Easy Ideas to Make a Bird Feeder at Home

!: Easy Ideas to Make a Bird Feeder at Home

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves

Fall is here and winter is around the corner. Many birds are just awaiting the day they leave to migrate south for the winter. Others still are preparing for the harsh winter here in Canada. Whatever the situation, you can make it easier for these birds to survive.

Bird feeders are especially important in the winter time, as it is much more difficult for birds to find food. Nothing is growing, and the snow covers most things. Be a "good neighbor" and leave them some easy pickings...

The most important thing to remember when considering making a homemade bird feeder is that they do not need to be complicated, and they do not need to be expensive.

Probably, one of the easiest ways to attract birds in your garden is by scattering some stale bread in it. However, this can lead to problems with the neighbor's cats knowing that they can have an easy meal whenever they want by waiting for the birds to land and eat, then pouncing on them. Not only that, bread is not a great thing to feed birds, as it has preservatives, yeast, extra salt...Things they don't need or get in the wild.

That's why bird feeders are safer and easier for the birds to eat from, and bird seed, berries, and nuts are a better choice to feed these little creatures.

If you put some bird seed/feed on a tray or plastic plate in your garden, not only will it attract the birds, but you may also find it attracts other types of wildlife, such as squirrels or raccoons.

When using traditional bird feeders, it is easier for squirrels to get a good grip and take the food as well. Also, be sure not to use material that is too smooth to really get a good grip for the birds, especially if you use a small thread/fishing line to hang it.

However, if you want to create an inexpensive, homemade bird feeder that will discourage the squirrels, then you could get a pine cone and slather it with peanut butter, then roll it in bird seed. Hang it from a tree branch with a long piece of string. Squirrels won't be able to hang on to the string, and won't be able to steal the bird food. You could also use this same method with by stringing up apples or berries.

Especially in the fall, when we eat a lot of squash, the hollowed out gourds work well as bird feeders. Feed through some heavy test line for fishing near the top and fill the bottom with seed. Leave some access holes on the surface of the gourd, and Voila...instant feeder.

Certainly, there are many ways of making a homemade bird feeder by using a little creativity. Sure, you could go to your local Do-It-Yourself or garden center to purchase one, but it will probably need assembly, and will be more costly. Take a look around your property, and you will discover a number of materials you could use to make a homemade bird feeder, and a number of places to put one.

Even if you don't make your own feeder, a store-bought one is great too. The end result is what matters...You're feeding the birds and helping them through a tough season for them.

This should get you brainstorming of the many different and interesting ways to create a bird feeder at home. Have fun!

by Kimberly Edwards

Easy Ideas to Make a Bird Feeder at Home

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Using Glass Bird Feeders

!: Using Glass Bird Feeders

If you have decided that you want to put a feeder for the birds into your garden you may feel that you want something different than the standard types. Anyone can have a tube feeder or the more common platform bird feeders. Perhaps you are looking instead for a glass bird feeder. These are a more elegant, and often more expensive, type of feeder. Still, it may be your preference to have something a little different, a little more stylish that makes a statement instead of just a bird feeder sitting in your garden. They are also good to have because they tend to last longer than other feeders, are less likely to disintegrate with the elements and will not rot.

The only thing is if you choose one of these their care is a little more complicated than that of the other kinds of feeders. Glass bird feeders need to be cleaned more often since the bird mess will cloud it quickly. Therefore they must be taken down every few days and washed. The best way to do this is to only put in enough food to last a few days. Then when it is emptied clean it. Some people suggest having a second feeder so that you can always have one hanging up. Cleaning one of these feeders should be done with good strong bleach. If that is what you use you need to be certain you rinse it extremely well so that there is nothing in the feeder that could make the birds ill. The smell may also be strong enough to cause the birds to steer clear. It is therefore recommended that you let the feeder air for a couple of days before putting it back into use. This may seem extreme but if you want to use bird feeders made of glass these are the steps you need to take.

One other benefit of glass bird feeders is that they seem to attract more birds than many of the other kinds. Perhaps it is being able to see the other birds so clearly when they are feeding or maybe because these are often colorful. But, whatever it is if you hang one of these in your garden you will get to enjoy bird watching out your window.

