Boy bird house architecture
Date: 2025-01-19T00:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Birdhouses

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Boy bird house architecture

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Boy bird house architecture

Author: Leon H. Baxter

Release date: January 19, 2025 [eBook #75148]
Most recently updated: April 19, 2025

Language: English

Original publication: Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co, 1920

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75148

Credits: Bob Taylor, Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY BIRD HOUSE ARCHITECTURE ***

Exhibition of Birdhouses in the Fairbanks Museum, St. Johnsbury, Vt.

BOY BIRD HOUSE ARCHITECTURE

By LEON H. BAXTER

Director of Manual Training, Public Schools
St. Johnsbury, Vt.

THE BRUCE PUBLISHING CO.
MILWAUKEE. WIS.

Copyright, 1920
THE BRUCE PUBLISHING CO.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

It is with much pleasure that I commend to the public this little book regarding the construction of Bird Houses. As Instructor in Nature Study at the Fairbanks Museum it has been my privilege and pleasure to co-operate closely with Mr. Baxter’s work in the manual training department of the local schools. Through his instruction our boys are proud to be considered natural guardians of bird homes in our town, which is veritably a bird sanctuary. About two hundred suitable nesting boxes have been placed in proper localities during the past three years.

The Museum offers prizes each year to the boys of Mr. Baxter’s classes and our exhibit of Bird Houses on the first Saturday in April is an event that attracts many proud parents to inspect the work of their children.

In this little book, Mr. Baxter tells very explicitly just how any one can build suitable houses to attract our native birds.

Just here I would like to say that any town or community that protects its birds, insures its harvests against destruction by insect pests. Therefore the economic value of Bird Houses is even greater than the aesthetic. The results actually accomplished by Mr. Baxter along these lines vouch for the accuracy of the information contained in this little book.

Inez Addie Howe,
Instructor in Nature Study.

The Fairbanks Museum,
St. Johnsbury, Vt.

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

To the lover of the open, the woods, the fields, and waterways and all of God’s wild things, this book is affectionately dedicated.

To lead the boy and girl toward their proper relationship with their feathered friends of the air, and to instil the feeling of protection toward our native birds, these pages have been written and these designs made.

What is offered between the covers of this little book is the results of study and observation of birds and their ways covering a period of six years.

Each drawing offered is of a proven house, one that has served as a home for some of our songsters and if the directions, here set down, are faithfully followed, equal success will crown the builders’ efforts.

While the greater part of the text is the result of knowledge which the writer has gleaned at first hand, yet the author has several times quoted from the text of the Farmers’ Bulletin No. 621, United States Department of Agriculture, and from a contribution by Edward Howe Forbush, in Bulletin No. 1, published by The National Association of Audubon Societies. Fig. 2, the photograph showing a blue bird entering a box, is by S. P. Brownell, East Barnet, Vt.

Leon H. Baxter.

St. Johnsbury, Vt. Feb. 2, 1920.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

| Page
Our Friends the Birds | 11
Birds That Adapt Themselves to Nesting Boxes | 12
The Bluebirds | 13
The Robin | 14
The Titmice | 14
The Wrens | 15
The Woodpecker | 16
Bird House Material | 16
Methods of Finishing Exteriors | 18
Bird Box Specifications | 20
Typical Bird House Specifications | 21
Methods of Conducting a Bird House Contest | 23
Bird House Day | 26
Bird Enemies | 27
General Directions for Starting Work on the Bird Boxes | 28
Winter Care of the Birds | 35
Plate 1—Blue Bird House | 41
Plate 2—Blue Bird House | 42
Plate 3—Blue Bird House | 43
Plate 4—Blue Bird House | 44
Plate 5—Blue Bird House | 45
Plate 6—Box for Robins | 46
Plate 7—Box for Robins | 47
Plate 8—Box for Wrens | 48
Plate 9—Double Wren House | 49
Plate 10—Downy Woodpecker House | 50
Plate 11—Box for Hairy Woodpeckers | 51
Plate 12—Flicker House | 52
Plate 13—Woodpecker House | 53
Plate 14—Nuthatch House | 54
Plate 15—Nuthatch House | 55
Plate 16—Box for Tree Swallow | 56
Plate 17—Titmouse House | 57
Plate 18—Chickadee House | 58
Plate 19—Houses from Common Objects | 59
Plate 19a—Suggested Designs for Boxes | 60
Plate 20—Feeding Devices | 61

