Birdhouses help avian populations thrive by providing secure nesting places-and they offer human neighbors an ongoing source of interest and amusement. Make your backyard into a gathering place for feathered friends with any of these easy-to-build projects. Illustrated with more than 175 photos, twelve elegant but uncomplicated projects include a Chickadee House with a concave roof, a Victorian Bluebird, and a Purple Martin House. The designs come with diagrams as well as everything you need to know about construction, from dimensions to tools. Additional suggestions offer advice on attracting residents and keeping them comfortable, with tips on guarding against temperature changes and wet weather.;Title Page; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; INTRODUCTION; CHAPTER ONE -- WHAT THE BIRDS LIKE; CHAPTER TWO -- MATERIALS: WOOD ISN'T ALL OF IT; CEDARS; PINES; REDWOOD; SPRUCE; DURABLE DOMESTIC HARDWOODS; EXOTICS FOR BIRDHOUSES; Fasteners; Wood Selection for Gluing; Selecting a Woodworking Glue; Polyurethane Glues; Epoxy Adhesives; Using Glues; Clamps; Cam Clamps; C Clamps; Hand Screws; Band Clamps; One-Handed Clamps; Spring Clamps; Clamping and Clamping Pressure; Mechanical Fasteners; Screw Types; Other Screw Fasteners; Nails; CHAPTER THREE -- EXTERIOR FINISHES.