Civil Engineering
Birdhouse Adventure
Welcome to my blog post about the Birdhouse Project I created with a team in the Class Intro to Engineering at Simpson University. Our Team is the Chickadee Champs. This birdhouse was created by Christina Schneider (me), Kierstiahnna Howell, Elliot Cook, and Eye Kabede. This project was about Civil Engineering. Our team decided to build a home for the black-capped chickadees. Once we chose the bird, we dug into research, faced challenges, and learned a lot along the way.
Fun Facts about Chickadees
- Chickadees look for a safe place to nest and raise their young
- They lay about 6-8 eggs a week and therefore need a safe place to procreate
- They are small birds and very shy
- Chickadees need gaps between the roof and walls in case of extreme heat
How does our design meet their needs?
- Small opening (1 1/8 inch)
- Compact size (over a foot tall)
- No perch to deter predators
- Wall gaps for temperature regulation
- Ideal location: Attach to a tree 5-15 feet off the group in a quiet spot with partial sun and shade
Original Birdhouse Design
We wanted a simple but also functional design that was made for small birds, specifically the Chickadee. This birdhouse is compact, about a foot tall and has a small 1 1/8-inch entrance hole. We chose to not use a porch to discourage predators. The gaps in the walls are for ventilation during hot days and for drainage when it rains.
This was our first main idea of what kind of birdhouse we wanted to build
This is our final blueprint to what we decided to build
Materials and Tools
Hardware
- Screws and wood
- Hinges
- A small latch
- Paint
Tools
- Saw
- Drill and bits
- Screwdriver
- Measuring tape and pencil
- Sandpaper
Estimated Cost of Supplies
| Item | Amount | Price / Item | Amount Need | Total Price |
| 1.5 x 1.5 wood | $3.08 / 8 ft. | $0.39 / ft. | 6 ft. | $2.34 |
| 9/32in x 4ft x 8ft OSB Subfloor | $19.98 / 8 ft. | $2.50 / ft. | 4.58 ft. | $11.45 |
| Screws | $9.98 / box of 129 | $0.08 / screw | 28 screws | $2.24 |
| Hinge | $3.98 / pack of 2 | $1.99 / hinge | 1 hinge | $1.99 |
| Total | $18.02 |
Our Building Process
- Decide on the bird type (Chickadees!)
- Find a design
- Research
- Create a blueprint
- Build frame
- Build walls
- Build the floor and the roof
- Put it all together
- Seal sides
- Paint
Benefits and Drawbacks
What makes it appealing to customers?
- Small size, easy to install in any home
- Looks appealing to the eye
Drawbacks
- Only fits very small birds
- Ensure chickadees live in your area
Challenges and Mistakes
Challenges
- Finding wood with the same width
Mistakes
- Grabbed wood with slightly different widths
- Guessed on where to put the drill holes, lead to uneven assembly
- Screwed two sides the wrong way on the frame (See image below)
- Forgot to add the thickness of the outside boards in measurements
What We Learned
- How to build a birdhouse
- How to create a blueprint
- Ensure all wood dimensions (especially width) match, not just length
- Mark screw holes beforehand
What Worked Well
- Clear blueprint design
- Discussing problems before acting
- Cutting wood slightly off the line for adjustments
- Leveraging our different strengths for tasks
What To Do Differently
- Measure all wood sides before starting (ensure all are the same width)
- Keep pieces in place without moving during assembly
- Mark holes in advance for accuracy
Christina Schneider 