Bird Houses & Nesting Box Woodworking Plans: Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers
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The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Eastern Bluebird use this nestbox. Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, Wrens, Tree and Violet Green Swallows (and sparrows) may use this nest box.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Eastern Bluebird Nestbox is constructed with Red Cedar.
Wood stock is rough-cut on both sides so birds can grip interior and exterior surfaces.
It has a 5" by 5" floor (inside dimensions), 12" floor to ceiling (inside front), 1 1/2" diameter entrance hole located 10" above the floor (to top of hole) and ventilation openings in the floor and under the roof. The hinged roof provides easy access for monitoring and cleaning. Shutter hooks secure roof in closed position.
Pilot holes in both primary and secondary work pieces makes for easy assembly in minutes.
For Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, mount in woodland edges near clearings within the proximity of lowlands and water, from just out of reach to twenty feet - no more than can safely be reached and returned to for yearly maintenance.
Since the Sapsucker often excavates new cavities (often in the same tree), it might make sense to fill the box with wood chips, or half full, it's debated.
For Eastern Bluebirds mount houses on fence lines on the sides of posts facing the next post. The recessed position helps avoid cattle or other large animals that like to rub against them. Make a "bluebird trail" of several houses about 100 yards apart; further in wide open expanses and closer in clearings of wooded areas.
Monitor the boxes for unwanted squatters. Deter predators with steel posts or sheet metal wrapped around wood posts.
Avoid shade, but also avoid direct sunlight through the entrance if possible.
Tree Swallow Nestboxes placed between bluebird nest boxes invite good neighbors that will help defend against sparrows, but the bird houses also invite sparrows, so monitor the swallow houses as well as the bluebird houses.
Safety First
- Assemble woodworking projects in a safe area.
- Always wear eye protection. Eye injuries are the most common accident.
- Keep hardware and tools away from children.and infants
- Store tools and equipment away when not in use.
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