Ditch The Traditional Bird House: Turn An Old Log Into Something Much Cuter

Sometimes, it's hard to say goodbye to the older trees in your yard. You spend decades watching them grow and enjoying their shade. But as trees age, they often become more susceptible to pests and rot, which makes them a hazard. You don't need a heavy windstorm to blow a tree onto your house or car. If you notice that an old tree on your property has a lot of dead limbs, it might be best to remove it. And while no one will ever climb that tree again once it falls, it can still add value to your yard if you turn its limbs into log birdhouses — a much cuter alternative to the traditional bird dwellings sold commercially.  

This project requires some experience with operating a chainsaw. You'll need a hammer, a chisel, a pack of three-inch galvanized screws, a power drill, a C-clamp, a drill bit for the pilot holes, and a 1½-inch wood bit. You should be able to complete this project within a couple hours. You'll also need the appropriate safety gear, including ear plugs, gloves, boots, safety glasses, boots, and chaps. Don't paint the house, as birds prefer natural colors, but you can stain the wood with linseed oil to protect it. 

This house should attract birds that like to live inside trees, like chickadees and nuthatches. DIY birdhouses like this not only invite feathered friends to your yard, but they also give your property a rustic aesthetic. If you don't have a tree to use in your yard, you can purchase a pre-cut log or even wood cutouts at a local craft store to achieve the same look.

To start, select a part of the log that has not decayed and cut a 2-inch cross section to serve as the bottom piece. The log can be any size you choose, as long as it can reasonably accommodate nesting birds — its diameter will determine the width of the bird house. You can use wood from dead or live trees as long as it isn't cracked.

Then, cut a foot-long log from the trunk at a slight angle. Next, cut an angled 2-inch cross section for the roof piece. Stand up your log on a stump and cut it down the middle. The next step is to hollow out the inside of each half. Secure one of your log halves between two heavy pieces of wood and use the chainsaw to cut grooves into its long, flat side. Repeat this process for the other half. Then use your hammer and chisel to remove the wood from between the grooves.

Secure the two log halves together with your C-clamps, and then drill four pilot holes using a drill bit sized properly for the screws you're using. Next, screw your cross sections into either end of the log, blocking the openings (use pilot holes). Use your drill to create a couple of drainage holes in the bottom of the house — these should be at least ⅜ of an inch wide. The last step is to drill an entrance hole in the middle of the bird house with a 1½-inch wood bit. You can fasten this house to a tree using hose clamps. If you liked this project, you can make other creative DIY bird houses from recycled materials, such as a plastic bottle and swatches of burlap.