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| 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).
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| 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!
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| Tufted Titmouse |
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| Female House Finch (or is it a female Purple Finch?) |
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| Male House Finch ~ Male Cardinal |
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| House Finch ~ Carolina Chickadee |
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| 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.
These are so pretty! Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteI have recently purchased the bit to drill in glass and last yr. I purchased a glass cutter. I have yet to use either one, but I love this idea of not having to drill or cut. Thank you for sharing. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful!! I love making feeders and outdoor accents from 'found' materials. I just finished a DIY butterfly feeder and plan to do more. Very great ideas!
ReplyDeleteUnbelievably pretty!! Love the spiral hanger and the colored glass bottles make them so decorative. Well done. [The cardinal is a gorgeous bird!!]
ReplyDeleteThat unique feeder sure attracted a great variety of birds!
ReplyDeleteLOVE these!
ReplyDeleteI really like that they look so expensive. :)
Beautiful feeders, such a great way to recycle a bottle. I've used those screw on adapters on plastic bottles but love them on glass bottles even more.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, great birdfeeders. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love repurposing! I'm going to have to try this.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds and very interesting bird feeders.
ReplyDeleteStunning feeders and equally stunning visitors.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at your feeders, they look so pretty. The different colors and the birds seem to love them too. Great post!
ReplyDeleteOh these are wonderful Rebecca! I'm going to "like" your FB page now :)
ReplyDeleteI think the blue bottle feeder would look good even without birds on it!
ReplyDeleteMy swallow kept flying back to that perch - but I kept missing the landing / take off shot!
Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW.
Stewart M - Melbourne
Interesting!! I don't think I've seen the little containers for the bottle neck here, But I'll look more actively. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
Lea
Lea's Menagerie
What a nice way to create a bird feeder.
ReplyDeleteI've loads of birds and have tried many
different feeders but the critters keep
getting into them.. I've tried all the
gadgets to keep them off but nothing
works.. I have several blue bottles
and may just give this a try.. Looks
like the critters might just slide
off the glass?
Very nice
Sandy
WHat a fun post! Thanks for the feeder tutorial...had no idea you could buy the screw-on adapter! We love birds and try to attract a variety to our yard with fresh water, seed, etc. We do not get cardinals here in So Ca, but did have a Black Headed Grosbeak and a Western Scrub Jay visit this week :)
ReplyDeleteOh I love these...I don't drink wine but I have friends that do. I will have to collect the wine bottles.. Great post for this week's Nature Notes....Michelle
ReplyDeleteI believe the intro states that wine bottles, even if threaded, will not work.
DeletePretty DIY feeders and I love the shots of the birds demonstrating them!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post, beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteRebecca you make such beautiful treasures. Thank you so much for linking this up this week's blog hop.
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvelous idea and these feeders will make lovely garden art too. Have to remember this!!!
ReplyDeleteThey're so beautiful, Rebecca! Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week! I hope you'll join us again.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
Why wouldn't wine bottles with screw on top work?
ReplyDeleteThe diameter of a wine bottle is too big. These adapters are meant for a plastic soda bottle which has a smaller diameter...
DeleteCan i ask where you got the blue bottle?
ReplyDeleteI find them at my local recycle center!
DeleteI love the blue bottle. I see you found them at your local recycling center, but what was in it originally, water, soda, etc ??
ReplyDeleteRebecca, wonderful feeder, but where could I find the cooper wire? What is it usually used for? I tried everything but no success!
ReplyDelete