![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsC4qtAUkquGaLoThueJEVlU0EhEPEvuPNZY6XRpnVbIHM-Vf72P8Km9HYhBDpbFz-hqig_R5HIiSfKHAFob0eP0IyO7wA0EQx3mQcKUTQuGOYH3ftIhOO1MiCWDoEt9Kv83CJpin0lg/s1600/blue2.jpg) |
Male Cardinal |
I recently conducted a class for the Master Gardener chapter that I'm a member of on making bird-feeders utilizing natural sources, recycled materials and re-purposed items. Of course the best bird-feeder is what nature provides: nuts, seeds and fruit from native trees, shrubs and wildflowers (and native insects)... Here's my hand-out for my "bird" talk I give:
Creating a Bird Garden
But - this class was all about creating bird-feeders and I came up with a few originals and I experimented with several I found on the Internet. I loved how my
DIY Wine Bottle Bird-Feeders turned out, but drilling the holes in the bottles takes a little practice to perfect the skill (and I still shatter a few bottles occasionally). This DIY, however, is similar and requires no tools - drills, drill bits, etc...
Supplies:
- Recycled glass water bottle - it must have a threaded cap (carbonated water, seltzer water, sparkling water, mineral water etc.). Wine bottles (even if they have a threaded cap) won't work.
- (Gadjit) premade plastic feeder base. You can occasionally find these adapters (they are designed to make a feeder out of a plastic 2 liter soda bottle) at a pet store, but you can also purchase one from my Etsy shop for $3.50 - click here: Rebecca's Bird Gardens (Etsy)
- 6 or 8 gauge copper wire (Home Depot - less than a dollar per foot). 8 gauge is easier to bend, but I like the look of the thicker gauge (6 gauge).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oN7qaS9kA4Wv9S3tSrcriBag2ZIZQdS04sX0ZP1BvzBcpk3aUaksHiK1TAT0xhVPTmSvGO_xuDIsRj6BbL5uT0eL-KyNj3h8BUGE9nNZPZ72qns9HHahqyp8hBEnw7-ox35_UimvJkM/s1600/green271.jpg) |
Male Cardinal |
How to:
Wrap the copper wire around the bottle. Start at the neck of the bottle (I make a small loop in the wire to have something to hold onto while I twist the wire). Continue wrapping the wire around the bottle making a hook or S shape at the top for hanging. -Add some "bling" (jewelry pendant, etc.).
Add birdseed - hang the feeder - watch the action!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3x67oWWWSvH7MqC4wirAPX0DuGH8Ox_4vas_EwuOYBKanUYedy9AJOcutZBpcm_83qg7y2bkAXl59WQhe7osTqMy9RAE5MniW-976WFCVggfROZw4X_ib42pA8-wBtgmap4HSaivNtQ/s1600/blue.jpg) |
Tufted Titmouse |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBXZ2mh8u_COToZ1g8i8dmi2FPaIETScAbXBuZaLX6GqfGYuzVZkK_4Fz-bkfGk4khRqZYqBnNTf_rgs-vJaU_RPkTe0Kzrnx8o-CwP2n76qK1i5ByHs0rrqOq6nOPJey3HizU1ZWrSU/s1600/blue4.jpg) |
Female House Finch (or is it a female Purple Finch?) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdShlEJ1AkrcmEFSearFFqUT6mMeb4bADiywXT4rZ5NCfj6w1E7dIZFVJQ1kMZdbCSc4McNX2u378eCmUbyPcr-G3uygNEohbtVQ1avD3NfwmsEgPKKJSNkKunXQzilVWpWAB1-frRgQA/s1600/green286.jpg) |
Male House Finch ~ Male Cardinal |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vVmPd_7_NqeYXp3-abWIey1debXVGyKEwHTs_pmLDbiCgiTvlKEzuWx7zIyayl-b6ihPzTo44mh9puUMWN8cF3LzZWaZezoFUMR0cJgBzx2VPRt3CAEFIGBuabI7zg8J-9BOB2ZpH6Y/s1600/green291.jpg) |
House Finch ~ Carolina Chickadee |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUN4Tuaz0hV-JTR82J99rexbRraef3KgNzPpGmKPGzBj351B9FKW9CtjN5MZ9lycyp_tqGdeWImEZioZxyQHhPMMtHEEER9LkZPwGEAsvRJco1yQwAGtwCwA7I5Ddi62FYZYHNjm_LGA/s1600/green197.jpg) |
Downy Woodpecker |
This glass bottle bird-feeder, "The Bistro", is always available in the Etsy shop! Decorative accents - your choice at checkout - large tree (words in leaves), smaller tree or flower - all pendants are copper colored metal. Each feeder is unique and design will vary slightly.