Three Different Types of Bird Feeder Plans Will Satisfy the Cardinals’ Varied Diet

Well, it is my favorite time of the year and my favorite birds are home again on my back porch as though they own the place.  Sadly, though, this year my other little family is either hiding or not here.  I imagine it is the latter.  Most of you who visit here know my favorite bird is the cardinal.  I love their personality, the way the mates stay together, and as a mother I can identify when mama cardinal runs frantically around looking for food to bring back to the squawkers in the nest.

Cardinals certainly have their favorite food, just like other birds, but they will generally eat whatever you feed them which is why I thought you would enjoy my favorite bird feeder too.  This article has been brought back out and dusted off because it is timeless just like the beautiful cardinal, and hopefully this three-in-one feeder will intrigue you as it does me.

Hope you enjoy this update…..

Rose

Interestingly, the Northern Cardinal, originated in the southeastern part of the United States. The bird has slowly migrated during the twentieth century as far north as southern Canada, and as far west as Texas.  As a child, I always thought the cardinals went home to the north after spending a

Picture from the AZWoodman.com Site

winter with us in sunny Florida.  Only later as I developed my keen love for backyard birding, did I learn differently.  Not only does the cardinal stay in one area all year long with his mate, they also have a varied diet making three different types of bird feeder plans just perfect.

Personally, I like to kill two birds with one stone (JUST KIDDING!!) and use some of my favorite combination bird feeder plans to make a feeder that serves several different types of bird feed and  hopefully a more varied assortment of backyard birds.  The picture above and to the right is an example of such a feeder.

The Snack Shop feeder is both a hopper bird feeder and a tray bird feeder.  Additionally, if you add a standard suet cage or rack at either or both ends of bird feeder plans like those used to make the snack shop, you will have three types of feeders in one.

Bird Feeder Plans like these are just right for building cardinal bird feeders.

In the lower left is a picture of a bird feeder which can be made from one of the many sets of bird feeder plans and birdhouse plans from our sponsors.  As you can see it is a standard hopper style feeder to accommodate the cardinals love for black oil sunflower seeds (with their hulls), a small tray for fruits, berries, nuts, or old bread you may have on hand.  Again, simply add a suet cage to the other side of this feeder and you’ll have three feeders in one for cardinals and friends.

Click on me to visit Ted's Plans

You will become a cardinal lover. They are beautiful birds, and if they have what they need, they will stay in your yard for a very, very long time.  In the back of our house is a very deep thicket of cabbage palms, oaks, and underbrush in which the birds nest and live.   Just inside the deep thicket are trees into which they fly daily roosting proudly for all to see.

They have become so accustomed to us, they will even fly onto my covered porch for a visit.  They sing to one another and I believe we must have two families this year, because I frequently see two full grown females in close proximity to one another.  It looks like another set of bird feeder plans for cardinals may be in order!

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Use Wooden Bird Feeder Plans To Get the Look You Want

It has been too many years to count now, the morning I went outside looked around and said to myself, wow am I blessed.  I have a gorgeous yard with flowers, flowering trees, and beautiful oaks.  What is missing I

Extra Fancy WOW Bird Feeders

thought, and then I realized there were few or no birds in my yard.  It was then I went to work to change all of that when I decided that I would build my very first wooden bird feeder.  That’s just what I did right after I bought a set of bird feeder plans.

It was one of those times in my life when I wanted something ornate and decorative and nothing less would do.  While the ones above I did not make, the one I did make that season looked very much like the one on the far right.  Yes, I put my heart and soul into the outside of the house, but it was worth it.

Hi Everyone, it’s me Rose with an update for you.  Recently, I found a household woodworking project dream.

We all know that only the best of plans tell you what tools you’ll need, never mind how to use them.  At our house, we’ve had more woodworking projects than just me building bird feeders, and we are ever so glad we now have this series of 10 eBook guides entitled, “How To Build Anything With Three Tools”.  Each of these 10 books sells for $4.95 apiece, but they are available now at a terrifically reduced price when you get the whole series.  The whole series is virtually only half of what you’d spend on each book separately to the set.

Together, these little woodworking bibles cover the three tools you must have, how to use those to make the guides which allow you to saw with absolute precision.  There is even a separate book which explains which kind of wood you should purchase for each type project.  These ten eBooks will give anyone the confidence to begin woodworking projects.

We’ve all been there staring at pictures or sketches on a plan sheet which contains no helpful information on how to proceed.  It’s like having your dad or your grandpa there to help you when you have this information handy on your work bench.  My grandfather was a carpenter and used to build beautiful bookcases for my grandmother, so when I saw these books, I was thrilled.  Take a peek at “How To Build Anything With Three Tools”.

On a more practical note however, regardless of how pretty your new wooden bird feeder is, in order for it to attract birds and fulfill its promise you must follow these guidelines:

Eye Appeal

There is an old saying among architects that goes something like, “it costs the same amount to build ugly, so why build ugly?”  The same goes for your bird feeders.  Make sure your new bird feeder has eye appeal for everyone including the birds.  After all, it will be looked at since bird watching is why you are building it.  Besides, it is an extension of your home.

It bears repeating that to use bona fide bird feeder plans will ensure your project ends in an attractive way regardless your woodworking skill set.  These plans are not only step-by-step instructions, but are also guides as to the tools and materials you will need.

Proper Placement

The feeder should be placed in the best possible area for the birds to come.  Take these factors into consideration when planning where you will put it.

First, the birds have to notice it and the feed and it will have to be in a location in which the birds feel safe.  There is no reason the bird feeder shouldn’t be a focal point in your yard, so proudly display your new feeder.

Sense of Security

Place the feeder well off the ground so it is well out of reach from dogs and kitty cats.  Birds are afraid of these animals and will not frequent a frightening bird feeder.

In addition, it is important to keep insects out of the bird feed, so be sure to build it in such a way that the birdseed is protected from the weather and well ventilated to keep it dry.  Remember to check your feed periodically to make sure the seed is edible and fresh.

Finally, when you are building your little masterpiece paint as much as you

A cute little wood worker's delight of a small tray feeder with a roof and made of cedar to keep the insects away from the feed.

like on the outside, but leave the interior exposures to the birds and the feed unpainted.  Also, used untreated wood too.  These two little steps will help to ensure your birds are not harmed by any chemicals in the paint or in treated wood.

