ROBIN SHELTER 
Robins, barn swallows and phoebes will not occupy an enclosed bird- 
house, so we will have to provide an open nesting box to suit the needs 
of these birds. 
The design on the side and back of this shelter must be carefully marked 
out ike the drawing, and cut out with a coping saw. Sandpaper each 
piece smooth before starting to assemble the shelter. 
The drawing in this issue provides shelter for these birds, and can either 
be placed in a tree for the robins or under the eaves of the barn for the 
swallows and phoebes. 
Everyone who plants a garden this spring should have a family of 
robins close by to help exterminate the worms and bugs that destroy plant 
life. This shelter is easy to make if the directions are followed carefully. 
Pieces 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
Material Required 
Finished Size—In. 
M"x7"xl2" 
M"xM"x 6M" 
^"x8"x8" 
y 2 "x 9"x9" 
V 2 "x 9"x9" 
y 2 "xy 2 "xQy 2 " 
Use 
Back 
Corner post 
Side 
Bottom 
Roof 
Roof strip 
Hardware, Etc. 
iy inch brads. 
Tools—Rule, pencil, square, saw, plane, hammer, and coping saw. 
Construction 
Cutting Stock. Cut out each piece of stock needed and square up to 
the finished size. If you do not have any lumber that is % inch thick, x / 2 
inch will do just as well, for the back and front post. 
Laying Out 
After you have squared up the lumber to the finished sizes, mark each 
piece the exact size and shape as shown on the drawing, and saw or plane 
each piece according to the lines, in order to get the pieces to the correct 
shape and size. 
Assembling 
1. Measure up 2 y inches from the bottom end of the back, and nail 
on the side. Keep the side and edge of the back piece even. 
2. Next nail on the bottom piece and be sure it extends the same 
distance past the back on both ends. Drive the nails thru the back of the 
shelter into the bottom, and thru the bottom of the shelter into the side 
piece. 
3. Nail the roof strip on the back iy inches from the top edge of the 
back and be sure this strip is the proper shape or the roof will not fit 
perfectly. 
4. Fit and nail the roof on next. The roof must fit on the side and back 
of the shelter perfectly tight, in order to be weather proof. To nail the roof 
on, drive the nails thru the back of the shelter into the top edge of the roof, 
and down thru the top of the roof into the side piece. 
5. The corner post is fastened on by nailing up thru the bottom board, 
and down thru the roof. 
Before nailing on this post be sure it is in line with the outside edge 
of the back piece, and be careful to have it the correct length. The appear¬ 
ance of the shelter will be spoiled if this post is too short, or too long, or if 
it is not in line with the outside edge of the back piece. 
Finishing 
Stain this shelter a dark brown or paint it a dull gray. If it is to be used 
for robins fasten it in the crotch of a tree about ten feet from the ground, 
and be sure it will be well shaded and protected from wind and rain during 
the nesting season. 
Sandpaper all the joints even, putty all of the nail holes, and stain the 
house a dark brown or green on the outside only. Cover the roof with 
good waterproof roofing, and follow the same direction for fastening to 
tree or post, as were given for the wren house on the preceding page.- 
— 11 
p p 
