Birds are a favorite part of the summer – listening to their chirps as I wake up in the morning is so restful. If you’d like to attract more birds to your yard, a perfect way to do that is with a bird feeder – and here’s one you can make yourself. Today’s guest post is provided by Content Lobby for Tool Net and is complete with easy to follow directions.
Build A Bird Table
Feeding birds in the garden is a popular activity – over 50% of adults in the UK feed birds in their garden, according to the RSPB. In the US, bird feeding has grown to the second most popular hobby behind gardening. Watching the birds feed is an inspirational start to your day – and an educational activity to share with your children. But wouldn’t that pleasure be even better if you had actually made the bird table that the birds are feeding from?
Making a bird-feeding station does not need to be difficult – and you certainly don’t need to have a garage brimming with the latest power tools, or even be an expert with a MultiMaster, to construct one. Here are some step-by-step instructions for making a simple bird feeder. You can make one on a rainy afternoon with your children, and it will brighten up many a morning for your family, watching the birds feeding while having your breakfast.
How to make a simple bird-feeding tray
The simple but effective design of this tray means that even the most dedicated drill-dodger will have the confidence to tackle this as a DIY project. You can even make it with your children’s help and encourage them to appreciate the wildlife that exists right on their doorstep.
What you will need
- 1”x3” pine board, 4 feet long
- Galvanized box nails
- 10” square aluminium screening – widely available in hardware stores
- Copper upholstery tacks
- Pair of 36” leather laces
- Drill with 5/64” and ¼” bits
- Hammer
- Saw
What to do
First, saw the pine board into two 10½ inch lengths and into two 9 inch lengths. Next, make a ‘table’ using the 9” pieces as legs and one of the longer pieces as the top. (imagine you’re making a picture frame)
Now, use the fine 5/64” drill bit to pre-drill a hole for the nail. It doesn’t matter whether you use the latest model of drill such as a Makita LXT202 or an old drill – whatever drill you have will be fine for this simple job. Nailing the wood together will be easy now that your drill has smoothed the way!
Turn your ‘table’ over and fit your remaining long piece to the legs – pre-drill the holes again before nailing. You now have a sturdy square frame, and you can use your tacks and hammer to fit the aluminium screen to the bottom – placing tacks evenly spaced around the edge to ensure a tight fit.
Finally, change the drill bit on your drill and use the ¼” bit to drill two pairs of holes at the top left and right of the longer sides. Thread the laces through the holes to make hangers for your tray. Then select a branch to hang it from, fill the tray with seeds, and enjoy the birds!
What to feed your birds
Although commercial bird seed is available, it is much cheaper to make your own bird food. Sunflower seeds and millet are perennial favorites, but you can find more information and advice about feeding birds from bird charities such as the RSPB or nature programs such as on the Discovery Channel or BBC’s Spring and Autumn Watch.
Bird watching needn’t be expensive – homemade bird food from a homemade bird table is a “cheep” way to make life “tweet”!
REMINDER
Today is the last day that you can leave a comment and qualify for our giveaway. Winners will be announced tomorrow. You might win How to Successfully Use Color in Home Decorating, a 100 page ebook that will answer all your questions about color – how to use it, where to use it, how to decide which shade to use and how to identify an undertone. Complete with photos, graphics, questionnaires, and lots of designer tips, this is an indispensable tool for you.
You might also win a gift from one of these delightful ETSY shops: Bradens Grace Wall Art or Desmond Brown Design.
Peel and stick chalkboard labels from Bradens Grace Wall Art, $8 value.
Lighthearted designer pillow of your choice from Desmond Brown Design, $29 value.
Be sure to leave a comment below and watch tomorrow for the three winners’ names.
RSS Feeds
We put up a bird feeder about 5 years ago and have been surprised how much enjoyment it brings. Even our normally blase teenage son gets excited when he spots a new kind of bird, sees the first goldfinch of the season, or observes the fledglings awkwardly trying to navigate the unfamiliar territory of the feeder.
It took a good month or so to get ‘regulars’ at the feeder – my husband wanted to move it, but we left it alone and eventually, the birds discovered it. Each year we get at least one new species. I keep a pocket bird guide in my kitchen and note the date of the first sighting (and subsequent sightings for the uncommon birds). Who knew it would be so entertaining!
How DO YOU ALWAYS FIND the most “perfect pillows?!” Course it helps if one has a “pillow fetish” which my hubby says I suffer. Our two bird feeders are a constant flurry of activity and so much entertainment. franki