How to Build an Open-Cup Birdhouse

If you enjoy watching birds outside the window of your home, you can add to your enjoyment by making a birdhouse that the birds can nest in. Certain birds nest in open-cup nests that are not fully enclosed. If you have a larger number of open-cup nesting birds in your yard, such as swallows, you can create an open-cup nest out of pieces of wood that will accommodate these types of birds.

1 piece of wood, 4 inches wide, 4 inches long, 1 inch thick
2 pieces of wood, 2 inches wide, 6 inches long, 1 inch thick
Drill with 1-inch spade bit
Nails
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the 4-by-4-inch piece of wood onto a flat surface.
- 2
  Place one of the 4-by-6-inch pieces upright on top of one side of the 4-by-4 piece. Nail it into place.
- 3
  Place another 4-by-6-inch piece upright on top of the 4-by-4 piece, opposite from the first piece. Nail it into place. These will be the sides of the open-cup birdhouse.
- 4
  Place another 2-by-6 piece upright on top of the 4-by-4 piece, placing it along the back of the birdhouse. Nail it into place.
- 5
  Place the remaining 2-by-6 piece upright on top of the 4-by-4 piece, placing it along the front of the birdhouse. Nail it into place.
- 6
  Drill a hole in the center of the front of the open-cup birdhouse using a spade drill bit. Shake out the sawdust from inside the open-cup birdhouse before nailing it into a fencepost or tree. When you nail up the birdhouse, make sure that the opening faces out.

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