I’ve been writing on bird watching and building your own birdhouses and bird feeders from plans  for some time now and wouldn’t build without them.  The  two links which follow are a valuable resource for many of my

readers.  With just under one hundred to choose from, these two highly skilled draftsmen have put together the best collections of bird feeder plans on the market today.  In addition, for a low price they both include literally thousands of additional woodworking plans for various projects around the house.

Thanks for reading and drop me a line…..  Rose

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Great Horned Owl – A Powerful Raptor

Great Horned Owl - Large Bird of Prey

The owl….  makes most of us think of the “wise old owl”, Halloween, and hoot-hoot. Not me, for I have seen the Great Horned Owl up close.  He is another bird which takes care of his own bird feeder plans. (pun intended)   The Great Horned Owl is a huge bird with a really large beak and big feet with long, thick black talons. One evening just at dusk our daughter and I left the house in the car and we passed a neighbor’s mailbox as I was slowing to stop at the intersection. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something, but wasn’t sure just what. I put the car into reverse and backed up and we were staring face to face at eye level with an owl that had to have been two feet tall standing on the mailbox.

He didn’t move, he just stared, and I was glad the windows were up for I wasn’t so sure he wouldn’t have come into the car after us. I had seen him in the weeks before high in a pine tree near our home. I could tell he was large, but up close he was simply frightening.

He was so alarming, I found myself sharing the story with friends. One of those friends had raised and studied these owls back in the eighties. When I described this creature, she immediately knew exactly what I was talking about and shared a little tip with me. She said, “You do know his beak is so strong, he can snap a broom handle in two.”  Then she added, “I wouldn’t let Minnie outside unless you are right there with her.”

Minnie was our miniature dachshund weighing less than ten pounds. We had nicknamed her minnie-rat, because she was about the size of a wharf rat. I had already been thinking the same thing, and she confirmed it. Needless to say, Minnie was always accompanied outside after that and I always stood close enough to her hoping our neighborhood raptor wouldn’t be brave enough to come down with me standing there.

Read on to see what is going on in New Mexico according to the News website, Gather.com.

When Giant Owls Attack: Dog Owners Blame Birds For Death

November 11, 2011

There would be nothing so horrifying as looking in your backyard only to see giant owls swooping up your pet and carrying him off. This scary scene seems to be playing out in reality in Albuquerque, New Mexico. But, are these pet owners blaming owls for something they had nothing to do with?

In the cases of the dead and injured pets, one woman heard a “yelp” from her puppy before he disappeared from the backyard. He was sadly found dead two days later by neighbors. Another dog owner found claw marks on the back of her poodle. She believes the huge owls tried to grab her dog for a wire-haired meal.

According to a zookeeper at Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, the largest owl species in the United States is the Great Grey Owl, which can have a wingspan of up to 5 feet. That is indeed a large bird and one no one wants to be attacked by. These giant owls usually keep the rodent population down ( good thing!), but they have also been known to eat any small animal they can carry away. The really creepy thing is that the owls are silent and stealth-like when they approach their prey. Their next meal doesn’t even know what happened until they are in the owl’s clutches and being carried off to be eaten.

Rough stuff, I know, but sometimes forewarned is forearmed. The large owls can definitely pick up a small dog or cat. I would echo the warning my friend gave me years ago not to let the smaller pets outside by themselves if you’ve seen one of these large owls in the area.

Read the entire article on this bird of prey here…

Have you ever been exposed these creatures and this problem? If so, please share with the rest of us. Thanks. You may want to read a recent post of ours about another raptor, the Cooper’s Hawk.

Please SHARE this with your family and friends, especially if you live in an area where these large species of owls hunt.

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Birds Of Prey — It May Be Natural, But It Sure Is Ugly

Just the other day, my good friend and bridge buddy, was telling me about the shrieking animals she heard outside.  Thinking something was happening to her cat, or maybe her cat was after some animal, she ran out front only to find her cat in the corner on the front porch and blood and feathers all over the driveway and mailbox by the street.  She described the blood in a line across the drive way like the bleeding bird had been carried away.

Never experiencing this myself, I said, did the cat get the bird?

Cooper's Hawk, Blood on His Breast and On His Beak --- Finishing the Kill

No, she said…  it was a hawk.

A hawk?  Don’t they eat field mice, snakes, and squirrels?

Oh, they’ll eat other birds too, she said, and he was sitting the pine tree across the street when I came out.  It looked like he snagged the bird on the mailbox and flew away with his catch.  That hawk has been in the trees around the pond over there for a long time and this isn’t the first time we’ve found feathers and lots of blood like this.  It’s what it looks like after they attack.

Next, thanks to this article from Patch.com, those of us less familiar with this natural occurrence, will have our eyes opened about nature’s birds of prey, where they roam and what they hunt.  Our favorite backyard birds may be the Cooper’s Hawk’s next dinner.

Raptor Racks Up A Kill

The rarely-seen Cooper’s hawk hunts songbirds in an East Cobb neighborhood.

By Linda Rehkopf

I wasn’t expecting to hear the shrieks and shrills outside my home office window just before dusk one afternoon last week. Based on the sounds, I assumed it was a cat-on-squirrel fight, or a squirrel-on-squirrel fight.

I was wrong.

A Cooper’s hawk thrashed on the ground in the clearing between the house and the hardwood forest beyond. I hoped it had a chipmunk in its talons (nothing personal; the chipmunks’ cuteness factor lost me when they tunneled through my yard, which killed a lot of mature shrubs, and led to drainage issues).

Whatever the hawk had on the ground beneath its wingspan, wasn’t giving up easily. But the large bird extended its wings and fully covered its prey. Its powerful talons had a tight hold. Occasionally the predator tumbled and rolled, then righted itself. The death cry was heartbreaking. Through binoculars I finally caught sight of the prey: a red breasted woodpecker.

All that remained after the battle were some pin-striped, downy feathers scattered among the leaves.

Even in East Cobb, where habitats are lost to development, hawks still circle overhead. My neighborhood of woods and streams is prime hawk territory. We’ve had nesting red-tailed hawks for several years. This beneficial hunter takes out the chipmunks and other rodents, along with an occasional snake.

The Cooper’s hawk, though, is a relative newcomer to my patch of ecosystem. While not endangered, this species is in decline so isn’t seen frequently. A Cooper’s hawk eats other birds, and doesn’t seem to discriminate. If a backyard feeder is popular among songbirds, a Cooper’s hawk might decide to hang around.

