BARN SWALLOW nesting platform

A barn-style nesting platform for barn swallows seemed only natural. You can attach this platform below the eaves or gutters of a barn, a tall outbuilding or your two-story house if you live in an open area.

BARN SWALLOW

A familiar inhabitant of barns, the barn swallow is easily recognized by its long forked tail streamers and chestnut body. The barn swallow is the most abundant and widely distributed swallow species in the world. This swallow prefers to nest almost exclusively in nonnatural structures.

Barn swallows eat flying insects, which they catch in flight, often low to the ground. They need mud for nest building, so they prefer to live in agricultural areas. Barn swallows, originally cave dwellers, have benefited greatly from humans. Artificial structures have allowed them to move into new areas and nest in greater densities than ever before. As a result, barn swallows are prevalent throughout most of the world. They spend their summers in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere.

Cut out the three roof parts, lay them on a flat surface, then tape and glue the miters.

Using the roof assembly as a template, trace the shape of the roof on the back. Cut the back to shape and nail it to the bottom. Then nail the sides to the bottom. Finally, nail the roof to the barn. Paint the outside of the project. Leave the inside unfinished; the birds prefer natural wood for their nesting site.