A House For Mighty Mouse (Or, A Birdhouse Built to Code)
A few months ago, I shared the story of the Peanut Parlor.
It was my first birdhouse build, and, well, you see, it wasn't built to birdhouse code.
I said I would build another one with what I learned, and it would be for Mighty Mouse, a regular at the Cantina. He is an Oak Titmouse, a species in decline that could benefit from supplemental housing.
A house? For me?
In this post, I will share how I did just that – built a proper birdhouse that would pass birdhouse building code inspection.
As you read this post, you will see the checkmark ✅ icon, which indicates a feature of a good birdhouse.
First, I started with getting the best wood: untreated cedar. ✅
I see you got the right building material this time.
I followed a precise nest structure building plan from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. ✅
Including the right hole size for the resident I was building for. ✅
Measurements: Back = 11 x 51/2 | Roof = 81/4 x 51/2 | Front & Sides = 8 x 51/2 | Floor = 4 x 51/2 | Entrance hole size: 11/4
Drilled ventilation and drainage holes. ✅
Made a recessed floor. ✅
Also, one side of the cedar is rough, so I put the rough side on the inside to help the baby birds climb out of the house. ✅
There were also lessons learned, such as: don't get lazy and skip drilling pilot holes, or this will happen:
But I did use screws, not nails. ✅
A good birdhouse is also designed to be easy to clean after the residents have moved out. The building plan called for a hinged door, but here's where I got a bit creative. Instead, I made the roof detachable, using chopsticks as dowels.
Meets the accessibility requirement. ✅
All I had to do next was find a location to put it!
For Oak Titmouse, the recommendation is 3-11 feet from the ground and attached to a live tree or pole.
I put the house in the vine next to a palm tree, about 5 feet from the ground. I think that adheres to code! ✅
A house for a Mighty Oak Titmouse
I resisted the urge to stain the outside. While the Audubon Birdhouse Book does say nontoxic stains can be used on the outside, the building plan from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology says to use unpainted wood.
I decided to stick to the Cornell building plan because the goal of this project was to make a birdhouse that was 100% to birdhouse code. Anyway, cedar will weather nicely over time.
The house now has a Certificate of Ornithologic Occupancy and is ready for our adorable little resident Mighty Mouse.
Now I just have to find myself a girl.
Thank you for reading.
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