Greetings bird lovers. I'm looking for some advice from some of you. I
won't bore you too much, but I'd like to briefly introduce myself, since I
rarely post anything, but always read everything.

I'm not exactly a birder, but more of a bird watcher. I love birds, and I
enjoy watching them, but they are secondary to my great love and fascination
for wood and making things from it. For example, I've never driven a
hundred miles to see a rare bird, I'm perfectly happy to watch the ones who
come to my yard. But I have driven all the way to Klamath Falls, Oregon to
get some exotic wood. I don't have any lists of birds, but I can show you a
list of every kind of wood I have worked with. That is why I seem so
ignorant to bird related things, and why I'm now seeking advice.

Now to get to the point: A few days ago I saw a little part of a tree with
an interesting shape, and an idea rushed into my head. I could take this
little "log" and make a very cool bird house. (Details about my plan will
be provided to the curious, just ask.) I could look this stuff up, but I
think I would like some real human interaction. Basically, having never
made a bird house, I have something in the neighborhood at a million
questions, and am hoping one of the more patient of you will contact me and
try to give me some education.

Here is just a partial list of questions, and there will be more if somebody
bites:

How big to make the hole? My target birds are the small Chickadees and
Nuthatches. I have very many of these at my feeder every day.

How big to make the inside "cavity".

How high in the tree should I hang it?

When should I hang it? Is it too late in the year now? Should I wait until
..... when?

Anyway, that's enough for a starter. Any advice freely given will be
greatly appreciated. In fact, I'll go one better. If somebody is willing
to go the extra mile to help me get through this, I'll go ahead and find
another interesting little log and make a second one for you, too, as a
thank you. Or I'll make you a hand-made wooden feeder if you prefer. (But
I'm not really willing to make, say, a hundred of them, so earlier replies
will take priority if by some chance more than one of you is interested).

Thanks in advance.

Dale Christensen
Olympia, Wa