How to Build a Flicker Nest Box

Cutting

• 1

  Measure 32 inches from the end of the board and make a pencil mark on the edge. Measure 24 inches from that mark and make another. Measure 24 inches again and make another mark, repeating so that there are three marks 24 inches apart. Measure 4.25 inches from the last 24-inch mark and make another mark. Measure 10.75 inches from this and make the last mark. Your final mark should be very near the end of the board.

• 2

  Butt one edge of a square against the first mark, with the other edge bisecting the board. Trace this line with the pencil. Repeat for every mark. The board is now divided into six different rectangles.

• 3

  In the first space (the one that is 32-inches long), write the word "back" lightly in pencil. In the following boxes write, "side," "side," "front," "floor" and "roof."

• 4

  Place the board on the table saw, lined up against the guide. Align one of the middle marks so that it is centered on the blade. Turn on the saw, and carefully push the wood up and through the blade so that it is divided in two along one of the middle lines.

• 5

  Repeat Step 4 with every pencil mark on the board, so that you have cut the board into six small pieces.

Construction

• 6

  Select the front piece. Using the 2 1/2-inch-diameter bit, drill a hole about 3/4 of the way up the piece. This will be the entrance for the flickers into the nest box.

• 7

  Select the floor piece. Insert the 1/4-inch bit into the drill. Drill four holes, each about 1/2-inch away from the corners.

• 8

  Place the two side pieces on their 24-inch-long edges, parallel to each other on the floor. Place the back piece on top of these side pieces. Adjust the back piece so that one of the sides comes flush with the edge of the back piece, with one end of it about 2 inches up from the bottom of the back piece. Put the screwdriver bit into the drill and push a screw onto the bit. Push down on the back piece to hold it in place while drilling into the edge of the back piece straight through and into the side piece. Place one screw toward the top of the side piece and the other toward the bottom.

• 9

  Pick the back piece up and turn it over. You should have a back piece with one side piece attached.

• 10

  Take the floor piece and place its edges flush against the back piece and the side piece that is already attached. Drill two screws in through the side piece at the bottom so that they go all the way through the side piece and into the bottom piece.

• 11

  Place the other side piece so that its long edge is flush with the edge of the back piece and its bottom edge is flush with the edge of the bottom piece. Drill two screws into the second side piece so that it is firmly attached to the bottom piece. Turn the nest box over and drill down through the back piece at the edge, so that the screws go into the side piece.

• 12

  Lay the nest box down so that the back piece is on the floor. Place the front piece on top of the side and bottom pieces. Position it so that the two edges are flush with the sides and the bottom is flush with the bottom. Drill two screws into each side edge of the front piece so that they enter the side pieces. Drill two screws into the bottom edge of the front piece so that they go through the bottom piece.

Final Touches

• 13

  Place the two hinges onto the roof piece, one on either end of the same side. Drill the small screws into the roof piece through the hinges to attach the hinges.

• 14

  Place the roof on top of the nesting box, with the hinges pointing upward and pushed up against the back piece. Attach the hinges with small screws.

• 15

  Use the small screws and drill to attach the two sides of the latch. The latch part should be attached to the roof piece so that it hangs down, the attaching piece at the very top of the corresponding wall.

• 16

  Use the 1/4-inch drill bit to drill a small hole near the top and at the center of the back piece.

• 17

  Fill the box up with sawdust so that it comes all the way to the entrance hole.

• 18

  Find a tree in an area where flickers like to congregate, and hammer a large nail through the top hole and into the tree to hang your nest box.