The Kentucky Bluebird Box
for the Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis |
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Directions
Tools and materials:
From the 1x6, cut 3 8-inch pieces for sides and roof. From the 1x4, cut
2 7-inch pieces for the front and back, and 1 4-inch piece for the
floor.
Assembly:
- Drill through side into the edge of the back and nail. Repeat the other
side.
- Put the floor in place against the back and inset one inch from the bottom.
Drill and nail into place.
- Drill the roof and nail into place, or fasten with drywall screws.
- Put the front into place so that its top edge is within 28-30mm (1 1/8) inch
of the roof. Drill through the side (1/2 inch above its lower edge) into the
edge of the front and nail. Repeat other side.
- Drive a finishing nail half way into the edge of a side and bend it over to
hold the front in place. It can be pushed aside to open the box.
- Check your entrance measurements. It must be at least 28mm at some point and
no more than 30mm at any point. Slight errors can be corrected by tapping with a
hammer.
- Drill holes in the sides or back, or both for wiring your box to a fence or
post or bolting it to a pipe.
Note: Bluebirds prefer a deeper (4 to 5-inch) box. If sparrows are a
problem, put in a piece of 2x4 to make box more shallow. Keep boxes low (4 to
5-feet), because sparrows prefer higher boxes. Always have at least two boxes
up; sparrows take the empty box, rather than evict the bluebirds.
Dr. Wayne H. Davis, Professor Emeritus, Biological Sciences, University of
Kentucky
