The best material for a bird house is wood. And the best wood is any type that is naturally decay resistant, such as cedar or redwood. Be sure to get wood that is at least 3/4 inches thick, which will ensure proper insulation for the young hatchlings. Painting or staining is not recommended. Depending on the colors you use, you might actually detract birds from your house, and you want to avoid adding any chemicals that might harm the hatchlings inside the house. Also, certain colors can draw in heat. If you do decide to paint, select lighter, natural colors and only treat the outside of the house.
For assembly, I recommend using decking screws. These have a coarse threading on them and are weather-proof, so they will last a long time. You can use nails, though they won’t be nearly as durable or sturdy as screws. Also, a good quality exterior wood glue will provide excellent strength, and, assuming the edges of your pieces are straight, will ensure that rain and wind are kept out of the house. Any gaps can be filled with a good quality silicone caulk. If you do have to resort to caulk, avoid getting any inside the house.
You will need access to the inside of the house. I recommend creating a roof that is removable. This is easy to do with a simple latch, one for each side of the roof. A simple hook and eyelet is fine, though I would recommend getting a hook that has a spring loaded clasp on it. The purpose of the clasp is to keep the hook hooked. You have to pull back the clasp in order to remove the hook. Easy for a human, difficult for a predator. The hooks will also make sure wind does not blow off the roof. Of course, for an open front house, this will not be necessary.
Don’t bother buying a dowel for the perch. Woodpeckers don’t install a perch after they’ve built their home, and neither should you. Birds don’t need the perch, but predators will find it very useful.
The amount of material you will need will, of course, depend on the specific bird house that you are building. But more about that in the construction and dimensions pages.
As for tools, you will need a saw (preferably a table saw) and a drill. A Forstner drill bit of the appropriate size for the entrance hole will be needed, as will a 1/4" bit for drilling drain and ventilation holes. If you are using screws, you will need to drill pilot holes for them, and a countersink bit may prove useful but is not necessary. Sandpaper will be useful for taking off any sharp edges from the house and entrance hole.
Building a bird house is really quite simple and fun, and is a great project to do with your kids. The next few articles will go into more detail about how to go about building the house.
