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70birds

That Nest in Birdhouses

70birds

That Nest in Birdhouses

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70birds

That Nest in Birdhouses

Birds

Wrens

Chickadees

Nuthatches

Woodpeckers

Phoebes & Flycatchers

City Birds

Bluebirds

Swallows & Martins

Platform Nesters:
Robins, Phoebes, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves & More

Raptors 

Ducks

 

Platform Nesters: Robins, Phoebes, Doves…Raptors…more

Robins and phoebes readily nest on platform shelters. More back yard birds may also nest on platforms. Red-tailed hawks, great horned owls and osprey nest on high mounted platforms.

Wrens   |   Chickadees   |   Nuthatches   |  Woodpeckers   |   Robins & Platform Nesters

City Birds  |  Bluebirds  |  Swallows & Martins  |  Phoebes & Flycatchers  |  Raptors  |  Ducks

Select to view the American robin webpage
American Robin
Robins build large nests of twigs, roots, grass and leaves lined with a clay cup. The cup is then lined with fine grass, hair and wool. They nest in trees or ledges on houses, garages and platform shelters from five to twenty five feet high. See the American robin platform. View or print platform plans.
See species information for eastern phoebes
Eastern Phoebe

Eastern phoebes make nests of twigs, roots and moss, cemented with mud, lined with grass, hair, and feathers. They like to nest in woodlands near wetlands. Also on house ledges under eaves, in farm buildings, on and under bridge beams, or cliff protrusions. Their nests have been found in culverts, caves, wells, freight train cars and even a ferry that was in use. Visit the phoebe platform shelter page. View and print platform shelter plans.

Visit the Say's phoebe species page.
Say’s Phoebe
Say’s phoebes build nests of sticks, grass, moss, hair and spider webs in tree hollows, caves, rock crevices. They also nest in farm out buildings, on ledges under home porch roofs and on shelter platforms. See the phoebe platform shelter. Print or just view platform shelter plans on a mobile device in your work space.
Select to view the mourning dove webpage.
Mourning Dove
Mourning doves make flimsy nests of loose sticks, leaves and trash usually on horizontal tree branches. They will also nest on stumps, bushes, rocks and on the ground. Sometimes on building ledges and once in a while in platform style nest boxes. See the mourning dove platform shelter and view or print platform shelter plans.
Visit the Blue Jay Species Page.
Blue Jay
Bluejays build nests of twigs, leaves, roots and odd rubbish. They usually nest in pine trees deep in forests and groves and sometimes on platforms. They have a special liking for wooded towns and even major cities where they are quite accustomed to people. Visit the nesting platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.
Select to view the house finch webpage.
House Finch
House finches build nests of fine twigs, grasses and feathers in trees, vine thickets, gardens and porches. Sometimes they acquire the nest of an Oriole or Cliff Swallow. House finches will also nest in both birdhouses and platforms. Visit the nesting platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.
See species information for Carolina wrens
Carolina Wren
Carolina wrens build bulky nests of leaves, grass, feathers and hair often in shady ravines, wooded and rocky banks of streams, in log piles, brush heaps, natural or abandoned tree cavities on platform shelters and in birdhouses. Visit the nesting platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans for Carolina wrens.

Song Sparrows, Catbirds & Brown Thrashers

Gilbert H. Trafton recommended platforms open on all four sides for Thrashers, Catbirds and Song Birds, “Bird Friends” 1916. Just what experience this advice is based on is uncertain.

A USGS research center web site and an older version of an Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation brochure included Catbirds and Thrashers as users of platforms.

The original brochure said: “These birds will use the nesting platform when natural nesting sites are unavailable. The platforms should be placed in partial shade along main branches of trees or under the eaves of a shed or porch roof.”  However, in 1993, Catbirds and Thrashers were deleted from the brochure because of a lack of documentation.

Select to view the song sparrow webpage.
Song Sparrow
Song sparrows build well concealed nests of grass, rootlets, bark shreds and leaves lined with fine grass and hair. They nest in trees, tree cavities, wood heaps, bushes and in vines against house sides, usually near the ground. Sometimes in open fields. Visit the open nesting platform page and view or print open platform plans.
Visit the catbird species page.
Catbird
Catbirds build loosely woven nests of twigs, grass, leaves, bark and roots lined with fine grass in bushes and vines. Sometimes low in trees usually less than ten feet high and sometimes in open fields. Visit the open nesting platform page and view or print open platform plans.
Visit the brown thrasher species page.
Brown Thrasher
Song sparrows build well concealed nests of grass, rootlets, bark shreds and leaves lined with fine grass and hair. They nest in trees, tree cavities, wood heaps, bushes and in vines against house sides, usually near the ground. Sometimes in open fields. Visit the  open nesting platform page and view or print open platform plans.

Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows & Black Phoebes

These birds make nests of mud reinforced with straw and grass. Usually their nests adhere to vertical rock faces, concrete walls and beam sides, usually under some kind of shelter.

These shelters may be useful in places where there are no overhead shelters. Chances may be slim of attracting birds to these shelters, but they involve little effort and make nice ornaments.

Visit the barn swallow species page.
Barn Swallow
Barn swallows attach mud and grass nests to ceiling rafters or walls near a ceiling almost always in open barns or other out buildings, country churches, long covered bridges of New England, beneath piers or open boat houses, sometimes under eaves. See the barn swallow shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.
Visit the cliff swallow species page.
Cliff Swallow
Cliff swallow colonies of dozens or several hundred mud nests adhere to shear vertical cliff faces, walls or beam sides, under bridges often above water, under wharves and building eaves. See the cliff swallow shelter page and view or print swallow shelter plans.
Visit the black phoebe species page.
Black Phoebe
Black phoebes build mud and grass nests similar to bran and cliff swallows always under something on a wall, bridge or cliff often directly over, or near water on farms, in towns and some still in natural formations in California river valleys, its original habitat. See the black phoebe shelter page and view or print shelter plans.

Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk and Osprey

Back yard birds?  Well, yes actually. These and other larger predators occupy nests in towns and city outskirts to varying extents. Great horned owls are occasionally spotted in large city parks. Ospreys often nest on lake and ocean sides of towns and cities. Red-tailed hawks are occasionally reported nesting on tall buildings and chasing prey in New York City, Cincinnati, Denver and more cities.

Under the right circumstances, these three large predators may nest on wide platforms mounted high on posts in well chosen locations. Building one is a considerable project.

See species information for the Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
Great horned owls build nests high in trees (as high as 100 feet) of sticks, twigs, bark and feathers in cavities, cliff ledges, other hawk or eagle nests and will also nest on specially made platforms. Visit the Great Horned Owl nesting platform page and view or print the platform plans.
Visit the red-tailed hawk species page
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed hawks build nests high in trees, often more than 50 feet high. They use large sticks lined with smaller twigs, strips of bark, and its own feathers. Sometimes use a nest for many years. Visit the owl-hawk-osprey nesting platform page and view or print the platform plans.
Visit the osprey species page.
Osprey
Ospreys build huge nests, often near other Osprey nests. They use large sticks, bones, seaweed, other bird nests and even old shoes. They nest in trees from ten to seventy five feet high, on the ground in colonies on isolated islands, and in parks and refuges. Residents of many towns accommodate ospreys with platforms. Visit the owl-hawk-osprey nesting platform page and view or print the platform plans.

Platforms & Shelters – Plans & How-to

Select to view the Mourning Dove Platform web page.

Mourning Dove Platform

Select to view the Robin Platform web page.

Robin Platform

Select to visit the Phoebe Platform Shelter Page

Phoebe Platform

Photo of a shelter to attract black phoebes, barn swallows and cliff swallows.

Barn & Cliff Swallows

Photo of a 2nd shelter to attract black phoebes, barn swallows and cliff swallows.

& Black Phoebe Shelters

Visit the open nesting platform page.

Open Platform

.
Select to view or print plans for the Hawk, Owl, Osprey Platform

Owl Hawk Osprey Platform

Platform Nesters: Robins, Phoebes, Doves…Raptors…more

Robins and phoebes nest on platform shelters. More back yard birds may also nest on platforms. Red-tailed hawks, great horned owls and osprey nest on high platforms.

Wrens   |   Chickadees   |   Nuthatches   |  Woodpeckers   |   Robins & Platform Nesters

City Birds  |  Bluebirds  |  Swallows & Martins  |  Phoebes & Flycatchers  |  Raptors  |  Ducks

Select to view the American robin webpage
American Robin
Robins build large nests of twigs, roots, grass and leaves lined with a clay cup. The cup is then lined with fine grass, hair and wool. They nest in trees or ledges on houses, garages and platform shelters from five to twenty five feet high. See the American robin platform. View or print platform plans.
 