I’ve seen one from time to time sitting in low branches of tall evergreens, but have never watched it hunt or kill prey. Basically, the larger bird crushed the smaller one to death. My reaction – curiosity tinged with horror – wasn’t uncommon.

Monteen McCord, who runs a raptor rescue and education center in Cherokee County, said sights like what I witnessed are natural and necessary.

“Backyard bird feeders/watchers grimace every time a raptor motors through and snatches their songbird off of their bird feeder,” McCord said in an email. “When they hunt, their job is to keep the gene pool clean and go after the ones that are damaged, slow, or just not paying attention.”

The woodpecker, about half the size of the hawk, probably had it coming, in other words.

“With a first year mortality rate of about 80 percent, most of the raptors have already starved to death,” McCord said. “As the weather gets colder, their metabolism speeds up to keep the body system going, thus requiring more calories. Combine that with a lower prey base in the winter, and you have natural selection at its finest; only the strong will survive through the winter and pass those evolutionary genes onto the next generation.”

To learn more about raptors, including several species of owls and hawks common to East Cobb and the region, a good resource is the slim book, Common Birds of Atlanta, by Jim Wilson and Anselm Atkins. The volume contains color photographs to aid bird identification.

Read the entire article here to learn more about birds of prey…

We know you visit us wanting to find information on bird feeder plans, but this article was so interesting, we thought you’d like it too.  If you’ve had experiences with hawks or owls and your backyard birds, please take a moment and share it with us.

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Grandma Doesn’t Need Bird Feeder Plans For This Easy Fun

Pine Cone Feeders Need No Bird Feeder Plans

There is nothing I love more than my birds, unless it’s my family…  especially my grand children.  We love to do things together and going outside is one of them, even in the chilly winter.  The other day my oldest granddaughter and I were looking outside and we saw a lone cardinal on a leafless and twiggy looking little tree.

She called to me, “Grandma, look it’s a cardinal.  See him there in the tree.  Grandma, what’s he going to eat?  There are no leaves or bugs or anything for him.”

Well, said I, “let’s make a bird feeder for him out of the left over pine cones“ we used making our Christmas wreath.

What an afternoon of fun we had making, hanging, then watching our latest back yard bird feeder become the hot spot of the neighborhood.  We are not the only ones either, as you’ll see.

Easiest Bird Feeder Plans Around – A Christmas Treat For The Birds

This article maps our every step to a perfect homemade feeder:

Our winter birds will enjoy an extra treat as winter weather sets in. Get the kids involved to make a wonderful Christmas gift for your backyard birds by creating pine cone bird feeders.

You’ll need:

Large, open pine cones

Peanut butter

Birdseed, chopped dried fruit or chopped nuts

Fishing line, twine, ribbon or string

Plate or dish

Butter knife

 

Cut a long piece of twine and tuck it under the top sets of scales on the pine cone, then tie securely. Spread the peanut butter on the inside and outside of the cone. Sprinkle seed mixture on top of cone, then roll it in a dish of seed to get maximum coverage. Hang the cone from a branch near where birds are likely to shelter such as evergreens or dense shrubs.

Tip: If you have collected cones from the neighborhood, consider drying them on a foil-lined cookie sheet in a 200 degree oven for about 45 minutes with the door cracked. This will kill any critters and allow the sap to melt, making them much less sticky to work with.

Garden Tip is courtesy of Heather Prince, The Growing Place, 630-355-4000,

www.thegrowingplace.com

Making these was truly a treat for us and a very special treat for our cold, hungry feathered friends in our back yard.  We want to thank the folks at the Naperville Sun for sharing this story with us.  We hope you’ll enjoy making pine cone bird feeders too.

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Bird Feeder Plans Drawn Especially for Goldfinches

Also known as the “wild canary”, the goldfinch brings a brilliant splash

Click on Perky Pet and Find This Under "Thistle"

of color to any backyard.  This migratory bird winters in the south and then makes its way to the north as spring gets under way.  How can you make your backyard a favorite stopping point for these great birds?  With the right bird feeder plans, you can easily attract these social birds.

“If you build it, they will come” can be easily translated to “If you put out thistle, they will come” for goldfinch lovers.  These birds like weeds, seeds, and flowers!  So if your yard has a lot of thickets, patches of thistles, cosmos, sunflowers, birch, mulberry, hemlock, zinnia, elm, and other goodies, you’re off to a good start. If not, make sure your bird feeder plans include thistle, black oil sunflower, and a source of water for bathing.

If you want to attract and keep the goldfinch, try a special thistle finch

American Goldfinch

feeder.  These are similar to tube feeders and have very small holes.  You can also use thistle sacks, which have nylon mesh that the birds hang on and pull seeds from.  A variation of this is a metal or plastic mesh that lasts longer and is a bit sturdier.  You can buy these in stores for about $20 or more, or find finch bird feeder plans online and do it yourself for next to nothing.  The birds only care about getting their thistle and seed – so if you want to make a feeder from a Tube-Pak or other cylinder, go ahead.  The goldfinches will be more than happy with your efforts.

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Working to Get the Warbler into Your Yard

They are often called the “butterflies of the bird world.” It is easy to

Black Throated Blue Warbler

see why when you spot one of these energetic, beautiful warblers.  But if you want to spot one (or more!) in your yard, you need the right bird feeder plans.  Here are some tips to make your yard a regular hangout for warblers.

You’ll have to work if you want warblers.  They are not the most common of backyard visitors, but they do repay your efforts by eating insects that can ruin your lawn or garden. One of the most important features for attracting warblers is the presence of trees, particularly cypress, pine, oak, willow, and sycamore.

Warblers  like to nest there, building their nests from plant materials, spider webs, bark, and grass.  They also like the protection and cover that these trees offer, which is especially important during migration.  Other goodies that can help you attract and keep warblers include berry bushes, such as bayberry, mulberry, blackberry, honeysuckle, and junipers. They like poison ivy – so if you know you won’t accidentally step in a patch, you might leave that one for the birds.

If your yard is lacking in some of these amenities, you may still be able to lure the warbler, especially in the fall and winter when insects are more scarce.  Many warblers like black oil sunflower seed, but suet may be a better

Red Faced Warbler

bet.  This provides a great source of fats and calories, which are particularly important coming into the cold season.  Try suet feeders, suet cakes, or

simply smear suet in the bark of a tree.

