It is finished!!!!
Since I am a visual learner I thought it would be cool to videotape the building of a birdhouse. (You know those assembly instructions that come with media centers and some kids toys- they really should be in video format). That is why I did this.
Because my brothers and sister don’t share my interest in birds I couldn’t get them to volunteer to build this birdhouse for me(though my sister would have been great since she has a flair for the dramatic-as would have my daughter but she is only 3). So I volunteered for my own video. I would have loved to been able to wear a bag on my head to make it but its difficult to build a birdhouse that way. Alas the video needed to be made so I put aside my pride and viola you can now check it out online!!
I used one of my simple easy birdhouse plans in my nifty ebook and I go from explaining the supplies needed to the finished product. It is truly the nest box of all nest boxes!!
***If you want to see how a nest box is built before you build it youself just sign up for the newsletter/free birdhouse plans on the right side of the website and I will send you viewing instructions.
I did all of the work. My dad did the videotaping and he kept me in line when I started to freak out because I was actually making a video that would be posted on the internet-eeek. It is 20 minutes long- all of the drilling and sawing has been put on high speed so it looks a little funny. Feel free to laugh but don’t make fun of me =) Just remember this was done for the sake of the birds!!
Disclaimer: this is my first birdhouse!!! but I built the birdhouse to save the birds!!
So a couple of weeks ago I put my ebook of “FREE Easy Birdhouse Plans” to good use and used the Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, and House Wren nestbox plan and built myself a good looking birdhouse!!! What’s even more fun is we videotaped it!! So within the next week or so I will have that available on this site for download and you can watch me use the easiest birdhouse plans ever to build my first birdhouse.
Now I am not really the type of person that likes to watch myself do anything- as a photographer I li
ke being behind the camera but I am a visual learner and I know so many others are too- so I wanted to create something that would show you exactly what you need, how to use it, what it looks like when you
are building it and what you can expect when you are done!!! What that means for you and your kids is you can do it too!!!!
So here is how much it costs to build your own birdhouse!
*The beautiful peice(it was almost too nice to turn into a birdhouse) of pine wood was a 1″ X 6″ X 6′ so I had extra in case I messed up my measurements(which thankfully I didn’t) it cost $10.50
*I bought 150 brass screws for $7 of which I only used 18(plenty left over for more birdhouses =)) so actual cost for screws used: $0.90!!!
*I bought a pair of hinges to modify the plan from a side opening nestbox to a top opening they cost $3.25
I borrowed the drill and 3 bits, the saw, all my measuring tools, a workbench and the wood glue (Dads are a great resource so are neighbors!)
SOOOOO the total project cost $14.65!!!!!
Get ready to Build a birdhouse….Save a bird!
Finally you say!!!
I know you were wondering if it would ever happen- a website devoted to birdhouses and no birdhouse plans? Well that was yesterday and today I have 3 super duper easy birdhouse plans!!!! Just sign up on the right side of the screen and viola’ all instructions for building and enjoying the fruits of your labor are at your fingertips =)
I am pretty proud of my FREE “ebook” if you will. The birdhouse plans are unaltered and used with permission by the U.S. Geological Survey.
A quick rundown of what you will find included with these nifty birdhouse plans:
*Pages 2-3 include Materials needed to build a nest box, Tips on drainage and ventilation, How-to check the nest box, Tips on placement and preventing predators
*Pages 4-6 include 34 cavity nesting birds and the dimensions of their nest box or nesting platform
*Pages 7-8 includes the birdhouse plan for Black-capped Chickadees, House Wrens and White-breasted Nuthatches. I included a color picture of the birds as well as breeding range, specific nest box instructions(if any) and information on nesting behaviors(incubation, egg description, and fledging)
*Pages 9-10 includes the birdhouse plan for Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebirds as well as the birds’ specific information.
*Pages 11-12 includes the nesting shelf plan for the American Robin and Barn Swallow as well as the birds’ specific information.
*Pages 13-14 is an extra bonus- the plans for a Johnson Bat House. I included some important information about those plans and specifics about the Big and Little Brown Bat. (After reading up on these guys I should change my slogan to Got Bugs…Build a Bat house- they eat 3,000 to 7,000 bug a night!!!!)
These plans are easy enough you could do them with your kids(5 and older). They can measure, glue, drill and paint!!
I hope you enjoy the plans and the information!!!
Remember… Build a Birdhouse…Save a Bird!!!
I have been researching birdhouse options and have made my decision. To buy or build?
I will share my pros and cons list for both buying and building bird houses =)
To buy pros: *You can pick one out as a family, *No elbow grease necessary, * You can buy it and put it up all in the same day, *As a novice builder it might be easier to pick one out that looks exactly like you want(i.e. a birdhouse that matches your house), *You can buy it online
To buy cons: *Can be expensive, *Can be confusing (so many many many options), *You need to make sure it has drainage, ventilation, no perch etc.
To build pros: *Great family activity, *More affordable, *If you build it they will come =), * You feel satisfied when the work is done, *It is great stress relief, *You have control over whether the birdhouse is safe from the very beginning, *You can get the plans free on this website!!
To build cons: *You might have to buy or borrow some tools, * You will have to find the materials needed (Home Depot can be a big store when all you want is nails and a 4X10), *Elaborate fancy birdhouse plans might be difficult for novice birdhouse builders=)
Well my decision was to……. Build a birdhouse…to save a bird!
Was that really a surprise!! Watch for my birdhouse building video!! It should be uploaded within the next 2 weeks.