See species information for eastern phoebes
Eastern Phoebe

Eastern phoebes make nests of twigs, roots and moss, cemented with mud, lined with grass, hair, and feathers. They like to nest in woodlands near wetlands. Also on house ledges under eaves, in farm buildings, on and under bridge beams, or cliff protrusions. Their nests have been found in culverts, caves, wells, freight train cars and even a ferry that was in use. Visit the phoebe platform shelter page. View and print platform shelter plans.

 
Visit the Say's phoebe species page.
Say’s Phoebe
Say’s phoebes build nests of sticks, grass, moss, hair and spider webs in tree hollows, caves, rock crevices. They also nest in farm out buildings, on ledges under home porch roofs and on shelter platforms. See the phoebe platform shelter. Print or just view platform shelter plans on a mobile device in your work space.
Select to view the mourning dove webpage.
Mourning Dove
Mourning doves make flimsy nests of loose sticks, leaves and trash usually on horizontal tree branches. They will also nest on stumps, bushes, rocks and on the ground. Sometimes on building ledges and once in a while in platform style nest boxes. See the mourning dove platform shelter and view or print platform shelter plans.
Visit the Blue Jay Species Page.
Blue Jay
Bluejays build nests of twigs, leaves, roots and odd rubbish. They usually nest in pine trees deep in forests and groves and sometimes on platforms. They have a special liking for wooded towns and even major cities where they are quite accustomed to people. Visit the nesting platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.
Select to view the house finch webpage.
House Finch
House finches build nests of fine twigs, grasses and feathers in trees, vine thickets, gardens and porches. Sometimes they acquire the nest of an Oriole or Cliff Swallow. House finches will also nest in both birdhouses and platforms. Visit the nesting platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.
See species information for Carolina wrens
Carolina Wren
Carolina wrens build bulky nests of leaves, grass, feathers and hair often in shady ravines, wooded and rocky banks of streams, in log piles, brush heaps, natural or abandoned tree cavities on platform shelters and in birdhouses. Visit the nesting platform shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans for Carolina wrens.

Song Sparrows, Catbirds & Brown Thrashers

Gilbert H. Trafton recommended platforms open on all four sides for Thrashers, Catbirds and Song Birds, “Bird Friends” 1916. Just what experience this advice is based on is uncertain.

A USGS research center web site and an older version of an Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation brochure included Catbirds and Thrashers as users of platforms.

The original brochure said: “These birds will use the nesting platform when natural nesting sites are unavailable. The platforms should be placed in partial shade along main branches of trees or under the eaves of a shed or porch roof.”  However, in 1993, Catbirds and Thrashers were deleted from the brochure because of a lack of documentation.

 

Select to view the song sparrow webpage.
Song Sparrow
Song sparrows build well concealed nests of grass, rootlets, bark shreds and leaves lined with fine grass and hair. They nest in trees, tree cavities, wood heaps, bushes and in vines against house sides, usually near the ground. Sometimes in open fields. Visit the open nesting platform page and view or print open platform plans.
Visit the catbird species page.
Catbird
Catbirds build loosely woven nests of twigs, grass, leaves, bark and roots lined with fine grass in bushes and vines. Sometimes low in trees usually less than ten feet high and sometimes in open fields. Visit the open nesting platform page and view or print open platform plans.
Visit the brown thrasher species page.
Brown Thrasher
Song sparrows build well concealed nests of grass, rootlets, bark shreds and leaves lined with fine grass and hair. They nest in trees, tree cavities, wood heaps, bushes and in vines against house sides, usually near the ground. Sometimes in open fields. Visit the  open nesting platform page and view or print open platform plans.

Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows & Black Phoebes

These birds make nests of mud reinforced with straw and grass. Usually their nests adhere to vertical rock faces, concrete walls and beam sides, usually under some kind of shelter.

These shelters may be useful in places where there are no overhead shelters. Chances may be slim of attracting birds to these shelters, but they involve little effort and make nice ornaments.

