Make your own eco-friendly birdfeeder

They say a bird in hand is better than two in a bush. But what’s even better? An entire flock of birds with a full tummy circling around you!  Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to make that happen? You would no longer have to use binoculars or be worried that they’d fly away when you get close to them. Well, there is a way. A DIY way!

Here are two DIY birdfeeders that are super easy and fun to make. They’re a great way to feed your feathered friends some seedy treats and let them feel loved. If you give them enough time to get comfortable around you and feed them regularly, you could get a close look at their eating habits, their beautiful feathers and peculiar beaks!

Both DIY birdfeeders can be made with readily available items and are eco-friendly. You can choose the one best suited to your needs.

Citrus peel bird feeder

Materials required:

• Empty peels of oranges, lemons or mosambis
• Twine/ Embroidery thread
• Needle
• A mix of nuts, seeds and grains of your choice.
• Peanut butter 

Method:

1. Pass the twine through the eye of the needle and tie a knot at the end. Push the needle through one side of the orange peel and get it out through the other end.

    2.After the twine passes through both the ends of the peel, pull up the centre to create a loop that can be used for hanging. 

    3. Perpendicular to the first set of holes, poke the needle through the peel again as shown in the image below.

    4.Pull the second string up at the centre to meet the first and tie a knot on the outside of the orange peel.

   5. Mix one tablespoon of peanut butter with the seed mixture to prepare the birdfeed. Fun fact: Peanut butter is good high-protein food for birds, and they can eat any of the same types that humans do!

   6. Use a spoon to fill the orange peel with birdfeed.

7. Hang the orange peel on a tree and let the birds feast!

Birdfeeders don’t last too long but they are pretty and eco-friendly. If you love citrus fruits, you could get your daily dose of vitamin C and use the leftover peels to make the birdfeeders.

Egg carton bird feeder

Egg carton bird feeders are also eco-friendly and can be made by reusing egg cartons and some easily available stationery. 

Materials required:

• Egg Carton
• Scissors
• Paint
• String
• Punching machine
• Paintbrush
• Ruler

Method:

1. Using a pair of scissors, cut off the top covering of the egg carton. 
2. With the help of a punching machine, punch one hole on each corner of the carton. Ensure that the holes are punched evenly. 
3. Paint an even coat of paint, any colour of your choice, on the base of the carton. 
4. After the paint dries, decorate it using sketches, watercolours, crayons or colour pencils. Wait for one side of the carton to dry before moving on to the other if you are using watercolours.
5. Take the string and measure 18 inches, then cut it. Cut three more strings that measure the same length. 
6. Insert the string into the hole and secure it by tying a double knot. Repeat the same on the other three corners.
7. Take the ends of all the four strings and tie them together. Make sure that the strings measure the same length so that the egg carton is balanced and does not topple. 
8. Carefully add birdfeed into the dimples and your egg carton bird feeder is ready to be hung on the tree. 

So which one of these methods are you going to try? Share with us if you come up with any fun DIY birdfeeder ideas.