Using Glass Bird Feeders

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Scout How-To: Plastic jug/bottle birdfeeder

!: Scout How-To: Plastic jug/bottle birdfeeder

This is a fairly easy project for making a birdfeeder from a plastic milk jug or juice bottle. This can be used toward Tiger elective 32, Wolf achievement 5e, Wolf elective 13, Bear achievement 5b, or the Webelos Craftsman activity pin (which could also be helpful for completing the Naturalist activity pin). To make this, you will need a plastic milk jug or juice bottle, a drill, a utility knife (or a hobby knife or good scissors), a hot glue gun, a 5/8" dowel (approximately 12" long, depending on the size of the jug or bottle), and waterproof rope. Optionally, you will need permanent markers or waterproof paints to decorate the birdfeeder once you are done. Please check out my blog at scouterjon.blogspot.com for more Scouting tips.

Scout How-To: Plastic jug/bottle birdfeeder

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Bird Watching : How to Attract Goldfinches

!: Bird Watching : How to Attract Goldfinches

To attract goldfinches, use two bird feeders with multiple ports and perches, provide black oil sunflower or Nyjer seed, and plant lots of ornamental flowers. Consider using a sock bird feeder or sycamore balls to attract goldfinch birds with advice from a professional wildlife biologist and naturalist in this free video on bird watching. Expert: Bo Brown Contact: www.firstearth.org Bio: Bo Brown is a professional wildlife biologist, naturalist and wilderness survival instructor. Filmmaker: Kevin Leeper

Bird Watching : How to Attract Goldfinches

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Building a Bird Feeder For Your Children

!: Building a Bird Feeder For Your Children

Teaching your children how to build a bird feeder is a very simple task. It doesn't take any skill or a lot of knowledge, and it will be great to build the children's knowledge as well as helping you spend some quality time with them.

You should first purchase the materials ahead of time, so that all you have to do when you begin teaching the children how to build a bird feeder.

You will need to buy some bird feed 4 - 12 inch 1 inch by 2 inch boards 1 - 12 inch by 12 inch piece of 3/8 inch plywood An 8 foot 2 inch by 4 inch wall stud A roll of craft wire A 3/8 inch dowel approximately 3 or 4 inches long A heavy plastic or metal lid

Then gather your tools that you will need.

A hammer Some 1 inch nails A drill and a ¼ inch bit A pair of wire cutters A step ladder A jig saw A pair of safety glasses And a set of post hole diggers

Place the post hole diggers and the step ladder near the location that you are planning to set up the bird feeder.

Then place the tools and the materials on a work bench that can easily be observed by the children.

You may want to cut the 2x4 stud with the jig saw first, marking off a 1 ½ foot mark, and labeling the area below the mark to go into the ground. Then make another mark 4 or 5 feet from the mark that you just made, and cut at the top mark. The remaining length of the 2x4 stud will be to hold the bird feeder. After cutting 2 of the 1x2 strips into 12 inch pieces, and 2 strips 11 inches, the remainder of the strip can be cut to whatever the distance would be from the L shape structure that you just cut, using it for a brace.

Take the craft wire and cut it into 4 - 2 foot lengths, and lay them to the side.

Now your are ready to assemble the bird feeder with a squirrel deterrent.

Place the 1 foot x 1 foot piece of plywood flat on the work bench and nail one of the 1x2 precut strips on the plywood. Then place one of the 11 inch pieces beside the first piece that you just nailed down. Do this on all four sides of the bird feeder until you have a 2 inch edge around the plywood.

On each end of the plywood you should now put a nail in each corner of the plywood being careful to leave half of the head of the nail sticking out.

Take one of the 2 foot wires that you just cut and wrap it around one of the protruding nails in one of the corners and then do the same to the remaining three nails.

Take your plastic lid that you are going to use to keep the squirrels from stealing all the bird seed, and drill a hole directly in the center, this will allow you to string the wire through the hole. With the jig saw cut your dowel into five or more even lengths, or you may just only want to use one of the pieces to hold up the lid. Next take one of the pieces of dowel and make a loop in the wire about 1 foot up the wire and twist the dowel around the wire pulling it tightly.

After you have all this done, move all the parts to the site you are going to set the bird feeder up, if you haven't already. Nail the shortest 2x4 piece of wall stud to the top of the longest piece by laying both pieces on the ground, then nail a piece of 1x2 strips to form a brace for the L shape that you just made.