Fig. 5. Exhibit of Birdhouses Made In the St. Johnsbury Schools in 1919.

OUR FRIENDS THE BIRDS

It has been positively proven that birds will return annually in greater numbers to localities where assistance, in the form of nesting boxes, has been rendered by those interested in bird welfare, than to those places where no such provision has been made.

A progressive study of our native birds by competent individuals, especially through the United States Department of Agriculture in its Farmers’ Bulletins, has shown very decisively that the return made by our feathered friends by ridding our gardens and orchards of destructive worms and insects, is many times as valuable as the small commission they collect by sampling a berry or two here and there.

Innumerable quantities of seeds of plants and weeds which would otherwise overun our gardens are eaten by the birds. This, together with the fact that these same birds with their brilliant plumage and beautiful songs, are a valuable asset to our neighborhood, ought certainly to impress us that they are deserving of our assistance and protection. Assistance is best afforded by preparing suitable houses and feeding shelves for them, and also by placing bits of string, horsehair, and other nesting material convenient for them. Protection is simple and may be limited to laws safeguarding birds from harm, to killing off as many as possible of the English sparrows, and to seeing that cats are not allowed any undue opportunity for harming them.

Fig. 1. Blue Bird Feeding Young.

The boy or girl who puts up boxes for the birds to nest in, supplies them with drinking and bathing places, and provides food for those species which remain in winter, is certain of an unfailing source of pleasure, which can never be known to any one who pursues them with airgun and stones, or simply ignores their presence. The chances are that the bird-loving boy or girl will make the better citizen.

Birds That Adapt Themselves to Nesting Boxes.

There is quite a large number of birds that easily adapt themselves to the artificially made house. The main thing is to consider the type of house that will appeal to the intended tenants, one that approaches nearest to their natural desires and nesting sites.

Bluebirds and house wrens are the easiest to entice to the nesting box. Plain weather stained boxes or those covered with bark have proven to be the best type.

Purple martins nest in colonies but are scarce now in contrast to their former numbers. Tree swallows take to the boxes, but if an occasion arises where they have a choice between the box and a natural cavity, generally the latter will be selected.

Fig. 2. Blue Bird Entering Box.

Chickadees and flickers take to the home-made box and, sometimes the little screech owl occupies one of the man-made residences.

He makes a worthy tenant, for as a mouser, he is superior to the house cat.

Robin Red Breast is another easily attracted native bird. Last year I put up a robin shelf, similar to the ones shown in the following drawings, and inside of fifteen minutes Mr. and Mrs. Robin had hired the apartment for the season and were soon busily engaged in weaving the nest within fifteen feet of where we were observing them.

The Bluebirds.

The eastern bluebird is a common inhabitant of all States east of the Rocky Mountains from the Gulf of Mexico to Southern Canada.

In the Mississippi Valley it winters as far north as Southern Illinois, and in the East as far as Pennsylvania. It is one of the earliest northern migrants and everywhere is hailed as a harbinger of spring.

Fig. 3. Chickadee Feeding.

Domestic in habits, it frequents orchards and gardens and builds close to human habitations.

Fig. 1 shows a bluebird at the entrance to an artificially hollowed tree trunk, feeding its young. Fig. 2 shows another bluebird about to enter a bird box.

The Robin.