You can find suet bird feeder plans online or buy a pre-made model.  Also, make sure there is a birdbath nearby.  They like the sound of dripping water, so if you really want warblers, think about creating a more complex running water, mister, or drip system.

Too much work?  Not for the bird lover who appreciates the bright, charming warbler.  Warblers are so enjoyed by those who know them that a Field Guide was written about them.  Click on the link below to be taken to Amazon.com to see a review on this book.

Stokes Field Guide to Warblers

Golden Winged Warbler

Pine Warbler Eating Suet

The Best Bird Feeder Plans for Robins

Why do we love robin red breasts so much? As kids, these are often the

Robin Feeding Worms to Her Young

first birds that we learn to identify and can recognize on our own.  As adults, these are often the first harbingers of spring after a long winter.  No matter why you love the robin, you can find the right bird feeder plans to help you invite this great bird into your yard.

Many birds, like sparrows and finches, love to dine on seeds, which are packed with fats and proteins.  The robin, on the other hand, has eating habits more similar to an oriole.  They pick at the ground, foraging for earthworms, and they eat backyard pets like termites, grasshoppers, beetle grubs, and caterpillars that can hurt your garden, trees, and shrubs.  Instead of using bird feeder plans that call for seed, you need to do things like provide a pile of brush or leaves, which will attract worms and other goodies.

In the summer, though, robins turn to fruitier flavors.  More than 60 percent of their food consumption consists of fleshy berries and fruits, including

Robins Will Eat From Your Hand

grapes, apples, currants, bayberry, elderberry, crabapples, and hollies.  You can plant a berry bush and encourage the birds to come back year after year or you can provide these fruit or fruit scraps on a tray or platform-style bird feeder.  If you really want to make their day, add some suet for fat and a source of water for bathing.

Another reason why we love robins is that they do not mind nesting near humans.  They are not afraid of us and so make wonderful backyard companions.  And if they eat some of your garden-destroying grubs, even better!

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Inviting Color into Your Backyard:  Feed the Orioles!

Orioles are a welcome splash of color in the spring. The bright orange

Natural Bird Feeder Plans, the Tree Branch

body against the bold black head is a sight for sore eyes after a winter of monotony, and bird lovers prize the orioles’ rich song and chirpy language.  What type of bird feeder plans help encourage these birds to end their migratory trek into your backyard?

Since these birds love fruit and berries in the summertime, Orioles will be happy almost whatever you use to feed them, including in the trees or shrubs in your yard.  Some bird feeder plans you might want to consider are the platform or tray bird feeders, or even larger hopper and suet feeders which have a nice wide ledge upon which to place the fruit and berries.  What’s even better is if you have tall trees and lots of bushes with berries on them naturally growing in your own backyard!

Luckily, orioles can make themselves at home in parks and suburban areas, and they can easily be enticed into your backyard.  They prefer wide open spaces and tall trees.  Unlike some other birds, orioles tend to be solitary and timid.  They like the protection of trees and dense shrubs, so if you have these in your yard, you’re halfway there.  They do not typically use birdhouses, but instead make their nests in elm, poplar, willow, and oak trees.

Also, put out a shallow bird bath.  Orioles prefer wide, shallow baths, and if you can find or make one with a dripper, it helps attract orioles and other species.  Many people decorate their birdbaths in orange (whether flowers, ribbon, or a terracotta planter) to further entice these shy birds.

Once shelter is established for the oriole, consider its food.  Again, we’re lucky because orioles aren’t picky eaters so bird feeder plans are easy.  They

Orioles Dining in the Rain

like nectar; you can feed them orange halves, grape jelly, and specialized nectar mixtures.  Their diet consists of primarily fleshy fruits and berries during the summer, though they do eat insects at other times of the year.  Chances are you already have enough of those in your backyard.

Keep the feeders clean and in the open to make the orioles comfortable and confident in returning.  Visit this post to learn more about how birds can become ill from dirty bird feeders.

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Soda bottle feeders make bird feeder plans unnecessary.

Building a Bird-Friendly Bird Feeder That Is Kid-Friendly Too

If you look through catalogs or online, you will see bird feeders and houses that are more like bird mansions and resorts.There are some incredible designs – but there is something special about making your own.  Maybe it’s the feeling of drawing backyard visitors into your yard on your own; maybe it’s saving a ton of money! Either way, try these soda bottle bird feeder plans.

You can buy plastic bird feeders, and you can even buy soda bottle style bird feeder kits. 

There is really no need to because these feeders are so simple – and so cheap.  Most households have a spare 1 or 2 liter soda bottle around somewhere.  You will need this and:

    Utility knife – Dowel, twig, or wooden spoon(s) – String or fishing line – Birdseed

Start by cutting a hole about 1/4 of the way up the bottle.  Make sure that it is just big enough for the slimmest part of the spoon or twig.  Make another hole directly opposite this that is about the size of a nickel.  Turn the bottle around and make aother hole about 1/2 way up the bottle.  Again, make another nickel-sized hole directly opposite.  Into these holes, insert your perches, which can be wooden spoons, dowels, or sturdy twigs.  Carefully pour in birdseed, using a funnel if you need to.

Use your utility knife or a drill to make a small hole in the top of the cap of the bottle. Insert a length of wire, string, or fishing line

Youngster Puts Finishing Touches on His Feeder

through the hole and make a loop.  This will be the hanger for your bird feeder.  Hang your feeder off the ground, but make sure that it is accessible so you can refill it easily.

There are different methods for making a simple soda bottle bird feeder.  Try this one or look for soda bottle bird feeder plans online to make your own. Your kids – and the birds – will love it.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

How to Get Hummingbirds to Your Yard

We can sometimes hear them before we see them; if you listen on a

From www.thealternativeconsumer.com

quiet summer day, you may hear the sound of wings beating 100 times per minute.  Hummingbirds are favorite backyard guests for their beautiful colors and their ceaseless movement.  Found only in the Americas, these birds come up north in the spring and summer.  In the south, you’ll see them as early as in February, and if you’re on the West Coast, you may see these graceful, fast birds all year round.  But what are best bird feeder plans to get them into your yard?

