Robins, cardinals, blue jays and doves prefer nesting boxes to traditional birdhouses. Simple plans for a scrap wood nesting house here.
I think robins are the stupidest birds. They are endlessly flying in front of my car, dropping shit bombs as they panic. I just don’t understand this suicidal tendency unless it’s plain ole stupidity.
To further encourage/endorse my non-scientific based opinion, did you know that robins uses nesting houses? It’s a sort of birdhouse that doesn’t have the little circular opening, instead leaving a gaping hole for predators to just snatch eggs and babies without effort.
STUPID birds!!
But I still wish on the first one every Spring, so I need them to keep coming around.
Today I’m giving you plans for a super-simple scrap wood nesting house perfect for doves, jays, cardinals and (stupid) robins.
Scrap wood nesting house
- (1) ¾” x 12 ½” x 5 or 6″ board
- (1) ¾” x 12 ½” x 5 or 6″ board with the ends cut at a 30° angles – perpendicular to each other
- (1) ¾” x 12″ x 5 or 6″ board – again with perpendicular 30° angles on either end.
I’m still cleaning out my scrap bin, so my nesting house is made entirely from bits and pieces leftover from other projects. You’ll see I’m using more than one board for the sides and bottom and the back of my birdhouse is a quilt of bits and bobs… but I feel fairly confident the birds won’t care.
Using outdoor-appropriate wood glue, attach your 12 ½” side to the edge of the 12 ½” base board. I used a brad nailer to hold in place.
The remaining 12″ board should tuck neatly into place under the first angled board, and line up with the other side of the base board. Wood glue and finishing nails will hold it together nicely.
Lay out some scrap wood on your workbench to create a flat back. Place your triangle nesting box over the scrap and trace out where you’ll cut to get rid of the excess. It’s easiest to cut before attaching.
Attach the boards with wood glue and finishing nails.
You can see below that this scrap wood nesting house consists of about 5 different pieces of wood. 😂. It’s okay – we’re keeping wood out of the landfills and providing birds with a home – all’s good.
I used two other scrap boards to make a front – high enough to keep nesting materials and baby birds inside, but large enough that bigger birds like robins or doves to easily get in and out.
My second scrap wood birdhouse has a slightly smaller opening. I think chubby birds can still fit in easily, but I wanted to really make sure that babies don’t fall out.
I added a thin bead of caulking to the seam at the peak of the nesting house, gave it a light sanding, and then painted it in a predator-friendly blue. 😂. (It’s all I had other than hot pink or neon lime 🤷🏻♀️)
As a mom, I really appreciate the shape of these scrap wood nesting houses. I’ve seen other shapes and sizes and some pretty neat designs, but at the end of the day I know that I wouldn’t want to be trapped at home with 3-4 screaming kids in a small space.
Yes, I have heard it mentioned that I’m a bit anthropomorphic (ascribing human characteristics to non-human things). 😂
I hauled my butt up a 12′ ladder and hung them in the trees out front.
Don’t worry, the opening is over grass, not the road.
These are easily cleaned out – which you are supposed to do after each nest, but let’s be honest, I won’t.
High enough to give even the most determined cat a run for its money.
Even with the slightly conspicuous blue, the leaves should hide these scrap wood birdhouses pretty nicely.
Hung just in time to offer a bit of protection during SW Ontario’s traditional April snow. 🤦🏻♀️
The appearance of robins is supposed to signal Spring!?!
Stupid robins.
For a one board birdhouse DIY, click the highlighted text.
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Have a great one!