To many the robin is the most cherished of birds and is found throughout the States east of the Great Plains, and is represented farther west and south by slightly different sub-species. It breeds far north through Canada, and is found even in Alaska. It is quite fearless and will occupy a bird shelf close to human habitation. The robin, however, refuses the enclosed house and therefore the front and one side should be made open.

The Titmice.

These birds, although insignificant in size, have enormous appetites and feed chiefly on small insects and their eggs that wholly escape the search of larger birds. This bird, or some of its sub-species, occupies the whole of the United States north of the latitude of Washington and extends into Canada.

In the eastern portion of the country the best known and most widely distributed species is the common black capped chickadee. Fig. 3 shows a chickadee feeding from the hand.

The Wrens.

The diminutive house wren frequents barns and gardens and particularly old orchards in which the trees are partially decayed. He makes his nest in a hollow where perhaps a woodpecker had a domicile the year before, but he is a pugnacious character, and if he happens to fancy one of the boxes put up for bluebirds, he does not hesitate to take it. He is usually not slow to avail himself of boxes, gourds, tin cans, or empty jars placed for his accommodation.

Fig. 4.

The various species of wrens occupy more or less the whole country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The wren is one of our most friendly birds and his presence should be encouraged about every farm, village, and suburban residence.

The Woodpecker.

The woodpeckers are the true bird carpenters and do a great amount of good in destroying harmful insects and boring worms.

These birds are found most everywhere in the United States, several species remaining in the northern States throughout the year.

Two of the best known woodpeckers, the hairy woodpecker and the downy woodpecker, range over a greater part of the United States.

One of the larger woodpeckers familiar to us all is the flicker, or golden winged woodpecker.

Most all of the woodpeckers will adopt the artificial house, especially those hollowed out of a split piece of limb.

Bird House Material.

Great varieties of houses can be constructed of half inch lumber and can be made very attractive to the eye. Other material, however, can be utilized.

The most natural Bird Homes, and such as may often be provided with the least trouble, are pieces of hollow limbs or small hollow trunks of trees, or the old nesting holes of woodpeckers. If no limbs with suitable cavities are found, they may be made by taking a piece of a limb, about eight inches in diameter and fourteen to sixteen inches long, dividing it in half, with a rip saw, from one end to within three inches of the other, where the cut is met by a right-angle cut from the side. After this an entrance hole of the required size is made through the shorter or front half.

The two halves are hollowed out, as shown in Plate 19A, so as to form a cylindrical cavity about three and one-half inches in diameter and ten inches deep; then the two halves are placed together and held with screws or bolts. A similar Bird Home is made by boring an auger hole from one end of a piece of limb to within a couple inches of the other, plugging the bored end, and making an entrance hole near the other end. These homes are adapted to woodpeckers, bluebirds, house wrens, chickadees and tree swallows. A little larger home of the same type is required for crested fly catchers and decidedly larger ones for the flicker.

A good sized, deserted flickers’ home or similar cavity provides a nesting place attractive to the screech owl.

A piece of wooden tubing from a chainpump, with the ends plugged, and an entrance made in the side near the upper end, the tube being covered with bark, makes a very good substitute for a hollow limb.

If old and weather stained boards are used in making the box houses, bark covering is not absolutely necessary, but it adds to the attractiveness, from both the birds’ and the human standpoint, and bark affords a good foothold for the birds as they alight at the entrance. Woodpeckers especially should have bark covered exteriors to their homes.

Dried gourds, hollowed out, and with an opening made for an entrance, often attract wrens and bluebirds.

While tin cans may be used, it is not desirable, in the author’s opinion to make use of this medium as tin becomes very hot in the sun. If cans are used, care should be taken to place them in shaded places. Flower pots inverted, as illustrated in Plate 19, are suitable for some of the smaller birds.

The old fashioned chimney having been replaced by the modern chimney with small flues, the chimney swifts may be provided with suitable nesting quarters by building on the roofs of barns or sheds, artificial chimneys of wood.

