A bird in the hand

This DIY bird feeder is a cinch to construct and looks lovely with a lick of Resene paint and wood stain. Hang it in your backyard and watch the birds come flocking

How to make a bird feeder
Make a bird feeder

Bring the birds to your backyard by providing a cute snack station filled with seeds to nibble on. It’s all about connecting with nature – with a little satisfying DIY for good measure.

You will need

4 x 300mm lengths of pine (ours measured 300mm x 90mm x 9mm)
8-10 nails, hammer
Paint brush and testpots in Resene Awol and Resene Waterborne Woodsman in Natural (or colours of your choice)
2 x screw eyes, painter’s masking tape
Strong adhesive, small dish, Jute twine or cord, scissors and bird seed.

Instructions

Nail together planks to form a square frame (we hammered in a nail close to each corner).
Stain the entire frame with Resene Waterborne Woodsman and let it dry (leave one side unstained to stand it on while it dries). Once dry, stain remaining surface and let it dry. Repeat at least once (or twice if you want a darker finish). Make sure you stain the frame thoroughly to protect it from moisture.
At the top, screw a screw eye at either end, halfway along the short edge.
Mask off the edges of the frame and paint with Resene Awol. Leave to dry.
Using a strong adhesive, glue a small dish to the base of the frame.
Thread twine through eyelets and hang in a sheltered spot, making sure feeder is not accessible to cats or other animals. Fill dish with bird seed.