Creative & Cost-Effective: Building DIY Bird Feeders for Your Yard

Bird watching can be a delightful and relaxing hobby, and what better way to attract feathered friends to your garden than with bird feeders? Birds are also helpful allies for pest control, some even eat mosquitos! Homemade bird feeders not only provide snacks to your backyard birds, but also add a charming touch to your outdoor space. Check out these DIY feeders, the materials you need, and steps to build each. 

Pinecone Bird Feeder:

Materials Needed:

• Large pinecones
• Peanut butter
• Butter knife
• Bird seed
• Twine/string 

Steps:

1. Tie a piece of string or twine around the pinecone
2. Use a butter knife to spread a generous amount of peanut butter on the pinecone, getting it in all the crevices 
3. Roll the pinecone in bird seed. Gently press on the seeds to make sure they stick
4. Hang the pinecone bird feeder in a suitable location   

Mason Jar Bird Feeder

Materials Needed: 

• Mason jar with handle  
• Small wooden dowel or stick 
• Twine/wire
• Glue
• Bird seed 

Steps: 

1. Put glue on one end of the wooden dowel or stick 
2. Holding the jar upright, place the glue end of the dowel or stick in the center bottom of the jar
3. Fill the jar with bird seed 
4. Attach twine or wire to the jar’s handle 
5. Hang up mason jar bird feeder 

Up-cycled Bottle Feeder:

Materials Needed:

• Plastic bottle with cap
• Wooden spoons or popsicle sticks
• Scissors
• String or wire
• Birdseed

Steps:

1. Rinse and dry the plastic bottle thoroughly.
2. Using scissors, carefully cut small openings on opposite sides of the bottle, about halfway up.
3. Insert the wooden spoons or popsicle sticks through the openings, creating perches for the birds.
4. Poke a small hole near the bottle’s cap and thread the string or wire through it for hanging.
5. Fill the bottle with birdseed and secure the cap
6. Hang the feeder

Teacup Saucer Feeder

Materials Needed:

• Teacup and saucer (thrift store finds work well!)
• Super glue
• Birdseed
• String or chain

Steps:

1. Put strong glue on side of teacup
2. Lay teacup on the saucer with handle facing upwards to attach the two pieces
3. Put birdseed in the teacup and saucer
4. Tie a string or chain to the handle of the teacup 
5. Hang up feeder

These delightful and budget-friendly DIY bird feeders are not only easy to create but also offer a way to enjoy more time outside. Gather your materials, unleash your creativity, and embark on a journey to create bird-friendly havens right in your backyard. 

For increased pest control effectiveness, you should attract the birds that eat mosquitoes. These include purple martins, swallows and migratory songbirds. Check out these links for how to attract these specific birds. 

• Purple Martins: How to Attract Purple Martins to your Yard 
• Swallows: How to Attract Swallows 
• Migratory Songbirds: How to Attract Songbirds to Your Yard