Birds may not always respond promptly to the first attempt at placing a Bird Box, but the would-be landlord must not get discouraged.

Prepare some Bird Homes in as attractive a manner as possible, keep a supply of water for bathing and drinking at hand, and prevent their being disturbed. Then watch for the results that are almost sure to come.

Persistent and intelligent effort will bring ultimate results, which will be sure to reward the attempt. Experience is the best teacher.

Methods of Finishing Exteriors.

As has been before stated, the best finish for the outside of our Bird Houses is bark.

The writer has experimented with various kinds of bark and has obtained the best results with the bark from the cedar.

It is rough enough for the birds to obtain a good foothold upon, it is very artistic in appearance, cuts and bends very easily and can be held with four ounce tacks.

A word should be said here about obtaining this bark, as it should never be taken from the living tree. Cedar posts are used very much for supports in building and most any contractor or mill man has quantities on hand. These posts most always must have the bark removed, especially the part to show above ground, and the owners, I have found, are glad to have the boys remove the bark from them. Sometimes a fallen cedar will be found in the woods and from it may be obtained all the bark necessary for a number of boxes.

If the whole Bird Box is not to be bark covered it is a good plan to see that the roof is protected by bark.

The remaining portions of the house should be stained or painted a very somber color, such as dull gray, brown, or dark green. Avoid all gloss paints as they reflect light and tend to drive away rather than attract the birds. Bright colors should also be avoided. A nicely constructed Bird Box painted a brilliant red with yellow trimmings or some other equally absurd combination such as the writer has seen, is a travesty on proper Bird House construction. Gloss paints can be dulled by adding turpentine.

Painted or stained houses should be put out at least a month or more before the time for the birds to arrive. This is to weather them and remove all odors. It is a good plan to put out Bird Boxes in the fall if possible, and they are then in excellent shape for spring use. Do not paint or stain Bird Boxes on the inside.

Place the houses in quiet places, away from the direct rays of the sun, high enough to be out of the way of prowling cats or too inquisitive human beings.

Bird Box Specifications.

To successfully entice the birds to a man,—or rather boy—or girl-made home, there are certain rules which experience has proven we must follow.

The drawings in this book have been made as nearly correct as careful study of all available data on the subject will allow. The author feels confident that if the drawings, together with the specifications that go with them, are carefully followed the artisan will be amply rewarded by finding all bird tenements “let” as soon as the spring migration and nesting season starts.

These houses and many of varied design have been successfully built by pupils of the seventh and eighth grades, with over 75 percent of success in having them occupied.

The table given below gives the correct dimensions for a variety of houses for different birds.

The size of the opening is very important, as it is essential that it be no larger than is necessary for the bird for whom it is intended, to conveniently enter.

The smaller birds will be bothered a great deal by the English sparrow, who enters if the opening is not kept very small.

It is considered by a majority of authorities that a perch is not a help but a hindrance at the opening. The sparrows alight there and by their incessant chirping drive out or annoy the more desirable occupants. Again, the bluebird and most of the other song birds can fly directly to the edge of the opening and thus go in, while the sparrow, not quite as clever, must first alight on the perch and get his bearing before hopping in.

It is exceedingly important that there be some means of cleaning out Bird Houses at the season’s end or to remove any dead birdlings during the season. This may be taken care of by having either the roof or the bottom hinged.

Typical Bird House Specifications.

