Bluebird House Plans For Mountain, Western And Eastern Bluebirds

There are several kinds of bluebird house plans that you can use to build a nest box

. Depending upon where you live, you will be building a house for either an Eastern Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird or Western Bluebird. Or, where the ranges overlap with Eastern Bluebirds, you can build a bluebird house that will accommodate both species.

The basic bluebird house design can be made from one 1"x6"x4' and one 1"x10"x10.5" piece of untreated and unpainted wood. From these two boards, you will make cuts for the roof, floor, two sides and the front and back panels. Several different bird house designs for bluebirds include the Gilbertson, Peterson, Carl Little and Dandr nest box plans.

One major difference between making a bird house for Eastern Bluebirds versus one for Mountain or Western Bluebirds is the entrance hole size. For the former, you want your hole diameter to be either a 1/2 inch round hole or a 1 3/8 x 2 1/4 inch vertical oval hole whereas the Western or Mountain Bluebird requires a slightly larger round hole size of 1 9/16 inches or use the same vertical oval size as Eastern. Where the ranges overlap between Eastern Bluebirds and either Mountain or Western Bluebirds, make your hole size 9/16" so either species can use it, unless you only want Eastern Bluebirds. Your hole should be drilled 6.5 inches from the bottom of the front wall so that it is high enough to keep predators from easily reaching inside and harming the eggs or nestlings.

After making your all your cuts, you will then use galvanized nails to put it together. Do not use nails that are not intended for outdoor use and will rust. One side door will have two nails attached at the top through the front and back walls so that it can pivot for opening and closing the door for nest monitoring and cleaning. You will also want to make some kind of latch at the bottom of this door so that it can be secured and not easily opened.

Make small cuts on all four corners of the floor to act as drainage holes. The back wall will be taller than the front wall so that the roof slants to also provide for drainage along with a slight overhang. You will also attach the side walls to the front and back panels so that there is a 1/4 inch space at the top for ventilation.

Now it is time to install your bluebird house. You should mount your nest box on an eight foot, 0.75 inch diameter galvanized pipe, with the entrance hole five feet off the ground. Mount the box away from prevailing winds and/or the hot midday sun. Also install a predator guard to keep snakes, raccoons and other predators from harming eggs, nestlings or even parents. Install, just under the box, either install a two to four foot long, eight inch diameter stovepipe or a PVC pipe sleeve on the pole, so it loosely shakes and keeps predators away.

Choose the right bluebird house plans and follow these guidelines for material use, placement and predator prevention and soon you will be enjoying the bluebird life cycle in your backyard too.

by: Taylor Turnstone

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