Hummingbirds migrate over the Gulf of Mexico, flying non-stop on their way to warmer climes.  You can make your backyard a favorite pit stop by having the right type of bird feeder.  Hummingbirds seem to be attracted to red, so you will see a lot of commercial feeders that feature this color prominently.  This might be because insects can’t see red that well, and so they leave the nectar for the hummingbirds.  Hummingbirds also favor deep, dangling flowers, like the fuchsia flower.  They also like things like bee balm and zinnia.  Having these types of flowers around your yard and other bird feeder plans can help attract hummingbirds.

As for the feeder itself, there are a lot of varieties available. Bird feeder plans that include a pan or basin do not drip, and they help keep bees and wasps away.  It is not great in rainy locales because rain can dilute the nectar solution.  You can also find bird feeder plans that include roofs, vacuum-style feeders, ant moats, and other features. In general, look for one that is easy to dissemble and clean, as well as refill.  Glass is typically the best material for your hummingbird feeder because it stands up to sunlight better than plastics.

Attracting hummingbirds to your yard requires a good combination of

Nature's Bird Feeder Plans

natural nectar, from plants and shrubs, as well as a feeder with simulated nectar.  Remember, use lots of bright colors, particularly, red, and you can make your backyard a favorite stopping place for these beautiful birds.

As you can see, nature makes the best bird feeder plans for the hummingbird.  Forgive us for the closest thing to a do-it-yourself type of hummingbird feeder we could find in those two recycled rum bottles.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Which Bird Feeder Plans Are Best for Cardinals?

It is no wonder why cardinals are a favorite backyard visitor for people, particularly in the north. It is a site for sore eyes indeed to see

Red Cedar Hopper and Suet Bird Feeder

its brilliant flash of red and dignified crested head when the landscape has yet to show its colors.  These birds are notoriously skittish, though, and drawing them to your yard can be challenging.  Here are some tips that can help.

Your cardinal bird feeder plans should certainly include black oil sunflower seeds. These have high oil content, which appeals to cardinals, as well as other backyard birds, including chickadees, finches, sparrows, and bluejays.  This is an excellent choice if you want to draw a variety of wild birds – and you want to do it economically.  They are a terrific value.  While cardinals will eat a variety of fruits and insects, especially during the mating season, as well as seed like millet, they have been known to pick through all the seed in a feeder to find the sunflower seeds.

Another important aspect in attracting the cardinal is using a hopper bird feeder that has clear sides.  Because these birds can be timid, it helps attract and keep them if they can see the seed.  Positioning the bird feeder correctly also helps ensure that the cardinals will come.

Place it in an open area, and if you can, make sure there are berry-producing shrubs nearby.  Yards with thickets or hedges are favorites of cardinals because they nest there.  You can also increase your odds of attracting these

The Cardinal

birds by giving them a water source for drinking and bathing.

Remember, cardinals aren’t migratory birds, so feeding them in the winter is important.  Instead of purchasing a pre-made feeder, you can find a variety of bird feeder plans for hopper and platform feeders that will be just as effective and much easier on your wallet.  For the cardinal, my favorite is the type pictured here which is a hopper style feeder with suet holders at each end of the hopper.  If you build it yourself, you can be sure they will come!

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Keeping the Beautiful Nuthatch Happy in Your Yard

Penguins aren’t the only birds who know how to get dressed up. The Nuthatch is distinguished by his blue-gray topcoat and dapper striped

Unafraid of Humans

head.  This little suited fellow also has another interesting trait:  he will walk head-first down tree trunks.  Besides being fun to watch, this bird is also excellent for the health of your yard.  You’ll need some special bird feeder plans to get this bird to visit, but you’ll be glad you did.

Nuthatches are favorites of bird lovers because they are so pleasant to be around.  Unlike aggressive and territorial birds, like the woodpecker or bluejay, or overly skittish birds, like the cardinal, the nuthatch is largely unafraid of humans.  If you attract them to your backyard, you can enjoy watching them, and even try your hand at teaching them how to eat out of your hand.

Nuthatches patrol your trees, head-first, looking for caterpillars, wood borers, beetles, and other insects that can harm your trees.  They also love suet.  You can supplement their diet of bugs with a log feeder with peanut suet plugs.  What is this?  It’s a great DIY project!  Bird feeder plans for a log feeder are easy to follow and effective at drawing nuthatches.  Simply find a small log (2.5 – 4 inches in diameter, 12 inches long), and bore some round holes in it. Fill the holes with peanut butter-suet and hang.  This appeals to nuthatches because the food is high in oil and calories, which is essential,

Strolling Down the Tree Trunk

particularly in the winter.

A log feeder is essentially a simple tube feeder, and you can find tube suet bird feeder plans all over the internet.  They really are quite easy to make, and even better, they are effective.  Birds sometimes burn as much as half their calories just trying to stay warm, so you will be virtually guaranteed a nuthatch visit if you provide them with nutrient-rich suet and peanut butter.

Go online for  some tube-shaped suet bird feeder plans and get ready for these delightful visitors!

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Draw Beautiful Birds with Tube Bird Feeders

Sometimes, timid songbirds avoid bird feeders at which more aggressive birds – like the mockingbird or even hummingbird – dine.  This is true,

Tube Bird Feeder Plans

especially, of smaller birds like the golden finch.  Whether you are trying to attract these birds to your yard or to feed them in a separate location from your resident mockingbird or other territorial winged friend, tube bird feeders may be the answer.

Tube bird feeder plans are designed to accommodate multiple birds at different perches, while the tube style design keeps the seeds from being exposed to the elements.  As you would expect, these feeders are tube-shaped or cylindrical and feature multiple small perches or holes for feeding.  Depending on the type of bird you want to attract, you can opt to add perches.  Birds like finches, woodpeckers, and chickadees do not need them.

You can modify or adapt your bird feeder plans to attract the type of bird or birds you want.  In addition to adding or removing perches, you can also customize the tube feeder for a specific type of seed.  You can, for instance, work on drawing finches by choosing a design that accommodates only black oil sunflower seeds or thistles.  If you are less discriminating, you can find or

Wooden Tube Bird Feeder Project

make bird feeders that have different tubes, allowing you to offer different types of seed.  If you want to discourage large birds from feeding, small perches can be effective.

While tube bird feeders do have a characteristic shape and are hung from a tree or attached to a pole, there are any number of modifications you can make to your bird feeder plans so you draw the backyard visitors you want.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Build the Bird Feeders that Make Birds Sing

Having backyard birds is a great source of enjoyment and entertainment – but how do you attract them to your yard?  A larger, platform or tray style

Hang from a Tree or Attach to a Pole

feeder can be the best way to attract the most birds.  See how easy the bird feeder plans really are for a platform or tray bird feeder.   These are easy to make and even easier to enjoy.