Bird | Floor Area in Inches | Depth in Inches | Entrance Above Floor in Inches | Diameter of Entrance in Inches | Height From Ground in Inches
Bluebird | 5×5 | 8 | 6 | 1½ | 5-10
Robin | 6×8 | 8 | [A] | [A] | 6-15
Chickadee | 4×4 | 8-10 | 8 | 1⅛ | 6-15
Tufted Titmouse | 4×4 | 8-10 | 8 | 1¼ | 6-15
White-breasted Nuthatch | 4×4 | 8-10 | 8 | 1¼ | 12-20
House Wren | 4×4 | 6-8 | 1-6 | ⅞ | 6-10
Bewick Wren | 4×4 | 6-8 | 1-6 | 1⅛ | 6-10
Carolina Wren | 4×4 | 6-8 | 1-6 | 1⅛ | 6-10
Dipper | 6×6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1-3
Violent-Green Swallow | 5×5 | 6 | 1-6 | 1½ | 10-15
Tree Swallow | 5×5 | 6 | 1-6 | 1½ | 10-15
Barn Swallow | 6×6 | 6 | [A] | [A] | 8-12
Martin | 6×6 | 6 | 1 | 2½ | 16-20
Swallow | 6×6 | 6 | 1 | 2½ | 16-20
Song Sparrow | 6×6 | 6 | [B] | | 1-3
Crested Flycatcher | 6×6 | 8-10 | 8 | 2 | 8-20
Red-headed Woodpecker | 6×6 | 12-15 | 12 | 2 | 12-20
Golden-Fronted Woodpecker | 6×6 | 12-15 | 12 | 1½ | 12-20
Hairy Woodpecker | 6×6 | 12-15 | 12 | 1½ | 12-20
Downy Woodpecker | 4×4 | 8-10 | 8 | 1¼ | 6-20
Screech Owl | 8×8 | 12-15 | 12 | 3 | 10-30
Sparrow Hawk | 8×8 | 12-15 | 12 | 3 | 10-30
Saw-Whet Owl | 6×6 | 10-12 | 10 | 2½ | 12-20
Barn Owl | 10×18 | 15-18 | 4 | 6 | 12-18
Wood Duck | 10×18 | 10-15 | 3 | 6 | 4-20

FOOTNOTES:

[A] One or more sides open.
[B] All sides open.

There should be a few small holes bored in the bottom to allow any moisture that might accumulate, to drain. Also, another set of holes at least ¼-inch in diameter should be bored for ventilation, high enough so that no drafts will affect the young. These are best located just under the eaves.

In boring the entrance hole, tip the bit upward slightly so that rain water will not drip inward.

Some device for attaching the house to a building or tree should be provided. It is best to have the house stationary to prevent undue swinging in a high wind, perhaps causing the breaking of eggs and discomfort to the mother bird.

Houses of unusual shape or design are not considered as good as the plainer types, the idea being to make each house harmonize as naturally as possible with the surroundings.

It must be evident from the foregoing that there are quite a number of things to keep in mind as we prepare our plans for the homes of the future feathered inhabitants.

Methods of Conducting a Bird House Contest.

St. Johnsbury, Vermont, is very fortunate in having a fine Museum of Natural Science with a corps of very efficient workers on its staff.

Every year the directors of the Museum donate a substantial amount of prize money as rewards for the best houses constructed for birds by pupils of the grammar school.

The local Commercial Club, as well as many of the merchants also, add generously to the fund, so that the boys and girls, besides having an incentive for helping their bird friends from an economic standpoint, also have a chance to profit financially.

Previous to starting work the Museum instructors give interesting lectures on the necessity of providing all possible assistance for the birds, and by mounted specimens show the various birds that readily accept the artificial houses. They also explain the entrance sizes required by the different species, and go into detail concerning ventilation, drainage, coloring and placing of the houses.

Fig. 6. A Group of Prize Winners.

Later on the children are taken on bird walks, so as to study first hand the characteristics, habitat, and difference in coloring of the male and female of the various native birds.

Original designs are encouraged, and with discussions and good advice the work is started. A stated amount of time is allowed for completing the houses, and the material is paid for by each pupil.

On the appointed day the houses are numbered and grouped and are ready for the judging.

Three judges are appointed from among people who are proficient to judge such an exhibit, usually one of the museum instructors, to judge the technical side, a carpenter or mechanic, to judge the workmanship, and one who is interested in art to take care of the general design and appearance.

Fig. 7. Results of the First Contest in St. Johnsbury.

