Building A Wild Birds Roosting Box With Scrap Lumber For Wintering Non-Migratory Bird Species

Hey guys. I have a ton of scrap lumber that is too nice to burn in the wood stove, so I'm turning much of it into roosting boxes for the various wild bird species we have here in Central Virginia that do not migrate, but spend the winter with us. It's not pretty, but it's practical.

[@lgoldsmith56]

You're awesome!☺ You are one of a few who truly have a heart and it shows in how you care for your famiy, property, and for the wildlife. Take care and hope you realize how much of an example and inspiration you are. ☺

[@hugueslevistre5519]

Nice birthday gift ,👌. Two good deeds ,a bird hotel and birthday gift.

[@danielledeems1285]

Great job!! Happy belated birthday Virginia!!

[@davegass1650]

We are from the city but have achieved our dream of living in the country for the last 26 or so years and love working on our property also . We are both 52 and have been married for 28 year's and together 33 . We are very lucky .

[@HomesteadingOffTheGrid]

Awesome!

[@davegass1650]

@@HomesteadingOffTheGrid Thank you .

[@davegass1650]

@@sarahdeason493 Thank You very much Sarah . I have my own new KZbin channel . It's a little of everything and only three months old . If you have time , maybe you can check it out . Thanks .😊

[@davegass1650]

@@louverousse9023 No problem . Thanks for checking my channel out . I am not a gun nut it is a hobby of mine . But be once again no problem . Everyone has the right to there opinion . 😊

[@davegass1650]

@@louverousse9023 We are in Massachusetts . So it is getting to be evening . Have a great night yourself and you can check in any time thanks .

[@kathill2567]

I bet Daniel would be a wonderful Bird Hotel decorator. Give him a set of permanent magic markers and let his creative genius flower ... lol My brother and I were great at that as kids. My father who had a hobby of building model airplanes. Gorgeous minitures that were made according to scale with balsa wood then covered with tissue paper and coated with some kind of sealer to make them suitable for flying. They had tiny gas engines and he could control them with some kind of remote. The wing spans were perhaps 4 feet across. Well one day my brother and I got in his tool shop, found his enamel paints and painted all of his planes (about 4 of them) with polka dots, stripes and stripes with polka dots. Mamma saved our little lives that time because Daddy certainly did not appreciate our *great artistic inherited skill set.*

[@ivannovotny4552]

Vacancy available immediately... Thanks Kevin for looking after our winged friends.

[@roseren6183]

Thank you for takeing care of birds

[@davegass1650]

Loving the channel . Found it and subscribed last week .

[@kathill2567]

Welcome to Kevin's little sanctuary respite from the outside world Dave ... you no doubt will enjoy it as much as the rest of us do :-)

[@davegass1650]

@@kathill2567 Thank You Kat .

[@kathychilders9397]

Great idea!!

[@lisaweinaug4167]

Hi guys. We watch you every day, and if you’re not there we miss you. So I guess we are one of those 2000 subscribers that are part of your posse! And we are so glad you’re there (or here lol). Loved this roosting box video. Great design. Pretty sure we’re going to make one! And I want you to know that my husband is bi-polar which causes “stinkin’ thinkin’ on my part when he gets to raving. Watching you and Dearly, and your interactions with each other, reminds me how much I love my husband and nothing else matters. Thank you for that. We actually haven’t had an episode in a couple of weeks. And while you are not the cure, you certainly ease my mind and divert my thoughts to better things. My husband feels like he actually relates to you and enjoys your channel on a daily basis as well. And we would sorely miss you if you stopped filming!

[@HomesteadingOffTheGrid]

Thank you so much for this message Lisa.

[@kelleystephens6752]

Thanks Kevin, if I was a bird I'd be wintering at your place.❤👍

[@jjo5375]

That was a great project! The creatures of Nature will enjoy it! : )

[@joanpflp1032]

Really enjoyed watching you build the roosting box. Recently I put up a pole system for my bird feeders and learned the importance of baffles. For the roost you may want to add a baffle underneath to keep out predators. Help keep the sleeping birds safe.

[@lecutter9382]

Good job. Only thing I'd add is some straw at the bottom to help insulate it. Just leave a little path in the center for them to come in and out of.

[@dcox693]

Cool! It turned out good, and the squirells cant steal it! Lol! Good use of scrap wood. I think that piece is called moulding...like around the baseboards of your house. Mayb. Dont mark my words.lol

[@GmaAlice]

That's actually impressive for someone who doesn't have a set of plans to follow to build a bird roosting box. It's good you had some quarter round to fill the gaps. That should keep the birds safe and sound throughout the winter. The deer making an appearance was a delight. They were way in the background but I could see them moving around. One thing left to say... Job well done!

[@petemoss1938]

Your bird hotel will double as a bat roost, especially with the dowels to hang from. Bats are protected over here in the UK, hope they are in the USA too!

[@wally5232]

If the birds don't keep it,,, the bees, wasp and hornets will love it in the spring and summer... either way you are generous... for our natural friends...

[@jamesbarron1202]

I paint my winter boxes black to absorb solar heat during the day and use thick wood so it'll release heat longer at night

[@aubreysavaria1777]

It looks like some of that wood would be toxic to burn. Good Idea to build something with it!

[@cindyz2933]

Great job, for a first timer. I'm certainly impressed. Looked like you could still hang your feeder on the Virg Bird house.

[@feetgoaroundfullflapsC]

Are they installed it in a cold exposed to the wind area. Winter Roost Boxes are supposed to be installed in the south side of the house-away from the northern winds. They will go to those instead of your in the cold wind place installed.

[@djgovan4422]

Hi Kevin I was thinking some of that pretty cedar wood or I think its pine board the larger boards( probably wrong ) would make a pretty kindling box or planters for the porch such beautiful wood or extra shelving for dearly in the kitchen or for books in your reading nook none of those would need much extra to make it work My dad always built with whatever was to hand to his own plan were the things he built conventionally beautiful no but they had a charm all of their own just like your boxes .. idiosyncratic and unique and absolutely functional. Dx

[@Jomatsch]

Would that be a Birdie Biltmore?

[@pointlessnavigation]

Kevin I really like your jacket. Do you recall brand and where its from? Also I think the bird box turned out great! Thx.

[@HomesteadingOffTheGrid]

Thrift store. $3. Never checked brand. Thanks.

[@karenmckinney6461]

Looks good to me

[@4thegloryofthelord]

If you don't see any birds in there after awhile, you may need to nail it up higher on a tree.

[@Lcanoero]

Are birds using your roost box?

[@joequillun7790]

My question too. Haven't seen any roosting box videos being occupied with birds.

[@stellabastoneintoronto955]

@@joequillun7790 I also have this question. Have seen zero evidence any bird has ever used a roosting box. They do use regular nest boxes for winter roosting, though.

[@darylmae2329]

Birds haven?