You shouldn’t have to pay for any wood if you keep your eyes peeled. Watch for wood scrap piles at fence and home construction sites. These are good sources for the small sizes usually needed for bird houses.
Use softwood. Cedar is beautiful, easy to work with, is often rough-cut, or simulated so for fencing, which is good for grip, and it endures. When fresh, it has a repellent effect on some insect pests. Pine is also a good, abundant softwood.
Hardwoods are difficult to work with, heavier and more suited to fine joinery used in furniture. It’s more work and not necessary.
Clean and disinfect nest boxes with a 5% bleach and 95% water mix after the brooding season to prevent spread of disease and parasites. Use rubber gloves, eye protection, spray bottles, and sponges to completely saturate nest box interiors.
Hinges are suggested for easy access. Other methods for attaching roofs are just as good. However, most nest boxes are mounted out of reach for most people.
Birdhouse mounting, monitoring and maintenance on ladders are awkward chores that require “three hands”. Convenience increases safety when working at heights.
Owl Hawk Osprey Platform
This platform is 2’x 2′ for Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls, and 4’x 4′ for Ospreys. It can be constructed with 2x4s or 2x6s or both and mounted on most any wood post (possibly steel or concrete).
Osprey platforms typically have fence-like side boards around the perimeter about 1′ high (not pictured here).
Always use corrosion resistant screws and hardware. Drilling countersunk pilot holes in primary and regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces reduces a tendency for wood to split and makes for easy assembly in minutes with a power or hand held screwdriver.
For both the Great Horned Owl, and the Red-tailed Hawk, the platform should be mounted 14′ or higher on a sturdy post or structure on a forest edge or in a clearing adjacent to a tree line.
Platforms for Ospreys should be installed very near, even over water, 14′ to 20′ high.
Both are significant installations with heavy materials at dangerous heights, which creates potential for serious accidents.
For the smaller platform at the lower height, experienced supervisors and workers can attach the completed platform to a post while laying horizontal and then by man handling and with rope tip up into a hole.
Assembling either platform on an installed post with sufficient scaffolding including railings to protect workers is another method.
Both methods require experienced professionals.
The danger in working with heavy objects at these heights can’t be overstated. Don’t create a hazardous situation by starting an installation without the proper experience, help and equipment.
Owl Hawk Osprey Platform
This platform is 2’x 2′ for Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls, and 4’x 4′ for Ospreys.
It can be constructed with 2x4s or 2x6s or both and mounted on most any wood post (possibly steel or concrete).
Osprey platforms typically have fence-like side boards around the perimeter about 1′ high (not pictured here).
This is a significant project with dangerous potential both while constructing and after it is in place if it is not installed professionally.
Always use corrosion resistant screws and hardware. Drilling countersunk pilot holes in primary and regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces reduces a tendency for wood to split and makes for easy assembly in minutes with a power or hand held screwdriver.
For both the Great Horned Owl, and the Red-tailed Hawk, the platform should be mounted 14′ or higher on a sturdy post or structure on a forest edge or in a clearing adjacent to a tree line.
Platforms for Ospreys should be installed very near, even over water, 14′ to 20′ high. Osprey platforms typically have fence-like side boards around the perimeter about 1′ high (not pictured here).
Both are significant installations with heavy materials at dangerous heights, which creates potential for serious accidents.
For the smaller platform at the lower height, experienced supervisors and workers can attach the completed platform to a post while laying horizontal and then by man handling and with rope tip up into a hole.
Assembling either platform on an installed post with sufficient scaffolding including railings to protect workers is another method.
Both methods require experienced professionals. The danger in working with heavy objects at these heights can’t be overstated. Don’t create a hazardous situation by starting an installation without the proper experience, help and equipment.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Owl Hawk Osprey Platform
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home
This platform is 2’x 2′ for Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls, and 4’x 4′ for Ospreys. It can be constructed with 2x4s or 2x6s or both and mounted on most any wood post (possibly steel or concrete).
Osprey platforms typically have fence-like side boards around the perimeter about 1′ high (not pictured here).
Always use corrosion resistant screws and hardware. Drilling countersunk pilot holes in primary and regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces reduces a tendency for wood to split and makes for easy assembly in minutes with a power or hand held screwdriver.
For both the Great Horned Owl, and the Red-tailed Hawk, the platform should be mounted 14′ or higher on a sturdy post or structure on a forest edge or in a clearing adjacent to a tree line.
Platforms for Ospreys should be installed very near, even over water, 14′ to 20′ high.
Both are significant installations with heavy materials at dangerous heights, which creates potential for serious accidents.
For the smaller platform at the lower height, experienced supervisors and workers can attach the completed platform to a post while laying horizontal and then by man handling and with rope tip up into a hole.
Assembling either platform on an installed post with sufficient scaffolding including railings to protect workers is another method.
Both methods require experienced professionals.
The danger in working with heavy objects at these heights can’t be overstated. Don’t create a hazardous situation by starting an installation without the proper experience, help and equipment.
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home