How to Make Big Bird Feeders
Many birds have come to depend on bird feeders for a portion of their diet, particularly in winter months when food sources are scarce. Erecting feeders in your yard not only helps the birds, it also can provide hours of enjoyment from watching the feathered creatures and listening to their songs. Large feeders attract more bird varieties than smaller feeders. Creating your own out of natural materials makes a feeder that blends into your landscape so your focus can remain on the birds. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Sand the top and bottom of a 2-foot log section until smooth. Begin sanding with coarse-grit sandpaper to remove most large splinters, then finish sanding with fine-grit paper to smooth the surfaces completely.
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2
Drill 1 1/2-inch holes down one side of the log, using a hole saw bit on an power drill. Place the first hole so the top is 2 inches down from the top of the log. Leave a 3 inch space between each of the holes down the length of the log.
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3
Drill a 1/4-inch hole 1 inch beneath each of the 1 1/2-inch holes. Center the 1/4-inch hole under the larger holes.
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4
Insert a 3-inch-long, 1/4-inch diameter wooden dowel into each of the small holes to form the perches. Secure the perches in place with wood glue.
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5
Screw a heavy duty eyehook into the top of the log to form the bird feeder hanger. Apply wood glue to the eyehook threads to ensure it doesn't come loose under the weight of the log.
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6
Pack bird seed suet into each of the large holes. Birds sit on the perches and feed on the suet.
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Tips & Warnings
Use different lengths of log to create different-size feeders.
Create a similar feeder from a thick round cut from a tree truck. Drill the suet holes in the face of the round then mount it to a pole.
Instead of suet, combine equal parts peanut butter and birdseed, then stuff this into the holes.
