Backyard Bird Feeders

by Steven Hicks

A few easy-to-make and a few you can buy.  I love feeding and watching my backyard birds.

Here is an easy-to-build milk carton bird feeder.  Fill with seeds and hang from a tree limb with coat hanger wire.  This feeder works best when hung in a dense-leafed evergreen tree so that it is sheltered from the rain.

Bob LaFara's Milk Jug Birder Feeder is easy to make. I found this great project some time ago and thought it was a great idea.  Bob says it was not his original idea but gave me permission to include it here.  Click on the hyperlink for complete, step by step instructions.

Here is an inexpensive plastic feeder that works very well.   The seeds stay dry and it is easy to clean and fill.  This feeder costs about $2.00 and is available at most "dollar stores".  I buy these when they're on sale, usually during the summer.  You can fill them with seeds and give them as gifts, "ready to hang".  This is a good way to interest others in back yard bird watching.

This is my favorite "store-bought" bird feeder and it hangs in my backyard year round.  These were made by Rubbermaid for many years but have now been discontinued.  Still, Rubbermaid makes several very similar and durable feeders available at most hardware and variety stores.  This one is at least 10 years old and is still in excellent condition.  It is easy to clean and refills quickly through the snap-on cover on top.  I added the cup hooks and chain for hanging.   It also has a hole in the bottom for mounting on a pole.  I is difficult to build a wooden bird feeder that is this durable and efficient.

These cylindrical hanging feeders are very popular.   The one in the middle is a thistle seed feeder, especially designed to attract finches.  It has specially shaped holes to prevent the thistle seed from spilling out.  I found this photo in a sale brochure from a local variety store.  The caption read, "Your Choice:  $5.97 each".  I like the one on the left.   I had one just like this when I was a child.  I kept it for many years and moved it from place to place.  These small feeders, which  can be hung just outside your window are especially attractive to small birds such as chickadees and titmice.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please e-mail me! 

shicks[no spam]@aristotle.net

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