Making a bird house - but which one!

[redefined_cycles]

Hi you lot. Just wanted to pick the brains of those that frequent the wildlife thread. Regards what birdhouse I should build to increase likelihood of uptake. Will try to get it up ASAP.

The wood will be from the conifer just last year that was felled (commissioned) by myself. Before it ruined the walls of my house and the nighebours. Cover of foliage isn't the very best where I plan to put it up. It's basically where the old satellite was and hopefully reuse them holes.

I want, whatever to take it up as a nest. A kestrel would be vaguely exciting, but I understand that's probably a bit too much to plan/hope for. But, the bird book I downloaded does state that they look for nesting homes in April, so I may just manage!!

Any thoughts and ideas pls!

[Boab]

https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/ ... -a-birdbox

[redefined_cycles]

https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/ ... -a-birdbox

Very true Bob. But then that would reduce the point of this thread. Maybe one just wants simple conversation about what birdhouse and where, rather

[redefined_cycles]

This is the pdf guide I'm using but it's rather wordy. Just getting real life exp of what I should maybe go for here in sunny West Yorkshire and then I can just go directly to a design of a birdhouse of that size/design etc.

https://www.bto.org/how-you-can-help/pr ... g-nest-box

The pdf file is free and a few steps down. Not trying to be different by not using the RSPB one

[redefined_cycles]

https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/ ... -a-birdbox

Ooh, that is a rather interesting read/find. I'll enjoy reading that thanks Bob and it fills me with a wonderful sense of 'being useful'. Already pictured in my head another spot for maybe a second home behind the shed, on it's wall.

[Bearbonesnorm]

How about an owl box Shaf?

[redefined_cycles]

How about an owl box Shaf?

Yes Stu. This is the type of input I wanted. But, I'm just weary that surely an owl wouldn't take to the back of my house. Even though it is quiet round the back and I've kept everything green on both sides of the house etc.

If you or anyone can advise as to how to make this happen, I'd be so happy and grateful. The amount if wood I have is phenomenal and all unprocessed (conifer, been dried about 14 months now and a sycamore tree that some lumberjacks kindly let me have when I was cycling to work).

The only thing getting in the way of me processing said wood/trees is the wife and her stupid 'plaster the ceiling' stuff. Some people just have their priorities wrong

[redefined_cycles]

Some of the wood I'm processing (trying to process on a tight budget) and where it will go. Plenty more of that conifer that is much easier to cut down as it's more wet/green and smaller lumps.

It will hopefully go up on that there wall above our window.











Before anyone warns me about using a circular saw to process such a massive log, don't worry. It was all experimentational, shallow and uber-careful. Generally doing everything by hand or/and with wedges. Would have bought a foe, but seems excessive for something I'll only ever do once. It'll be an Iles Foes if I do.

[redefined_cycles]

This suggests that (in my understanding) I can probably create some sort of a hybrid system where the satellite dish was. Something that allows the birds to come in via the bottom and enough interior space to make a cosy living area.

Maybe I'm overthinking it and should remain small enough for my boots!

https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-ow ... -projects/

[fatbikephil]

I think a normal birdbox for tweety birds would be better there. Would be pretty unlikely to attract a barn owl, given the urban-ness of it all, whereas you'd definitely get blue tits etc. in a normal box.

Good work on the log splitting

[Hyppy]

Shaf, how about chiseling out the innards of a section left whole like a real deep bowl, cutting a thinner section to make a roof, then just drilling a hole for birds to use to get in and out?

Edit: it may be easier to split a section and hollow out each half like a canoe before adding a slice as top and bottom.

Screenshot 2025-04-24 at 13.27.04.png (203.4 KiB) Viewed 931 times

[redefined_cycles]

Shaf, how about chiseling out the innards of a section left whole like a real deep bowl, cutting a thinner section to make a roof, then just drilling a hole for birds to use to get in and out?

Edit: it may be easier to split a section and hollow out each half like a canoe before adding a slice as top and bottom.

Screenshot 2025-04-24 at 13.27.04.png

Do you realise how long this would take me with my primitive tools and (even) the Mafell jigsaw. Good news is that I'm now the owner of 4 x stanley type hand planes, a diamond sharpening system and today a used Festool one hand planer arrives.

So whatever I build, the bird will know that it's as smooth as a babies bottom, or thereabouts. Regards owls Phil, there is definitely owls close by as we hear them sometimes. Just a matter of attracting them might be tough. Though at least whenever I look up at this mansion of a owl box it'll fill me with the warmth...

Right, off to Screfix to get my second green-wood cutting saw. Last one started to come apart but had a 10 year warranty. Spear and Jackson, lots and lots of sawing awaits (and maybe some slits with the Mafell.

[redefined_cycles]

Very interesting owl box vid... https://youtu.be/zr8qLyAFl_k?si=GxkyHWnDhFdXal-L

[fatbikephil]

Hmm interesting that Shaff.

Regards owls Phil, there is definitely owls close by as we hear them sometimes. Just a matter of attracting them might be tough. Though at least whenever I look up at this mansion of a owl box it'll fill me with the warmth...

Are you going for the deluxe version then?

[redefined_cycles]

Hmm interesting that Shaff.

Regards owls Phil, there is definitely owls close by as we hear them sometimes. Just a matter of attracting them might be tough. Though at least whenever I look up at this mansion of a owl box it'll fill me with the warmth...

Are you going for the deluxe version then?

After lots of lugging and research (which pointed me to that YT link) I realised I needed to make a house within a house (as I have no barn to make a hole into.

Problem is, even with the link, there were no actual drawings of what they meant about a house in a house

Rather than erect a tree box on an outside wall, it’s much better to create an entrance hole and erect a modified interior nestbox on the inside (up against that hole) if owls cannot be given access to the building interior.

taken from Barnowltrust.org.uk. Which means such silly engineering is for stupid people or so they think!

[HUX]

A swift or swallow nest box would be my choice.

[whitestone]

I'd see what species you have flying around locally and then see what is required for those. Chances are you'd be making boxes for tits and finches.

Swifts have somewhat specific requirements, I'm sure I've seen someone who makes swift boxes as a hobby/passion. Swallows want a shelf in a shed or similar building - a 6x6 bit of plywood with a support up towards the roof is about the sum of it - so long as there's an open door or window they'll be fine.

[redefined_cycles]

A swift or swallow nest box would be my choice.

Swift, is a good shout Hux. But sadly I'm, one - afraid of heights so getting up to about 5m top screw it in would do me over and two, I'd have to commission a proper ladder to get up there. I reckon I could easily get up to about 3m without too much issues.

I like the idea though and will look into it a bit more.

[redefined_cycles]

I'd see what species you have flying around locally and then see what is required for those. Chances are you'd be making boxes for tits and finches.

Swifts have somewhat specific requirements, I'm sure I've seen someone who makes swift boxes as a hobby/passion. Swallows want a shelf in a shed or similar building - a 6x6 bit of plywood with a support up towards the roof is about the sum of it - so long as there's an open door or window they'll be fine.

Zebra finches were everywhere in the nighebours garden when she used to be on the feeding regimen. Sadly our garden isn't as sheltered. She has a bird box up but not sure if I've ever seen any come in or out from the past 10 years!

[redefined_cycles]

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L12647587/rec ... ts?yr=curM

Apparently there's a Eurasian Kestrel being spotted within half a mile from mine. Just one though it seems but on many days