Build Your Own Bird Feeder
A bird feeder made from a pine cone.
Who doesn't love birds? From bird enthusiasts and photographers to amateur watchers, a quick visit and a pleasant song from a feathered friend is sure to put a smile on everyone's face. Luckily, attracting more birds to your yard can be pretty simple -all it takes is a tempting food source, a little creativity and a landing zone!
For the most simple version of a do it yourself (DIY) bird feeder, all you need is some bird food and something to hold it! One of the best types of bird food to use is a seed mix. As for a container, you can be creative and think of anything you may already have available such as a bowl, jar, plate, box, etc. You could even hang an old ladle from a tree branch and fill its scoop up with seed. For those who don’t mind doing a little extra work constructing a more advanced feeder, you may find some more success with one of the following DIY birdfeeder ideas.
Pinecone Feeders
The pinecone feeder consists of; a pinecone, a string for hanging, peanut butter, and of course, birdseed. This feeder is as easy as it sounds. First, attach a string to your pinecone. Then, slather your peanut butter all over the pinecone, making sure to get in the crevices. Lastly, pack some seed into the peanut butter, and hang the feeder from a tree. Consider hanging it within reach of other branches so the birds have a place to land.
A juice carton bird feeder.
Juice Carton Feeders
The juice carton feeder will require an empty juice carton (cleaned and dried), and once again, a string and some seed. Simply cut a bird-sized hole out of the side of the carton, and fill the bottom with seed. For this type of feeder, you may even want to decorate the outside. Get creative with it! Soda bottle feeder For this more advanced option, you'll need an empty (clean and dry) soda bottle, some perches (chopsticks, wooden dowels, pencils, popsicle sticks, etc.), some string or a hook for hanging, and some seed.
First, attach your hanging device to the top of the bottle. Next, poke holes in your bottle to stick the perches through. Now for the tricky part; cut out some feeding holes, a couple of inches above the perches. Make sure to keep the size of your birdseed in mind and make the hole large enough for a bird to reach inside with its beak, but not too large that all of your seed will fall out.
Lastly, fill the bottle with seed and hang it outside. This feeder may be best for keeping away pesky squirrels and allowing only birds to access the food. Try mixing and matching a few different types of feeders and see what kinds of birds you can invite to your backyard! Don’t be discouraged if there are no visitors right away. It may take a little while before a bird will notice and get comfortable with your brand new feeder. Also, remember to watch from a distance so you don’t frighten the birds! Watching from a window Is sometimes a great option.
Lastly, when creating your own feeders, be sure you are using materials and foods that are completely safe for the birds. When in doubt, check a trusted website for bird-safe foods, which include, birdseeds, peanut butter, some fruits, and millet. Keep your feeders clean and dry, changing the food often to avoid mold or pests. Enjoy your new backyard friends!
