Do-It-Yourself Project of the Month
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Build Your Own Bluebird Nest Box
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An Eastern Bluebird nest box can be built from one piece of lumber, 1"x6"x6'. Use rough-cut lumber:
western cedar, poplar, rough sided pine. Eastern Bluebirds can hang onto the rougher wood better
than the smooth wood. Do not paint the nesting box.
Back
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Roof
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Front
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Side
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Side
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Floor
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13 1/2" 7 1/2" 7 3/4" 9" 7 1/2" 4"
5 1/2"
*** 6" 7 1/2" 9"
1 1/2" 1/4" holes
hole on front ventilation holes
Measure and mark the wood as shown above. Cut
apart & drill the air holes and entry hole. The entry
hole shold be only 1.5" across. If it's too big, larger
birds can take over the nest box.
Use GALVANIZED nails or deck screws. Fasten
together sides, the floor, the roof, and the back. The
front (swing side) uses only 3 fasteners! The 2 pivot
fasteners at the top allow this piece of wood to swing
open for checking and cleaning out. The third nail
(Drive in partially & bend in front of nest box) holds
this side closed. Leave enough of the nail out to grab
it and pull it over. This locks the swing side in place.
To check and clean the inside of the box, pull the nail
over and swing the side open.
Suggestions for placing your Eastern Bluebird Nest Box
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- The best place to put your Eastern Bluebird nest box is on a free-standing pole or
wooden post, 4' to 6' off the ground.
- Place in or at the edge of open area - meadows, pastures, open yards. DO NOT
PLACE UNDER TREES! Place entry hole facing eastward to northward. This
protects from too much wind and too much sun.
- Place away from areas with house sparrows. They will take over the nest box.
- Place nesting boxes at least 100 yards apart.
- Place in late March. Check every 10 days until late August, removing old nests as
soon as hatchlings leave the nest. This allows a new nest to be built.
- Warm weather diet includes grasshoppers, crickets and other insects common to
grassy areas. Winter weather diet includes berries from holly, dogwood, cedar and
hackberry. Eastern Bluebirds are not seed eaters.
WHAT YOU NEED: 1 Board Rough Cut Lumber 1"x6"x6', Hammer, Drill, 1-1/2" Hole Cutter, 1/4"
bit, 1-1/2" Galvanized Nails, and Saw. Optional: Screwdriver and Wood Screws.
***This is what your pieces should look like after you cut
them out. Notice that the two side panels each have an
angled cut and the front panel has the 1 1/2" entry hole.
On the sides you can drill 3 1/4" holes for ventilation.
