Invite the Birds In: How to Make a Simple DIY Bird Feeder
With a little love, some creativity, and a sprinkling of DIY inspiration, you can bring nature right to your backyard. Homemade bird feeders are a beautiful way to connect with wildlife, involve the whole family, and rediscover the joy of small, everyday wonders.
Whether you live in the heart of the suburbs, a rural slice of paradise, or somewhere in between, bird feeders can turn even the smallest garden into a wildlife haven.
Sure, you could buy one from the store…but where’s the fun in that? Plus, it’s a chance to reuse materials you already have lying around and turn them into something functional and beautiful.
What Makes a Good Bird Feeder?
You don’t need to be a master woodworker to build one. A good bird feeder only needs to:
- Be sturdy enough to hold food like bread crumbs, apple slices, or grain
- Support the weight of small birds perching on the edge
- Keep food from spilling or blowing away
Some feeders stand tall on a post. Others hang from tree branches or under the eaves of a deck. The design is up to you. The key is to make it easy for birds to land, nibble, and fly off safely.
How We Made Ours
We kept things simple and used what we had. Here’s what we did:
Materials Used:
- One old cupboard door (serving as the base)
- Scrap wood for railings
- Nails and hammer
- Cup hooks
- Chain (for hanging)
The Process:
- We took an old cupboard door and gave it a quick clean.
- Nailed railings onto all four sides to keep the food from slipping off.
- Attached cup hooks to the corners and connected a length of chain so it could hang from a tree branch.
If you’re not handy with a hammer, don’t worry. Try this simplified version:
- Use a sturdy wooden board as your base.
- Glue on small blocks or pieces of wood around the edge to keep food from falling off.
- Screw eyelets into each corner and tie string or light chain to hang it up.
Tip: If edges seem too tricky, hammer a nail up through the underside of the board and use it to spike fruit slices or stale bread. This keeps the food in place longer and adds interest for the birds.
Other Creative DIY Feeder Ideas
The sky’s the limit when it comes to homemade feeders. You can try:
- A suspended bowl or plate hung with string
- A small basket or recycled wire fruit tray
- Driftwood with shallow drilled holes for food
- A repurposed teacup and saucer hung by its handle
What Birds Will It Attract?
That depends on your location. If you’re in a suburban or semi-rural area, you might see:
- Sparrows
- Wax-eyes (silvereyes)
- Mynas
- Starlings
- Finches
Birds may be cautious at first. It might take a few days for them to trust their new food station. Keep putting out food consistently and try to keep the area quiet. They’ll soon catch on.
We even have a resident seagull who comes to check things out, though luckily our feeder is too small to interest him. Most of the time, it’s the regular sparrows, wax-eyes, and mynas who drop by for a snack.
A Few Final Tips
- Keep your feeder topped up, especially in winter when food is scarce.
- Clean it regularly to prevent mould or illness among birds.
- Avoid feeding bread too often as it has little nutritional value. Try apple slices or fresh fruit, oats (soaked and softened with water), or wild bird seed.
- Position it near shrubs or trees if you can. Birds prefer a quick escape route if they feel threatened.
And most importantly…keep your camera handy. You’ll be surprised at how quickly birds will appear from even the smallest tree or hedge once they know there’s a snack waiting.
There’s something magical about watching birds flit and flutter just outside your window. So head to the shed, poke around the garage, or take a walk to your local hardware store. Chances are, everything you need is already within reach.
