Tree Swallow Box

If you live in an open, grassy area near water, consider building and putting up a tree swallow nest box. These beautiful, graceful birds don't mind living close to each other so feel free to provide more than one box. The design looks complicated, but it isn't difficult to build.
You'll need wood, like this durable rough-sawn cedar, small nails, wood screws, hinges and a piece of dowel rod.
Following the directions, carefully measure and cut out the six pieces.
In a line on the front piece of the box, drill four holes. One hole will need to be an inch-and-a-half in diameter, and the other three holes should be three-quarters to an inch in diameter.
Below the holes on both the inside and outside of the front piece, attach strips of wood for the birds to cling to. Using dowel rod, do the same with the roof pieces. Then assemble all the pieces except the back.
The back is attached to the box with hinges to allow access for cleaning, and secured with a wood screw. You might also attach a wood screw to the back to use as a handle to open the box.
Finally, attach a perch to the top of the box and mount it facing east 4 to 6 feet above the ground on a pole in a grassy area near water.
Tree swallows like lining their nests with feathers so if you want to be really nice, leave some on the ground nearby for them to collect. An old feather pillow works nicely.

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• Tree
• Swallow
• Box
• birdhouse
• construction
• building
• woodworking
• missouri
• conservation
• outdoors
• nature