I have always wanted to build a bluebird house. I do not know whether to capitalize this or not, because in the dictionary this word is not capitalized and it is hyphenated. If you are talking about a blue bird, is it hyphenated or is it capitalized? The word robin in the dictionary is not capitalized, but on my bird chart, Robin Redbreast is capitalized. On the directions I have for building a bluebird house, it is capitalized. I like to use proper English and capitalize where necessary, but this I have not fi gured out.

Anyway, I have always wanted to build a bluebird house. I have had the directions for a long time and the pages are pretty dog-eared by now. I have even saved lumber for this project. It is stacked on a shelf in the storeroom and all I need is the time. I have the nails, the saw, and the boards. I also think that in some of Earl’s tools that are still around, there is a drill to drill the small hole on the front for the birds to enter the house. I may have to go and see Ray Marshall regarding the size of the drill bit I will need for those holes, but he always has the item I need and I will be okay there.

The instructions I have gives directions on how to mount the box, where to face the entrance and how far apart to space them. The directions report that the birds will return to the same box time after time to brood. Each time, they lay from three to six eggs and may have two or three broods each year.

If I ever do build the bird houses (or one, if I am lucky) and get them mounted, the directions read that wrens, chickadees, tree swallows or even fl ying squirrels may use them. If you want to attract these species, the house may be placed in trees 10 to 15 feet above the ground in wooded areas; however, for bluebirds, the houses should be mounted four to six feet high.

Blue birds (There it is again. Is it Bluebirds? Do I capitalize the word Birds, here? The spell check on my computer did not single out any of these words, so that was no help.) usually begin nesting in the first half of March, so I am a little late for them this year. Maybe next year.

That lumber isn’t going any place. Now all that I need is time.