The Martin Birdhouse

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By the way, just like the swallows of Capistrano, the martin colonies return to the same site every year. So once you have attracted a flock, they will come back year after year. And the colony gets bigger. The only time the flock will split up is when there is "no more room at the inn."

This is one of the reasons why the house is built in sections or storeys. Got more birds? Add a section or two. The other reason is so that at the end of the season the whole thing can easily be disassembled for cleaning. The birdhouse is mounted on a post which in turn is mounted on a simple pivot mechanism so that the structure can easily be lowered to ground level.

You may find that a colony of house sparrows has taken up residence instead of the desired martin tenants. Although the sparrows are okay birds, they don't earn their keep the way martins do. You may have to give them a midnight eviction notice, which is another reason for the pivoting post. Now what you do with a burlap bag full of sparrows is your business, but I personally think badminton is wonderful form of recreation for the whole family. Just kidding, of course.

CONSTRUCTION

Each "storey" is a unit unto itself. This modular construction allows you to add units as your colony increases. The storeys are not attached to one another; they simply stack one atop the other The roof hold-down unit and cross struts hold all the storeys together. When it is time to add more storeys, simply move the cross struts down, remove the attic/roof section, and slide on the new storeys. Then stick the roof structure back on and replace the bolts. This type of construction allows for both expansion and easy end-of-season disassembly and storage. "Winter storage" will discourage house sparrows from moving in.

The dimension drawing and materials list provide the details for the attic/roof section and for one of the storey modules. To determine the materials you need, decide how many storeys you would like to start with and multiply that number against the unit pieces.

With a little care in construction and some maintenance, this house will last for years. Use a good quality sealing undercoat and final coat of paint. To help keep the temperature down for the nestlings, white should really be the only color used. The life of the plywood depends on this edge being completely sealed. Glue and nail all the pieces following the drawings.

A rudimentary knowledge of woodworking and tools is assumed for this birdhouse. My design calls for "stock" lumber with a minimum number of angle cuts. You can of course use all square cuts instead of miter cuts; adjust the dimensions accordingly. Miter cuts are preferred as they eliminate exposed end grains and give a much better finished appearance. The design also assumes you can extrapolate some dimensions and angles utilizing the dimensions given.

Note A Each storey has eight 1/2" x 1/2"x 2" spacers. They serve to allow air to circulate above each cubicle. It is very important that you do not omit these. If air is not allowed to circulate, the young birds will overheat and die.

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