Visit the barn swallow species page.
Barn Swallow
Barn swallows attach mud and grass nests to ceiling rafters or walls near a ceiling almost always in open barns or other out buildings, country churches, long covered bridges of New England, beneath piers or open boat houses, sometimes under eaves. See the barn swallow shelter page and view or print platform shelter plans.
Visit the cliff swallow species page.
Cliff Swallow
Cliff swallow colonies of dozens or several hundred mud nests adhere to shear vertical cliff faces, walls or beam sides, under bridges often above water, under wharves and building eaves. See the cliff swallow shelter page and view or print swallow shelter plans.
Visit the black phoebe species page.
Black Phoebe
Black phoebes build mud and grass nests similar to bran and cliff swallows always under something on a wall, bridge or cliff often directly over, or near water on farms, in towns and some still in natural formations in California river valleys, its original habitat. See the black phoebe shelter page and view or print shelter plans.

Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk and Osprey

Back yard birds?  Well, yes actually. These and other larger predators occupy nests in towns and city outskirts to varying extents. Great horned owls are occasionally spotted in large city parks. Ospreys often nest on lake and ocean sides of towns and cities. Red-tailed hawks are occasionally reported nesting on tall buildings and chasing prey in New York City, Cincinnati, Denver and more cities.

Under the right circumstances, these three large predators may nest on wide platforms mounted high on posts in well chosen locations. Building one is a considerable project.

See species information for the Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
Great horned owls build nests high in trees (as high as 100 feet) of sticks, twigs, bark and feathers in cavities, cliff ledges, other hawk or eagle nests and will also nest on specially made platforms. Visit the Great Horned Owl nesting platform page and view or print the platform plans.
Visit the red-tailed hawk species page
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed hawks build nests high in trees, often more than 50 feet high. They use large sticks lined with smaller twigs, strips of bark, and its own feathers. Sometimes use a nest for many years. Visit the owl-hawk-osprey nesting platform page and view or print the platform plans.
Visit the osprey species page.
Osprey
Ospreys build huge nests, often near other Osprey nests. They use large sticks, bones, seaweed, other bird nests and even old shoes. They nest in trees from ten to seventy five feet high, on the ground in colonies on isolated islands, and in parks and refuges. Residents of many towns accommodate ospreys with platforms. Visit the owl-hawk-osprey nesting platform page and view or print the platform plans.

Platforms & Shelters – Plans & How-to

The Platform Nesters

Birds  |  Birdhouses  |  Plans  |  Home

Select to view the American robin webpage
American Robin
Robins build large nests of twigs, roots, grass and leaves lined with a clay cup. The cup is then lined with fine grass, hair and wool. They nest in trees or ledges on houses, garages and platform shelters from five to twenty five feet high.
 
See species information for eastern phoebes
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern phoebes make nests of twigs, roots and moss, cemented with mud, lined with grass, hair, and feathers. They like to nest in woodlands near wetlands. Also on house ledges under eaves, in farm buildings, on and under bridge beams, or cliff protrusions. Their nests have been found in culverts, caves, wells, freight train cars and even a ferry that was in use.
Visit the Say's phoebe species page.
Say’s Phoebe
Say’s phoebes build nests of sticks, grass, moss, hair and spider webs in tree hollows, caves, rock crevices. They also nest in farm out buildings, on ledges under home porch roofs and on shelter platforms.
Select to view the mourning dove webpage.
Mourning Dove
Mourning doves make flimsy nests of piles of loose sticks, leaves and trash usually on horizontal tree branches. They will also nest on stumps, bushes, rocks and on the ground. Sometimes on building ledges and once in a while in platform style nest boxes.
Visit the Blue Jay Species Page.
Blue Jay
Bluejays build nests of twigs, leaves, roots and odd rubbish. They usually nest in pine trees deep in forests and groves and sometimes on platforms. They have a special liking for wooded towns and even major cities where they are quite accustomed to people.
Select to view the house finch webpage.
House Finch
House finches build nests of fine twigs, grasses and feathers in trees, vine thickets, gardens and porches. Sometimes they acquire the nest of an Oriole or Cliff Swallow. House finches will also nest in both birdhouses and platforms.
See species information for Carolina wrens
Carolina Wren
Carolina wrens build bulky nests of leaves, grass, feathers and hair often in shady ravines, wooded and rocky banks of streams, in log piles, brush heaps, natural or abandoned tree cavities on platform shelters and in birdhouses.