Place the structure in the ground and dill it with dirt. Using your step ladder take the 4 strands of wire and pull them through the hole in the plastic lid all the way down to the dowel. Carefully twist the remaining wire around the short end of the L shape and put some bird seed in the feeder. Now all you have to do is keep watch for any birds that will come to feed.

Building a bird feeder is as exciting to build for you as well as teaching your children how to do a project.

Building a Bird Feeder For Your Children

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Pest Control at the Hummingbird Feeder

!: Pest Control at the Hummingbird Feeder

Four-Legged Critters

The most common complaints I hear are about the neighborhood squirrel population. Though not predators, squirrels are devastating to a feeder and will knock down and chew up whatever they can get their paws on. As bad, or worse, in our area are the raccoons that slip right up to the house at night. Anyone who has had seed feeders knows the continuing battle to defeat the squirrel. Tall slick poles, barriers, repellents, and B-B guns are all effective - sometimes and for a little while.

When you have a good feeder that you have paid good money for, the last thing you want to see is pieces on the ground. One tip is to hang the feeder from a closed eye using a snap gate D-ring such as is often used for keys. These are available in any hardware or discount store. Before I discovered the ring, I had added a "safety chain" along with the hanger to at least keep the feeder from hitting the ground. Why it took me years to think of the ring I have no idea. Your friendly squirrel or raccoon may still chew whatever he can get to and for that there is little to offer other than sheer inaccessibility.

Bees and Wasps

Bees, wasps, and yellow jackets love hummer nectar and can be a problem of safety for both the humans and the hummers. Bees and wasps are attracted to yellow and, sure enough, many of the flower decorations on commercial feeders are yellow. Getting rid of them or painting them red is a start. Many of the bee guard feeders also are the leakiest and the puddle outside the feeder totally negates the need for the guard.

The first action you can take when bees begin to take over is simply to move the feeder a few feet. Hummers are a lot smarter than bees and will quickly adapt while the bees may just assume the source is gone.

Another plan I have heard is to hang a second feeder with nectar of 3 parts water to 1 part sugar and reduce the hummer's feeder to 5 parts water to 1 part sugar. Separate the lower-sugar content feeder slightly from the old location. The bees will prefer the richer 3:1 nectar, the hummers will do fine on the 5:1 nectar, and the move should confuse the insects. If the feeder drips at all, it is necessary to keep the area of the drip washed down and clean.

Bats

While bats are not usually a problem in the Midwest, they can be in some parts of the country, particularly the Southwest. Some bats are also nectar feeders and pollinators and can drain a feeder overnight. A feeder with bee guards will keep them out or the feeder can be taken in at night. If taken in, you need to remember the hummers begin to feed just before sunrise and this is a critical feeding time for them.

Ants

Ants can be a real problem. In addition to being annoying, they can get into the nectar and die there. This is an unsightly mess and can contaminate the nectar. Ants can be deterred by the use of "ant guards" which hang between the hook and the feeder. Two kinds are generally available in birding stores and sometimes in the bird section of hardware stores. One is a cup which is filled with water and forms a moat the ants are not able to cross to get down to the feeder. The second type is an inverted cup between the hook and feeder which is smeared with cooking grease or commercial "tanglefoot" compound to deter the ants from crossing over to the feeder.

In the case of the moat, some recommend cooking oil in the moat but birds may see it as a water source and the oil is not a good choice. The oil may also get onto birds' feathers. In the case of the inverted cup, "tanglefoot" should be carefully placed so it cannot get onto the feathers of any bird which might come into contact with the ant guard. Hummers are so light that the "tanglefoot" might ensnare them.

One source recommends hanging your feeder from fishing line to discourage ants.

Other Feeder Guests

Many other birds and animals like the nectar and will often be seen trying to feed at a hummingbird feeder. Besides the obvious insects, lizards may find the nectar to be tasty. Orioles, chickadees, finches, and woodpeckers also like the nectar on occasion and will especially use feeders with perches although the lack of a perch does not always stop them from feeding. Some of these can be tempted away from the hummingbird feeder by placing a dish of fruit or fruit jelly out just for them or providing a nice suet block for the woodpeckers.

Pest Control at the Hummingbird Feeder

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