Timid birds will often stay away from bird feeders that are covered with a roof of some sort; a platform  or tray style feeder leaves all, or most, of the food surface open, and this lets birds know that they can find a snack here.  After you have succeeded in drawing birds to your feeder, you can construct a little shelter, or lean-to, to keep some of the food protected from the elements.

It can be hard to find this style of bird feeder in stores, but don’t worry.  All you need is a simple set of bird feeder plans and a few pieces of wood and they are easy to make.  Start with four pieces of 1 x 1/2 inch wood, and nail these together in a square.  Aim for sides that measure 2 by 3 feet, so about a dozen birds can feed without conflict.  Put braces in from corner to corner to support the structure.  After this, find a piece of window or fly screen and nail it to the frame.  This serves as a very simple, lightweight, floor that has an effective drainage system.  You can attach a piece of wood beneath the center of this structure, which will allow you to nail the platform feeder to a post.

This is perhaps the simplest bird feeder you could make, but it is one of the most effective in attracting a variety, and quantity, of birds to your backyard.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Simply Put, No.   Purple Martin Birdhouses are What You Need

Many people are interested in Purple Martins, because they are one of

Example Page from Purple Martin Birdhouse Plans

the most beautiful backyard garden birds. What makes the Purple Martin so special, besides their gorgeous color, is the fact that unlike other species, purple martins live mainly in birdhouses.  They do not make their homes very often in the wild, so man-made sanctuaries are necessary for their survival.  These great birds do repay your
hospitality though.

If you want to attract birds like bluebirds or northern cardinals, suet bird feeder plans can help. The food draws them. Many people think because the Purple Martin prefers to eat insects that he will be attracted by a suet bird feeder too.  However, if you want to attract purple martins, you will need to provide housing. Purple Martins like to nest in groups, so often a series of birdhouses is the best way to keep them in
your yard.  Purple martin birdhouses often have a lot of compartments or sections – sort of like an apartment building.  This way, they can accommodate a family of martins.  What do they eat though, and how?

You can save the seed for your other backyard guests; purple martins are “obligate aerial insectivores.”  This means that they eat insects on the wing, not on the ground.  This way, they can catch wasps, grasshoppers, moths, flying ants, stinkbugs, cicadas, beetles, and other insects before they can damage your garden.  This, and the entertainment they provide as they teach their young to fly before migration, makes it well worth investing in purple martin birdhouse plans.

Some tips for your birdhouse plans: the birdhouse should be painted

Wooing His Mate In Sunny Florida

white, which purple martins prefer.  It should also have a hole that measures about 2 inches in diameter and which is located about 1 1/2 inches from the floor for the best access.

Try to include 4 to 6 rooms to start; this gives martin families room to nest, and you can increase the size of your houses after they have started moving into your yard.  Once a family moves in, they come back year after year, making for welcome guests in the spring.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Birdhouse  Plans for Your Neighborhood Bluebirds

Marshall Brain is the real brain behind the incredible information resource
known as HowStuffWorks.com, a great “How To” website.  In addition to being

Pair of Western Bluebirds

a former president of a multimillion dollar software company, Marshall is a renowned author and award-winning professor.

In “The Teenager’s Guide to the Real World” and his other books, Marshall demonstrates the rare skill of being able to communicate complex ideas in clear, easy to understand language. Who better to tackle a set of bird house plans and break it down for us?

If you are looking for a great project for a child, then building a bluebird house is your answer.  Bluebirds can be lured into your backyard with appetizing mealy worms, fruit, and suet.  Use bird feeder plans and save some money by building your own bluebird feeder and bluebird house.  A suet bird feeder which has a tray is the perfect way to entice these beautiful birds, and remember to put out fruit scraps when you have them.

What size should your bluebirds’ birdhouse be?  That depends, of course, on
the size of your birds.  Eastern, Western, and Mountain bluebirds all need a
house with a floor measuring 5×5 inches, a height of 6 to 12 inches, a hole 4-10 inches above the floor, and from 4 to 10 feet above the ground.  The hole diameter for Eastern and Western bluebirds should be 1 1/2 inches, while the Mountain Bluebird needs about 1 9/16.

If you are working with children, the careful measurements and cutting

Pair of Eastern Bluebirds

process can take too long, especially if you are meeting with a group of school kids, Boy or Girl Scouts, or other meeting-based groups.  This is why Marshall assembled a bluebird house kit and plans.  This turns the construction of a birdhouse into an afternoon project – and one kids can be proud of.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post which will tell you what you need to assemble your own bluebird bird house and where to get a set of bird feeder plans and birdhouse plans for the bluebird.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Making Your Own Feeder From Hopper Bird Feeder Plans

A hopper bird feeder has seed storage built right into the design. While there are drawbacks, the big advantage is that you do not have to refill

Red Cedar Hopper Bird Feeder Plans

them daily.

The handy hopper is perfect for those who can’t make the trek out to the backyard every day to refill it, as well as for those who like to keep their bird friends fed during the winter months.  The seed is kept in a covered container that protects it from the elements – and from overzealous birds and squirrels.  A small amount of feed is released from a slit at the bottom of the container into a tray.  As it empties, more seed spills out thanks to gravity.

It is a very simple system but remarkably effective.

These hopper bird feeders can accommodate commercial seed mixes, millet, sunflower, and virtually any seed you (and your birds) like.  You can keep squirrels and heavy birds from gobbling up your seed by making a weighted feeder. You can modify your bird feeder plans to add an adjustable counterweight designed to close the food access ports when a squirrel tries to eat.

You typically don’t have to fill the container every day, which is perfect when you’d rather spend a few more minutes in bed rather than trucking out to the yard. Birds who don’t make the first seating can still get fresh feed, and it is also a perfect solution for keeping your birds fed while you’re on vacation.

What could possibly be a downside to this great system?  In many designs,

Red Cedar Hopper Bird Feeder

the storage container takes up the bulk of the space, while the eating tray is reduced to a narrow ledge.  These feeders are also more expensive than

simple tray feeders. This makes sense because the design is more complex – but it doesn’t make it any easier on the wallet.