Song Sparrows, Catbirds & Brown Thrashers

Gilbert H. Trafton recommended platforms open on all four sides for Thrashers, Catbirds and Song Birds, “Bird Friends” 1916. Just what experience this advice is based on is uncertain.

A USGS research center web site and an older version of an Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation brochure included Catbirds and Thrashers as users of platforms.

The original brochure said: “These birds will use the nesting platform when natural nesting sites are unavailable. The platforms should be placed in partial shade along main branches of trees or under the eaves of a shed or porch roof.”  However, in 1993, Catbirds and Thrashers were deleted from the brochure because of a lack of documentation.

 

Select to view the song sparrow webpage.
Song Sparrow
Song sparrows build well concealed nests of grass, rootlets, bark shreds and leaves lined with fine grass and hair. They nest in trees, tree cavities, wood heaps, bushes and in vines against house sides, usually near the ground. Sometimes in open fields.
Visit the catbird species page.
Catbird
Catbirds build loosely woven nests of twigs, grass, leaves, bark and roots lined with fine grass in bushes and vines. Sometimes low in trees usually less than ten feet high and sometimes in open fields.
Visit the brown thrasher species page.
Brown Thrasher
Song sparrows build well concealed nests of grass, rootlets, bark shreds and leaves lined with fine grass and hair. They nest in trees, tree cavities, wood heaps, bushes and in vines against house sides, usually near the ground. Sometimes in open fields.

Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows & Black Phoebes

These birds make nests of mud reinforced with straw and grass. Usually their nests adhere to vertical rock faces, concrete walls and beam sides, usually under some kind of shelter.

These shelters may be useful in places where there are no overhead shelters. Chances may be slim of attracting birds to these shelters, but they involve little effort and make nice ornaments.

Visit the barn swallow species page.
Barn Swallow
Barn swallows attach mud and grass nests to ceiling rafters or walls near a ceiling almost always in open barns or other out buildings, country churches, long covered bridges of New England, beneath piers or open boat houses, sometimes under eaves.
Visit the cliff swallow species page.
Cliff Swallow
Cliff swallow colonies of dozens or several hundred mud nests adhere to shear vertical cliff faces, walls or beam sides, under bridges often above water, under wharves and building eaves.
Visit the black phoebe species page.
Black Phoebe
Black phoebes build mud and grass nests always under something on a wall, bridge or cliff often directly over, or near water on farms, in towns and some still in natural formations in California river valleys, its original habitat.

Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk and Osprey

Back yard birds? Well, yes actually. These and other larger predators occupy nests in towns and city outskirts to varying extents.

Great horned owls are occasionally spotted in large city parks. Ospreys often nest on lake and ocean sides of towns and cities. Red-tailed hawks are occasionally spotted nesting on tall buildings and chasing prey in New York, Cincinnati, Denver and more cities.

Under the right circumstances, these three large predators may nest on wide platforms mounted high on posts in well chosen locations. Building one is a considerable project.

 

See species information for the Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
Great horned owls build nests high in trees (as high as 100 feet) of sticks, twigs, bark and feathers in cavities, cliff ledges, other hawk or eagle nests and will also nest on specially made platforms.
Visit the red-tailed hawk species page
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed hawks build nests high in trees, often more than 50 feet high. They use large sticks lined with smaller twigs, strips of bark, and its own feathers. Sometimes use a nest for many years.
Visit the osprey species page.
Osprey
Ospreys build huge nests, often near other Osprey nests. They use large sticks, bones, seaweed, other bird nests and even old shoes. They nest in trees from ten to seventy five feet high, on the ground in colonies on isolated islands, and in parks and refuges. Residents of many towns accommodate ospreys with platforms.

Platforms & Shelters
Plans & How-to

Select to view the Mourning Dove Platform web page.

Mourning Dove Platform

Select to view the Robin Platform web page.

Robin Platform

Select to visit the Phoebe Platform Shelter Page

Phoebe Platform

Visit the open nesting platform page.

Open Platform

Select to visit the barn & cliff swallow & black phoebe shelter page
Select to visit the barn & cliff swallow & black phoebe shelter page

Barn & Cliff Swallow
& Black Phoebe Shelters

Select to Visit the Hawk, Owl, Osprey Platform Page

Owl Hawk Osprey Platform

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