Installing a nest box now can pay big dividends next summer. This Eastern Bluebird family was photographed after fledging by Russell Niemi. A Bluebird House Kit from BestNest provides a ready to assemble parts and hardware to build a birdhouse.

It’s November already, which means the holiday season will begin in just a couple weeks. Whether you have family visiting or young birders in your home who will have some extra time away from school, it’s a great time to share a project with them – like building a birdhouse. It’s easy and it’s a traditional project to share with a young person during an hour or so that will provide a memorable time together – and a useful nest box will benefit cavity nesting birds. There are a few ways you can make the process easier, and a bit quicker, or you can start from scratch.

On the other hand, if you are a young person, consider sharing a bird house construction project with a sibling, parent, grandparent, or a friend who might enjoy the process and appreciate the shared time. Building and installing a birdhouse is a great activity – indoors and outside.

Although you may initially be thinking about building a birdhouse for bluebirds or wrens, which is a great idea; consider how exciting it would be to build a big bird house, such as a nest box for a small owl like a screech owl, or a nesting Wood Duck, or a mini-falcon – an American Kestrel. Actually, all of these larger cavity nesting birds can utilize the same nest box with the same dimensions and features, so there are a few possibilities when considering what birdhouse or nest box to build (birdhouse and nest box are interchangeable words for the same thing).

But even if you’re not inclined to a small-scale woodworking project, you can skip the building activities and buy a ready-made nest box you can install outdoors together – in your yard, in the youth’s yard, or another appropriate location. The key is to have some fun together and make a lasting memory that will also benefit cavity nesting birds.

All About Building Birdhouses

Although building a birdhouse is relatively easy, and buying a birdhouse is even easier, there are a number of things that are important to know up front about birdhouses. It’s worth planning a bit in advance to decide which nest box you wish to build and install outdoors. First, not all birds utilize birdhouses – just cavity nesting birds, which is a special group of birds that truly need more cavity nesting sites.

In nature, cavities are created naturally in trees and large branches, but woodpeckers are especially important because they excavate cavity nest sites, usually more than one per year, yet both of these natural nesting cavity options are in short supply. That’s where we birders make a big difference by providing nest boxes in our yards, and sometimes beyond our yard at a local park, nature center, or another appropriate location.

Overall, there are a few things to be aware of, including the diversity of different cavity nesting species – each with its own habitat requirements and cavity size preferences. And an important aspect of providing a birdhouse is to be sure you protect any birdhouse from predators, while discouraging non-native competitors like House Sparrows and European Starlings. But don’t get overwhelmed, it’s all pretty easy to address. To get a simple overview, you can always rely on NestWatch, which you can refer to at NestWatch | Features of a Good Birdhouse - NestWatch

You can learn about the different nest box size requirements, as well as specific habitat needs of each species that may relate to where and how to install your nest box, you can easily access that information at NestWatch too, at NestWatch | All About Birdhouses - NestWatch

NestWatch also provides simple plans to build a nest box from scratch for any North American cavity nesting bird species NestWatch | NestWatch - Where Birds Come to Life

You can also buy a do-it-yourself birdhouse kit in case you choose not to saw wood into appropriate-sized panels. BestNest offers Bluebird Birdhouse Kits with all the pre-cut cedar panels and nails you need – it looks like all you need is a hammer to build one of these nest boxes – although using screws is usually recommended over nails. You can get more information at Songbird Essentials Bluebird House Kit at BestNest.com

In addition to a personal or family birdhouse project you may have in mind, some readers might be interested in suggesting a do-it-yourself birdhouse project for a school class, scout pack, or church group. On your own, one-on-one, or in a group, appreciate that building and installing a new birdhouse can be a fun part of your holiday season. Anyone with a birdhouse in their yard knows that you will benefit too, with the opportunity to observe and study the activities of birds that utilize nest boxes, small and large.

Share your backyard birding experiences and photographs with The Birding Wire at editorstbw2@gmail.com