. Before you build a birdhouse, you need to double-check the dimensions again - suddenly, some part is completed with errors. It is important to leave the exterior and interior of the house rough so that the birds can cling to them with their claws and move around. On a smooth board, it is recommended to make notches for the convenience of birds. As a rule, the typical sizes of a birdhouse are as follows: width - 20 cm, height - 30 cm, depth - 15-20 cm.
Check seven times ...
Before proceeding with the installation, it is worth checking carefully all the details. They must be tightly connected to each other - this is the main thing. Now we take the middle wall of the house and saw out a round hole in it. To do this, indent from the top edge at least 5 cm. Draw two lines perpendicular to each other - the intersection point of these lines will become the place for the flight hole, which we will drill.
Practice: how to make a birdhouse
We checked the dimensions, prepared the parts and tools. Now is the time to start assembling. First, we fix the right side wall and the front, then the left wall and the back. We connect the corner parts, fasten them together. We connect the bottom using self-tapping screws. Now it's time to make the lid out of two parts, and you need to assemble it so that at least a 5 cm visor remains over the hole. We need the lid in order to at least occasionally clean the inside of the house. Birdhouse is ready! It remains to hang it. Ornithologists recommend hanging these houses in quiet and sparsely populated places. It is best to mount them on a special wooden stand, which will connect the birdhouse and the tree trunk, using wire. You should not use nails so as not to damage the bark of the tree.
On the whole, the size of the birdhouse for starlings is such that other small birds can fit into them. Do not make the flight hole too large, otherwise, for example, cats can get into it. In addition, it should be made round in order not to accidentally injure birds. Do not paint the finished structure, as pungent odors can scare them away.
A simpler version of the birdhouse
It is not always possible to make a birdhouse out of wood, especially in urban settings. That is why we offer another option - to use a plastic bottle with a volume of 1.5-2 liters. In the lower part we cut a hole about 5-7 cm in size, while its edges should be glued with a plaster or melted so that the birds do not get injured. Ideally, you need to cover the bottle, for example, with an opaque duct tape or paint, the main thing is that it is odorless.
How to care for a birdhouse?
To begin with, it is worth remembering that you need to hang it on deciduous trees with a slight slope forward - this will protect the house from water entering it. You can hang them at any time of the year, but it is best in March-April, when the birds return from the south. Entrance is directed to the south or east side to protect the house from the wind. In autumn and winter, birdhouses need to be removed, dirt, branches, feathers, food debris removed from them, because otherwise parasites can multiply there. And this is dangerous not only for birds. It is for this that the cover is made removable.
Installation of a birdhouse is not only a real help for birds, but also an opportunity to accustom your children to a careful attitude to nature and living beings. In addition, in this way you can decorate your garden or vegetable garden and enjoy the singing and twittering of bird families.