How to Build a Birdhouse for Blue Jays

Blue jays are colorful, loud birds that can make a welcome addition to your backyard bird habitat. According to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, blue jays build cup-shaped nests from twigs, grass and mud, and line them with rootlets. Blue jays also typically make their nests in the crotch of a tree, between 10 and 25 feet above ground. If you would like to attract these birds to your yard, you will need to build an open birdhouse, or nesting platform, to simulate their natural nesting place.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 pieces of untreated pine, cedar or fir wood, 8 inches square and 1/2 or 3/4 inch thick
  • Wood glue
  • Screwdriver
  • 7 wood screws, 1 inch long
  • 2 pieces of pine, cedar or fir wood with 30 degree angle cuts on one side, 4 inches square and 1/2 or 3/4 inch thick
  • Pencil
  • Piece of trim, 8 inches long, 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches thick
  • 4 finishing screws
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the first piece of 8-inch-square wood down and place a thin line of wood glue along the top edge. This will be the back of the blue jay birdhouse.

    • 2

      Place the second piece of 8-inch-square wood at a 90-degree angle on the glue line of the first piece of wood and wait for it to dry. This will be the roof of the birdhouse. It will provide shade and protection for the blue jays.

    • 3

      Screw three 1-inch wood screws into the roof from the back of the first piece and lay birdhouse back down, with the roof sticking up.

    • 4

      Place the two 8-inch-by-4-inch pieces of wood together, edge to edge, to form a shallow "V" shape at the bottom of the back piece. Their edges should be resting on the face of the back piece, with the bottom of the "V" even with the bottom edge of the back piece. This is the nesting platform, where the birds will build their nest. Draw a line along the top of each of the two pieces that form the "V" with the pencil.

    • 5

      Run a small strip of wood glue just below each pencil line, attach the nesting platform pieces to the back piece and wait until they are dry.

    • 6

      Screw two 1-inch wood screws into each piece of the V-shaped nesting platform from the back to secure them in place.

    • 7

      Lay the birdhouse on its back, with the roof and V-shaped nesting platform sticking up. Run a strip of wood glue along the front edge of the V-shaped pieces of wood. Place the 8-inch trim piece flat on top of the front so that it covers the "V" shape and is parallel to the back piece. The bottom edge of the trim piece should be level with the bottom edge of the back piece. This creates a front wall for the nesting platform so the blue jays' nest will be secure.

    • 8

      Screw 4 finishing screws into the trim piece to finish off the feeder.