Michigan Bluebird Society

Here are some easy to construct plans for bluebird nesting boxes that have been proven to work from years of field-testing.  The plans are compliments of the Bluebirds Across Nebraska (BAN) organization. 

Click each box design title below to download the PDF file with a building plan.  NOTE: You must have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer to open these files.  If you don't have it, go to Adobe's site for the free download.

Modified Gilwood Nesting Box

Troyer Nesting Box

Modified NABS Nesting Box

(Note:  the box on the left is a modified version of the successful North American Bluebird Society design made by Tom Comfort in Antrim County.  It has been proven to be a successful design based on field experience.  It DOES require some angled cuts however which makes it slightly more difficult to make)

Here are some basic general tips on constructing nestboxes for bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds:

• Use 3/4" thick wood.  It holds up better and provides better insulation ability on cold nights.
• Cedar is the best exterior wood to use, but can be expensive.  Pine is OK though too.  Cypress is also a good wood to use, but is not available everywhere.
• ALWAYS provide holes or gaps near the top of the box for ventilation and cooling.
• ALWAYS provide drainage holes or gaps in the floor of the box so water can escape.
• On the inside front of the nest box, provide some sort of ladder for young birds to climb up and out of the box.  You can put saw grooves in the wood (about 1/4" to 3/8" apart) or affix some hardware cloth.
• Wood screws are better than nails in general, because they hold the wood together better over time. If you do use nails, the ring-shank type is best.  Also, use either stainless steel (expensive) or galvanized.
• ALWAYS build nest boxes that can be opened up for monitoring and for cleanout at the end of the nesting cycle or season.  Follow the direction on the included plans.
• Do NOT stain or paint the interior of the nest box.  You can stain/paint the exterior, but always use non-toxic water based products.
• If possible, ALWAYS provide a large overhanging roof that provides a lot of shelter on the front and sides of the box.
• Make sure the entrance hole is exactly 1 1/2" in diameter and is smooth without burrs and splinters sticking out.

How To Mount Your Nesting Box

It is STRONGLY recommended that you mount your nest box on a metal pole, and NOT locations like fences, trees, sides of buildings, and hanging from a tree or crook pole.  Poles put in the ground out in the open are the most preferred nesting sites by bluebirds and they're the easiest to protect from predators.

The nest box should be mounted so that the bottom of the house is approximately 5 feet above the ground.  This can be adjusted a little lower depending on the height of the person monitoring the boxes.  The actual pole length will need to be longer depending on how far into the ground you need to drive it in order that the pole is stable and not leaning easily  The soil type (clay, loam, sand, etc.), weight of the box, and stiffness of the pole will dictate the length somewhat.

You can buy a pole at either a home center, hardware store, or specialty birdfeeding store.  The first two will usually be cheaper sources.  But, the birdfeeding stores have poles and mounting hardware custom-made for nesting boxes.  Here are some common types of poles you can buy:

• Electrical conduit 1/2" (the plans above use this size)
• Electrical conduit 3/4"
• Galvanized steel piping - either 1/2" or 3/4"
• PVC piping

NOTE:  Wooden posts CAN be used, but it is harder to get them into the ground (more digging) and predators can climb them more easily.

There are a number of ways to secure your nestbox to the pole.  The first two designs above make this easy.  Here is another way used frequently with conduit or piping straps:

You need to size the strap with the diameter pole you're using.

A good method recommended by Steve Gilbertson with 1/2 conduit is to get a length of 1/2" rebar at the home center to use as a ground anchor.  4 or 5 feet is a good length.  Since it comes in 10' lengths, you can cut it in two for two nest boxes.  Drive the rebar 24" into the ground with a large hammer or sledge.  Then, a 5' long 1/2" conduit will fit snugly over the exposed 36" section of rebar providing a secure mount for your bluebird house.