How to Hang Birdseed Ornaments

When you want to enjoy nature, it can be simpler to try to draw nature to you, rather than to chase it. A bird seed ornament is a simple project you or your kids can make in an attempt to draw birds to your yard for your viewing pleasure. In order for the bird seed ornament to be effective, you must have a way of hanging it from a tree branch or eave, so the birds can easily spot the food.

Things You'll Need

• Twine
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Drill
• 1/4- to 1/2-inch drill bit
• Wooden skewer
• Screw hook

Instructions

Flat Bird Seed Ornaments

1. Measure and cut an 18-inch length of twine. Bring the ends of the twine together and knot them.

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2. Thread the looped end of the twine through the hole in the bird seed ornament, if a hole already exists. Pull the knotted end of the twine through the looped end and pull it to tighten the twine down on the ornament.

3. Drill a hole in the bird seed ornament if the ornament is a flat shape, or has a convenient place for drilling a hole through it, and follow the process described. Drill slowly so the ornament doesn't crumble and make the hole at least an inch from any edge for the same reason.

4. Hang the ornament from the piece of twine on a tree branch or from a screw hook, screwed into an eave of your home or other structure.

Thick Bird Seed Ornaments

1. Drill a hole through the bird seed ornament from top to bottom if no hole exists and the ornament isn't flat, such as for a spherical ornament.

2. Measure the height of the ornament. Measure and cut a piece of twine that is twice the height plus 12 inches.

3. Bring the ends together, knot them and thread the looped end through the ornament from bottom to top. The ornament will rest on the knot of the twine.

4. Screw a screw hook into the eave of your home or backyard shed to hang the ornament, or hang it from a tree branch.

In-Progress Bird Seed Ornament

1. Measure and cut a piece of twine that is 12 inches longer than the expected height of your completed bird seed ornament. Bring the ends together and knot them.

2. Shape your bird seed ornament and poke a hole through the ornament from top to bottom, for ornaments that are thick all around, or through the top from one side to the other, for thinner ornaments, with a wooden skewer.

3. Let the ornament harden. Thread the twine through the hole from bottom to top for the thicker ornaments. Thread the twine through the hole from one side to the other, and pull the knotted end through the looped end to tighten the twine around the top.

4. Hang the ornament.

Tips & Warnings

• Bird seed ornaments purchased pre-made from a store come with a way to hang them, usually a piece of twine tied through the top or down the middle.

• Ideally a hole should be put in a bird seed ornament while it is being formed. Drilling a hole in an ornament after it has already been formed and hardened may cause the ornament to crumble or break apart into larger pieces. Drill slowly and stay away from the edges of the ornament to try and minimize the risk of this happening.

References

• Julie Blaha: Bird Seed Ornaments