The score card is as follows:
Fitness to purpose | 50%
Skill in Workmanship | 30%
Appearance, design, color | 20%
Total | 100%

Each judge marks individually on the tally and the box whose score is highest in the estimation of all, receives first and so on through all the prizes.

Fig. 8. Some Houses Made in 1916.

Sometimes the pupils judge the display beforehand and compare their results with those of the selected judges, and it has proven generally that boys and girls will use very excellent judgment in selecting the winners.

Fig. 9. A Few Houses Made in 1917.

Fig. 10. A Winner.

The prizes are usually tools, good books, and thrift stamps, and this annual event is looked forward to with keen anticipation by the youthful designers.

Figs. 4 and 5 show exhibits at the local museum for the past two years.

Fig. 6 shows a group of prize winners.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show collections of houses made during the past four years.

Fig. 10 shows one prize winner with his house hollowed from a piece of birch limb.

Bird House Day.

After the prize winners have been announced a day is set for all who are interested, to gather at the Museum, and with nails, hammers, wire and step ladder, together with the Bird Boxes start out to place the houses in position. Fig. 11 shows a group about to start. Fig. 12 gives a view of the boys placing a house in a tree.

Bird Enemies.

Our bird friends have much to contend with in raising their broods, and it is here we can render them valuable assistance.

The cat, the greatest enemy of birds, must be attended to diplomatically.

The shot gun method will not do here or we may find ourselves haled into court upon the complaint of some neighbor.

The best way is to guard the tree trunks with tin as suggested in several ways in Plate 19. For tramp cats, having no home or owner, the trap shown in the same plate will be found efficient.

Spikes may be driven in part way about a pole so that the row of heads prevent the cats getting by.

Fig. 11. Children Starting Out to Put Up Houses.

English Sparrows are another sworn enemy of our song birds and they should be exterminated in every way possible.

Traps, air guns and any other means, no matter how diabolical, are all too good for this feathered pest. Their nests should be pulled down and the young destroyed whenever and wherever found. They are persistent and must be continuously harassed.

Squirrels and snakes also steal both the eggs and the young and they should be driven from localities frequented by birds.

General Directions for Starting Work on the Bird Boxes.

First decide upon the bird for which your house is to be made and, referring to the drawings, select the one which best suits your fancy.

Look the various pieces over and estimate about how much lumber will be required, then plan your work so as to cut your board with as little waste as possible. Take pieces of a similar width and get them out in one long piece from your board.

Fig. 12. Putting Up a House.

Plane one edge of the board straight and smooth and call this the working edge, or edge from which all measurements are to be taken. Square one end square with the working edge and the surface. Measure from this square end, the length specified on the drawing, and square a line across the board, placing the try square handle tight against the working edge.

Next take the cross-cut saw and saw carefully just outside your line on the side away from the piece to be cut off. Plane now back to the line and no further. The width must next be obtained either with a marking gage, if you have one, set at the required distance, or by measuring carefully with your ruler.

Now saw and plane to your line. Treat each piece in this manner and mark with its proper letter, to be ready for assembling later.

We shall consider, for illustration, that we are making the Blue Bird House shown in Plate 3. We have our pieces all cut out and numbered and shall now cut the shape of pieces A, which are the front and rear of the house, from our pieces that we have previously cut 8½ inches wide by 10 inches long.

A School Exhibit of Bird Houses at Crosby-Ironton, Minn.

Find the center of one end, which will be one-half of 8½ inches or 4¼ inches. Measure down on each side 4 inches and draw from our edge center to these points.

Find the center of our bottom edge next and measure 2½ inches each side to make our bottom edge 5 inches wide, as shown. Draw from the ends of this 5 inch lines to our points on the sides and we are ready to carefully cut out the form as shown in the drawing. Always remember when sawing to a line to leave about 1/16 inch between our saw cut and the line and finish with a plane to the line.

