How to Make a Bird Roost

Cut boards to the sizes needed for the various parts of the roosting box. You need six 9 1/2-inch-wide pieces: a 22-inch back, a 7 3/4-inch floor, the 12-inch roof, and the front and two side pieces, each 16 inches tall.

Bore six 1/4-inch holes into one of the side pieces to a depth of 1/2 inch; these holes hold the perches. Vertically stagger the holes in rows 3 inches apart, with two perches 4 inches apart in each row.

Cut dowels to a length of 6 inches and roughen them with sandpaper for a better grip. Put a dot of glue on the end of each dowel and secure them in the holes.

Bore holes for mounting in the four corners of the back piece.

Staple a piece of window screen to the outside surface of the back piece to help the birds climb up to the perches.

Cut an entrance hole near the bottom of the front piece, of a size that suits the birds you hope to attract. Scratch the surface of the front beneath the entrance or staple on another piece of screen to help birds get a grip as they enter the box.

Screw the front and two sides together, add the bottom, then attach the back. The mounting holes on the back piece should extend beyond both the top and bottom of the assembled box.

Glue a polystyrene foam liner to the inside of the top piece and set the piece in place; do not screw the piece on. Glue a quarter-round dowel to the back just above the top to keep rain or melted snow from leaking into the box.

Paint the outside of the box a dark color to absorb heat from sunlight and hang it from a tree or wall, facing south. Periodically remove the top for cleaning.