You can solve both of these problems with one solution: when you use bird feeder plans, you can make your own.  Just by using scraps of wood in your garage, you can create an efficient hopper bird feeder that has the features you want, like a wider tray beneath the storage container for more eating area, without the cost.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

The Best Bird Feeder Plans Can Go Awry When You Have a Hungry Mockingbird

If you have put bird feeders in your yard so birds will return to your yard day after day, your plans may be foiled by a mockingbird.  These

Eight Southern States Call the Mockingbird Their Own

beautiful birds have a lot of talents, but sharing is not one of them!

Mockingbirds are tremendously territorial; they will “invade” bird feeders and drive away other birds that had been frequenting your backyard feeder.

You have probably heard that mockingbirds will stay away from feeders with seed because they prefer berries, insects, suet, and worms.  But if you have a mockingbird in your yard, you have learned that they will eat just about anything, seeds or suet.  Mockingbirds have been known to try to drive away not only other birds, but dogs, cats, and even people.  Why keep them around when they drive other birds from your feeders?

Their ability to mimic other sounds is complemented by an aggressive nature that will help keep pests at bay.  You can even start to teach it a whistling tune, which it can pick up and repeat after a while.  You can also learn to recognize your specific mockingbird by its calls and imitations.  And perhaps the best reason for keeping him around: you can’t really get rid of him once he decides to stay.

From "The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible" see text below

If you want to get rid of a pest or stray, you take away that which initially attracted it.  This doesn’t work with mockingbirds because they will eat just about anything.  While they may prefer suet, they will take seed or whatever else you have put out for the birds. The best thing to do is to draw up a set of bird feeder plans for another spot in your yard.  Make it far away from the feeder that the mockingbird has taken over, and if you can, separate with an obstacle, like a hedge or tree.  This will become a refuge for other birds, while the mockingbird is left to his “territory.”

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Birds Can Fall Ill From Using Poorly Designed and Filthy Bird Feeders

Just like people, birds can fall prey to illness. Many times these diseases come from other birds, which may have fed at the same time or just before other birds came to a feeder. Little did you or did the birds know  they

Hopper Bird Feeder Designs Showing Roof Like Cover and Feeding Area

would leave your feeder on the way to sickness or even death. We can’t prevent sickness in birds anymore than we can stop it in ourselves, but we can certainly take precautionary measures to protect our bird visitors. As with humans, cleanliness is the first and biggest step toward being healthy, so regular cleaning of the feeder is very important. Another way your birds can fall ill is when they eat spoiled food. Usually, moisture from dew or rain is the cause for bird feed to spoil. The moisture can cause the uneaten food to become damp, which can lead to fungus and mold as well as to the general decay of the feed due to micro-organisms. In earlier posts, we’ve touched on, but haven’t thoroughly covered this critical issue, so we’ll take this opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of certain feeders and what you can do to keep them as healthy as possible for the birds you love.

There are certain features in the bird feeder plans you use that are critical to your birds’ health too, so let’s get started on learning the best practices for keeping your birds healthy. Platform or Tray feeders are easy to use for setting out virtually any kind of food out for your birds, but are the one design most open to the weather and to other animals and the waste they might leave while feeding on left over bird food. Not that birds don’t leave bird waste, they certainly do.

Platform and Tray feeders have the birds walking all over the food and leaving droppings in the process. As such, this type feeder needs cleaning daily and you should try to match the amount of food placed each morning with what the birds consume each day. Then, perform this daily cleaning at the end of every day in order to keep the other animals away at night. Make a diluted bleach solution to actually wipe the feeding area down about once every two or three months, and more often if it is rainy during the summers where you live.

Tube Feeders and Hopper Feeders should be checked periodically in the tube and the hopper for clumps of bird seed that has become moist and stuck together. This clumps of seed should be removed. Always try to check these types of feeders after a rain storm or rainy spell of weather.

Upside Down Suet Feeder With Roof Like Cover and Hardware Cloth Protected Suet Cake

Bird Feeder Plans should be chosen which have covers in the form of a roof over the hopper and which extends out over the feeding area around the hopper bottom. After any stormy weather the seed should be checked for moisture in the both the hopper and around the openings on the tube. These feeders should be cleaned periodically especially the area around the bottom of the hopper and any small areas where the birds can pull seed out of the tube while feeding.

If you are using a suet feeder, it is recommended you use bird feeder plans which have a design which protects the suet area under a roof like cover. See previous articles for the upside down suet feeder and the suet feeder built like a little house with a roof, and a tray around the caged suet area. During the winter, tending to these feeders is mainly an effort to keep the feeder supplied, but in the summer suet feeders need regular attention to make sure birds don’t feed on rancid suet or suet cakes. This is especially true in the south where the summers can be quite hot. A good rule for summer and suet feeders is to place them in shade in order to keep them as cool as possible.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Sure, Unless You Want the One You Saw In a Picture

The story of my life, you see something you like and you go

Upside Down Suet Bird Feeder Plans

looking for it and you just can’t find it.  Regardless, I did find this little set of free plans for an upside suet feeder.  It’s a bit late in the season to go on and on about suet feeders, but I just love them and the colorful birds they attract.  If you live in the northern states and put your suet feeder into a shady area of  the yard this summer, it will probably do just fine.  If you live in Florida like I do, you’ll do best if you make a dense suet cake, keep it in the shade as much as possible, and check it periodically to make sure it hasn’t gotten rancid.

Suet feeders are a Godsend to the birds struggling to find food in the winter time up north.  Not only does the fat keep the metabolism high in the birds keeping them warm, but it is very nourishing to them as well.  Suet is solid white beef fat and you can probably get some from your butcher for little or no cost.  I’ll be covering exactly how to make a suet cake in a later article, so for now

Pesky Squirrel Trying to Raid a Basic Suet Feeder

just know that you can make very inexpensive suet cakes for your backyard birds.

The birds that eat suet generally eat insects or worms so the animal fat, suet, attracts them to the feeder.  The colorful birds like the cardinal, the blue jay, blue birds, the woodpecker and others like the suet.  The pesky little starlings do too, but they don’t

Bluebirds at a Basic Caged Suet Feeder

like to hang upside down to eat, hence the need for the upside down suet bird feeder.  The cage itself dissuades the starling as well.

The suet bird feeders are almost always a form of cage into which the suet is placed.  It is this cage that seems to be the only way to keep the squirrels away.  The squirrel has a very difficult time raiding the upside down suet feeders too.  The picture of the squirrel on the basic suet feeder cracked me up, so I had to share it with you.

Suet cakes with peanuts or peanut butter work really well to attract the colorful birds as do suet cakes with bird seed within, or just mix it all up because they seem to love it.  There are so many more

kinds of suet feeders available, lets just agree to meet again soon so I can share with you the upside down suet feeder as well as the window suet bird feeder.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Bird’s Eye View – The Window Bird Feeder

There is nothing quite like sitting just inside the window of an actively used window bird feeder.   I regret to say I’ve found only one set

Window Bird Feeder with Removable Shelter Top

of these special bird feeder plans, but on a positive note, building this project appears quite simple and the plans are versatile.

Window bird feeders are no more than an exaggerated extension of your existing window sill or opening.  According to these plans all that is necessary is to attach a horizontal member the width of your window and just below your sill or opening.  The distance just below your window sill should be same as the thickness of the tray itself.  This will allow the tray piece to fit on top of the horizontal piece and be level with the sill or opening.

Cut your tray to extend outward ten or twelve inches and run the width of the window.  Place and attach L-brackets underneath the tray with the longer leg of the L-bracket under the tray. Attach the shorter leg of the L-shape to the horizontal member you affixed to the outside of the house just under the window opening.  The two L-brackets should be spaced to allow for the greatest support.  If your feeder tray is wider than an average window and is extraordinarily long, you will need

Cleaning a Window Bird Feeder

more brackets to support the weight evenly.

As to the best wood to use, redwood cedar is best for durability, but most any wood will do except pressure treated wood.  Pressure treated wood has chemicals that can harm the birds.  You shouldn’t paint your tray either as the birds may pick up paint flecks as they eat which can also be harmful to them.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Excite a Child About Bird Watching

Ever had one of those days when you just needed something constructive for the grandkids or your children to do that didn’t cost a fortune?  More important, something you could do together and continue sharing that experience beyond one afternoon.  Introduce the

Bleach Bottle Bird Feeder

children in your life to bird watching.  It is a relaxing activity and teaches the youngster a love for animals and nurtures a sense of responsibility that is required for the stewardship of the greater Earth.

One suggestion is to make your own bird feeder, not from bird feeder plans, but from things you would ordinarily discard after using.  You’ll need no saws, nails, screws, nor hinges.  You will need some heavy duty kitchen shears, some wire, and a well washed out old bleach bottle or something similar.

Watch the video below for complete instructions, but if you are a woodworker at heart and want to really introduce the children in your life to both woodworking and bird watching, buy some quality bird feeder plans from either one of the experts we highly recommend to our readers.  They have literally thousands of woodworking projects from which to choose which cost less than a penny apiece.  A bargain by any account these days.
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Bleach Bottle Bird Feeder

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If you’d like more posts like this, please let me know, or just drop me a line at admin@bird-feeder-plans.org

Thanks….. Rose

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Everything Seems to Be Unique Including Bird Feeders

Like so many other items today, bird feeders have become more decorative and ornate.   If you’re a regular reader, you know I feel like most architects…  “it costs just as much to build ugly, as it does to build pretty.”  I say too, since it doesn’t really cost anymore to build a

Beautiful Decorative Bird Feeder

decorative bird feeder when you build it yourself and  use bird feeder plans, why not have a pretty bird feeder if you want one?  It will be in your backyard, and it will be an extension of your home and as such will be a reflection of your taste.

In yesteryear, if you did want something different, you always had to build it yourself.  Now however, your choices seem unlimited in the garden shops and online.  Granted, it may cost a bit more to buy a decorative bird feeder already built, but it’s your money and your home to do with as you see fit.

Adorning your backyard with a decorative and unique bird feeder will add value to the property which is certainly reason enough to choose the bird feeder or feeders that will complement your home and your garden area.

We wholeheartedly say “go for it” and if you can’t find what you are looking for in the store or online we also would like to share the websites of two men who design plans for just about anything wood around the house.  Most importantly they have almost 100 bird feeder plans and birdhouse plans from which you can choose.  On top of that, as a bonus their package contains literally thousands of household woodworking projects that you will likely enjoy.

If you are serious about building a decorative bird feeder on your own, you definitely owe it to yourself to learn more from these two superb draftsmen and woodworkers by clicking on the links above.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)

Different Bird Feeders Attract Different Birds

What type of wooden bird feeder plans to choose is the most important question for you to answer!  That is, if you care which kinds of birds you are inviting to

Illustrative Page: Suet Bird Feeder Plans

your backyard.  If you want to see yellow finches, you certainly won’t want a suet bird feeder.  Learn more and read on.

Briefly,  finches and other smaller birds enjoy feeding from a tube feeder and love thistle or Nyjer seed.  Hopper feeders are great for holding bird seed and sunflower seeds and will attract many different varieties of birds which like seed.  Those include bluebirds, wrens and jays, both small and larger species.  Suet feeders, or feeders with hard beef fat in them, are popular with cardinals, woodpeckers, and other species which generally feed on insects.  Finally, hummingbirds enjoy their own special hummingbird feeder which is really nothing but a container with tube-like holes going down into a sugar water solution given hummingbirds feed on the sweet nectar produced by flowers.

To be sure, different varieties of birds have completely different appetites.   In order to attract the type of birds you’d like into your backyard, you’ll need to be familiar with what your favorite birds like to eat.  Once you know that, you’ll know which type of wooden bird feeder plans to buy.

Once you’ve finished building your bird feeder, soon you’ll see your favorite birds arriving.  Unfortunately, along with your feathered friends, will come other animals who also would love to eat your birds’ food.

While any number of different animals will want to share your birds’ food, the most common will be the pesky and determined squirrel.  You may want to read this recent article about squirrel proofing,  “Keeping the Critters Out of Your Bird Feeders” posted last Tuesday.

Once you’ve answered all your questions, then either choose a set of the appropriate bird feeder plans and get started, or stop by your nearest garden shop, or shop right here online.  The sooner you do, the quicker you’ll have

Dang, If I Could Just Reach a Little Bit Further!

new friends in your backyard.

Should you decide to build your own special bird feeder from quality bird feeder plans, there are only two places we know of where you can get almost 100 different sets of bird feeder plans as well as thousands of other household woodworking projects that you are sure to enjoy.  Take a minute and click on either or both of the links above and learn more.

Birdfeeders, Shelters and Baths (The Weekend Workshop Collection)