Be sure that the front and rear pieces are exactly the same size and shape to insure our house going together nicely later.

Take the bottom piece E and draw light lines from corner to corner, and with a dot locate the points where we are to bore our drainage holes.

In boring these take care not to split through on the opposite side.

Locate the holes for ventilation next and bore these carefully.

Some Bird Houses Made in the Schools at Rochester, N. Y.

Take our back brace F next and draw a light pencil line from end to end, through the center, and locate the holes for nailing to the tree 1 inch in from either end. The holes for screwing piece F to the box are 3½ inches beyond these outer holes. Bore carefully.

Bore the entrance hole with an expansive bit set so as to bore a hole 1½ inch in diameter. The center for this hole is 3 inches down from the top and 4¼ inches from either side.

If the house is to be painted it should be thoroughly sandpapered with No. ½ sandpaper, going with the grain.

Take the sides and bevel them to fit the front and back pieces, that is plane them so that when they are placed in proper position against the front and rear, the edges will follow the same sweep as the eaves and the bottom edge. All cutting should be finished before sandpapering so as not to dull our plane blade with the fine particles of sand left in the wood by the sandpaper.

Nail the sides to the front and rear, using 1¼ inch brads, placing about five on each edge, and taking care that they strike fair in the center of the edge to prevent splitting.

Next nail on roof C, having the rear edge flush with the rear of the box allowing all projection to come in front. Have ridge edge just level with peak. Next nail on roof B, seeing that it overlaps and is nailed to the edge of C.

Next attach piece F to the rear of the box with screws, allowing equal projection above and below the box. Take the bottom E and screw on an inch butt hinge to the under side at the middle point of the rear edge. Then place in position and screw the other part of hinge to F, taking care that the bottom fits tightly against the bottom edges of the box.

Retain in front by means of a small flat hook and eye as shown.

Fig. 13. A Food Shelter.

Our box is now ready to be either painted or covered with bark as desired.

If it is to be bark covered use a pair of snip shears to cut the bark to the size required. It is generally a good plan to cut the bark a little large and trim off after attaching it to the box. Use 4 oz. tacks, using as few as possible. Have the bark run uniformly in the same direction over the box. Bark directly over all holes and when finished cut these out with a sharp knife.

If a house is to be painted and have a bark roof only, paint first and allow to dry, perhaps giving a second coat and then place the bark on the roof.

This same method of construction as described will be practically the same for any of the houses shown.

Lumber should be used that will withstand the weather. Cypress, spruce and soft pine are perhaps the best.

Winter Care of the Birds.

If you wish to attract birds about the house during the winter, do not wait until the ground is covered with snow, but begin in the Fall to scatter hayseed from the barn or stable floor, on the bare ground about the yard.

Millet or any bird seed will do as well. Hang some pieces of suet or beef-trimmings on the branches of the trees beyond the reach of cats and dogs. If at first these pieces are widely scattered at points radiating from the house as a center, your success should be assured. Your lures will keep best at this season if tied on the shade side of a tree trunk; but later in the winter they should be put on the sunny side. They should be well wound to limbs with twine, or covered with wire netting, so that neither jays or crows can carry them off bodily.

They are now ready to attract and hold birds that might otherwise pass on to the south. The birds may not find the food at once, but usually they will find it sooner or later. When the chickadees have discovered it we are ready for the next move.

Fresh meat or suet is now put up on the trees nearest the house, to accustom the birds to coming there.

Many types of feeders can be made, varying the plain wood shelf, to the artistic food shelters of natural limbs and bark. Some feeders can be placed on movable pivots on poles with extended vanes in front so that the wind will always cause them to be in a sheltered position. This type of feeding shelf, Fig. 4, and others are shown on Plate 20.

Birdhouses Made at Rochester, N. Y.

The window shelf shown on Plate 20, Fig. 1, is convenient and can be easily watched and tended. Fig. 2 shows a feeding stick. Melted suet is poured into the holes and allowed to cool and the birds eat from the outside.

