Editors of Storey Publishings Country Wisdom Bulletins - Country Wisdom Almanac: 373 Tips, Crafts, Home Improvements, Recipes, and Homemade Remedies

(United States and Canada)

ST. PATRICKS DAY March 17

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS second Sunday in March

APRIL FOOLS DAY April 1

GOOD FRIDAY* Friday before Easter Sunday

EASTER SUNDAY first Sunday after first full moon after vernal equinox

EASTER MONDAY* Monday after Easter Sunday

EARTH DAY April 22

NATIONAL ARBOR DAY last Friday in April

MOTHERS DAY second Sunday in May

VICTORIA DAY Monday preceding May 25

MEMORIAL DAY last Monday in May

FLAG DAY June 14

* CANADIAN FEDERAL HOLIDAY

To make the nest-building process easier (and possibly make your birdhouse more attractive to potential nest builders), you can offer birds nesting materials. Robins and barn swallows need mud. Songbirds use twigs, feathers, straw, grasses, and leaves to build their nests but will be thankful for short threads, string, yarn, tissues, hair (human or horse), lint from the clothes dryer, and bits of cloth. Long threads or wads of cotton may be more dangerous than useful; they can become tangled in a birds claws.

Robins, phoebes, and barn swallows will not use an enclosed birdhouse; they prefer a shelter with one or more open sides.

Back and roof: x 7 x 23inch (1.9 x 19 x 63.5 cm) piece of wood

Bottom: x 8 x 6inch (1.9 x 20.3 x 15.2 cm) piece of wood

Sides: x 6 x 11 inch (1.9 x 15.2 x 29.2 cm) piece of wood

Closure strips: x 1 x 17 inch (1.9 x 3.8 x 44.4 cm) piece of wood

Eighteen 1 5/8inch (4.1 cm) stainless-steel drywall screws or 6d galvanized ring-shank nails

Two brass or galvanized 6 x 2inch (5.1 cm) wood screws and washers to fit glue

Tape measure

Carpenters square

Pencil

Circular saw or handsaw and miter box

Hand or power drill and drill bits: inch (6.35 cm), 3/8 inch (9.53 cm)

Phillips-head screwdriver or power drill filled with screwdriver bit

Cutting note: For barn swallows and phoebes, the bottom should be cut to 6 x 6 inches (15.2 x 15.2 cm) and the side closure strips should be measured off at 3 inches (7.6 cm).

1. Cut one end of each side at a 70-degree angle.

2. In the bottom, drill four -inch (0.6 cm) drainage holes. Then align each side with the back of the bottom, glue both faces, and nail or screw together.

3. If you will be mounting the platform, predrill two 3/8-inch (1 cm) holes 1 inch (2.5 cm) down from the top and 2 inches (5.1 cm) in from either side of the back. Align the back with the sides and bottom; glue and screw or nail together.

4. Bevel-cut the roof at 70 degrees along one of the 7 -inch (19 cm) edges. Glue and screw or nail the roof to the sides and the back to the roof.

5. Glue and screw or nail 1 x 2inch (2.5 x 5.1 cm) front and side