A homemade bird feeder is a great way to learn about and watch birds. It is also a great way to support the local bird population, particularly in the cold winter months when birds may not be able to find enough food to eat. There are many different types of bird feeders that can be made from materials in the home, and making this cheap and easy craft is something that adults, kids, and birds will all enjoy.
Homemade bird feeders can be made out of many different materials from food scraps to empty containers to Christmas trees. The choices really are limitless, but the following are some popular models of bird feeders that have shown to be popular amongst feathered friends.
Pine Cone Bird Feeder
- Pine cone
- Peanut Butter
- Suet
- Birdseed
- String
Use a spoon or knife to smear peanut butter and suet on the pine cone. Roll the pine cone in the birdseed until it is completely coated. Tie a string to the top of the pine cone and hang it from a tree or ledge.
Bagel Bird Feeder
- Bagel (preferably dried or stale)
- Peanut Butter
- Bird Seed
- String
Use a spoon or knife to coat the bagel in peanut butter. Roll in birdseed and tie a string to the bagel. Hang in a tree or on a ledge.
Citrus Fruit Feeder
- Hollowed out grapefruit or orange half
- Birdseed
- String
Make sure all of the fruit is hollowed out of the half grapefruit or orange. Fill the empty fruit half with birdseed. Poke a hole in either side of the citrus fruit and thread the string through. Hang the feeder from a tree or ledge in the backyard, or wherever birds like to congregate.
Soda Bottle Bird Feeder
- Soda Bottle
- Popsicle sticks
- Birdseed
- Knife
- String
Poke some holes in the empty soda bottle close to the bottom of the bottle. Stick the Popsicle sticks in the holes to make perches for the birds. Cut small holes in the bottle, close to the perches so birds can get to the seeds. Fill the bottle with birdseed. Poke two holes near the top of the bottle and thread the string through. Put the top back on the bottle, and hang it from a branch.
Milk Carton Bird Feeder
- Empty Milk Carton
- Scissors
- Birdseed
- String
Use the scissors to cut windows and a door in the empty milk carton. Fill the carton with birdseed. Thread a string through the top of the feeder and hang in the back or front yard.
Christmas Tree Bird Feeder
- Christmas tree
- Suet
- Nuts, seeds, popcorn
- String
After Christmas is finished, take the old Christmas tree and place it in the yard. Hang suet balls rolled with seeds and nuts and popcorn threaded on string to create delicious ‘ornaments’ and garlands for the birds to snack on.
Garland Bird Feeders
- String
- Needle
- Popcorn, cereal, dried fruit, seeds
Using a needle and the string, thread the popcorn, cereal pieces, dried fruits or seeds onto the string to make a colorful and tasty garland that can be strung on any tree, fence or overhang.
If you are up for something a little bit more out there, take a look at this video on how to make a bicycle wheel bird feeder:
Feeding birds is a great way to watch them and to learn about their behavior. That being said, there are some tips to keep in mind when feeding birds. Firstly, be aware that once birds discover a bird feeder, they may stop foraging and come to rely the feeder for their daily meals. Therefore, it is important to put food out on a regular basis so that they don’t starve. Secondly, it is a good idea to put out some water as well. Just a small dish will suffice, as long as it is refilled regularly. Finally, make sure to put the feeder in a sheltered area where it is not too windy and where there are no hazards such as heavy snowfall or falling ice.
With some simple tools and precautions, anyone can make homemade bird feeders with materials from their own home. This can be an enjoyable activity for the whole family, and can make use of materials that otherwise might have been thrown away. Homemade bird feeders can be a great way to bring avian life to the backyard or garden, and it is a surefire way to ensure that the birds in the area are getting enough to eat, even in the wintertime when food supplies are short.