The cocoanut larder is inexpensive and easily set up. One end of a cocoanut is broken in as shown and the birds have access to the meat. Fig. 4 is one type of rustic feeder which has proven popular.

The following birds have been attracted about local feeders: Chickadees, Fig. 3, nuthatches, woodpeckers, juncos, and even the wary jay. Figure 13 shows a simple form of feeding shelf with sides of glass. A hairy woodpecker can be seen just below the upper box.

Corn, suet, scraps of meat, crumbs from the table, pieces of doughnut, nuts, sunflower seed, frozen milk and many other food materials may be utilized, if one wishes to experiment.

These methods of attracting and domesticating the birds will be found full of interest, and in some cases our efforts will be rewarded by having some little feathered ball jump fearlessly on our fingers for a choice titbit.

The birds will furnish instruction and amusement to the household throughout the year and a vast amount of good may be accomplished in this manner, adding greatly to the comfort and happiness of our wild bird friends.

DESIGNS FOR BIRD HOUSES

PLATE 1.

BLUE BIRD HOUSE

PLATE 2.

BLUE BIRD HOUSE

PLATE 3.

BLUE BIRD HOUSE

PLATE 4.

BLUE BIRD HOUSE

PLATE 5.

BLUE BIRD HOUSE

PLATE 6.

BOX FOR ROBINS

PLATE 7.

BOX FOR ROBINS

PLATE 8.

BOX FOR WRENS

PLATE 9.

DOUBLE WREN HOUSE

PLATE 10.

DOWNY WOODPECKER HOUSE

PLATE 11.

BOX FOR HAIRY WOODPECKERS

PLATE 12.

FLICKER HOUSE

PLATE 13.

WOODPECKER HOUSE

PLATE 14.

NUTHATCH HOUSE

PLATE 15.

NUTHATCH HOUSE

PLATE 16.

BOX FOR TREE SWALLOW
(CAT PROOF)

PLATE 17.

TITMOUSE HOUSE

PLATE 18.

CHICKADEE HOUSE

PLATE 19.

HOUSES FROM COMMON OBJECTS

Gourds. | Tomato Can. | Flower pot.
Milk can. | Small keg. | Small wooden box.

Any discarded article of suitable size may be utilized for a nesting box, those of wood being best.

Metal objects should be placed in a cool shady place as they heat up very badly if exposed to the sun.

Methods of keeping cats away.

PLATE 19A.

SUGGESTED DESIGNS FOR BOXES

Completely covered with bark

Barn roof, painted body

Natural limb hollowed out

Cavity opened showing method of gouging and hinging

PLATE 20.

FEEDING DEVICES

Drawings made from Farmer’s Bulletin, #621

FIG. 1 FOOD SHELF

FIG. 2 FEEDING STICK

FIG. 3 COCOANUT LARDER

—Rustic Food Shelf—
To be attached to tree or side of house.

FIG. 4 FOOD HOUSE ON PIVOT

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY BIRD HOUSE ARCHITECTURE ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 41 Watchung Plaza #516, Montclair NJ 07042, USA, +1 (862) 621-9288. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Table of Contents

- BOY BIRD HOUSE ARCHITECTURE
- INTRODUCTORY NOTE
- AUTHOR’S PREFACE
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- OUR FRIENDS THE BIRDS

- Birds That Adapt Themselves to Nesting Boxes.

- The Bluebirds.

- The Robin.

- The Titmice.

- The Wrens.

- The Woodpecker.

- Bird House Material.

- Methods of Finishing Exteriors.

- Bird Box Specifications.

- Typical Bird House Specifications.

- FOOTNOTES:

- Methods of Conducting a Bird House Contest.

- Bird House Day.

- Bird Enemies.

- General Directions for Starting Work on the Bird Boxes.

- Winter Care of the Birds.
- DESIGNS FOR BIRD HOUSES
- THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE