How to Build a DIY Wooden Bird Feeder

Birds bring both a wonderful sense of calm and a great deal of entertainment to any outdoor space. So, to attract more birds to your backyard, learn how to build a DIY wooden bird feeder your feathered friends can begin calling home.

In this Backyard Life video, landscape designer and Done-In-A-Weekend Projects host Doug Scott, demonstrates building one—out of an inexpensive cedar picket, to be exact. Doug also identifies the different types of bird feeders available to choose from. He even provides tips on ideal locations to hang your DIY masterpiece, and provides you with a bird feeder plan for your personal use!

Types of Bird Feeders

Some of the most popular bird feeders include:

• Tray (or platform) feeders, are easy to refill, and relatively inexpensive.
• House feeders provide better protection against the elements and squirrels, and you can fill them with several days’ worth of food.
• Window feeders allow you to enjoy birds up close and personal since they’re attached right to your window.
• Tube feeders are another great option. They come in a wide variety of sizes. You can tailor them to the types and number of birds you hope to attract.

To create the best birding experience in your backyard, consider having a mix of bird feeders throughout your outdoor spaces.

Tips for Bird Feeder Placement

Where placement’s concerned, Doug suggests considering where you put your bird feeder from both your point of view, as well as the birds’:

• Make sure to place the feeder where you can watch it from inside your home or from places in your yard that you typically hang out.
• Pick a spot where it’ll be easier to refill and maintain your bird feeder.
• Keep in mind that there’s always a little mess that comes with a bird feeder. Birds will scatter seeds and leave their droppings everywhere.
• You’ll attract more birds if your feeder is located away from human activity or noise.
• Place your feeder near-natural shelter like trees or shrubs, so birds will have a place to retreat if danger arrives.
• Most importantly, consider the birds’ safety.
  • Keep feeders away from places where chemicals are regularly sprayed.
  • Don’t place feeders in places that could put birds on a collision course with your home’s windows!

Bird Feeder Plans

The bird feeder that Doug chose for this video is a simple design—really a combination of a tray feeder and a house feeder. Like a tray feeder, you simply place the seed in a tray; but, like a house feeder, there is a roof to protect it. It can be placed on a pole or hung from a support, providing all kinds of flexibility.

There are quite a few different bird feeder plans you can choose from. They range from simple and easy to elaborate and challenging, and are typically customizable. Our favorite, of course, is the great plan Doug chose for this video.

To download materials and tools lists, as well as step-by-step plans for this super easy DIY wooden bird feeder, click here.

Happy birding!

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