If you build it, they will come: true for baseball movies and true for backyard birds! Because if you have feeders, houses, and water sources, birds will definitely make their way to your yard. Here are a few DIY ideas to get you started.
Easy-to-Clean Hanging Bird Bath
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Bird baths are a wonderful thing…until you have to clean them. But this one, made from a casserole dish lid, is shallow and SO easy to disinfect to keep the birds happy and healthy. (Adding a few pebbles to the middle of it helps smaller birds keep their footing, too.)
Suet Feeder for Backyard Birds
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Feeding your backyard birds in the winter is as easy as a suet feeder. And this version is made in a thrifted coffee mug, but you could also just pop a suet cake in a cage feeder, as well.
Platform Feeder
Image credit: House of Hawthornes.
A DIY platform feeder like this looks as pretty as it is useful for the birds. Plus, you could offer bits of fruit on the side next to the teacup to attract butterflies and other pollinators.
Log Cabin Birdhouse
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Some birdhouse-using birds (like bluebirds) are quite picky about their nesting boxes. But others (like wrens and chickadees) are less so. The most important aspect of their birdhouse requirements is a small entrance hole (1⅛”) that keeps potential predators out.
Candlestick Bird Bath
Image credit: My Repurposed Life.
Standing birdbaths are always attractive to birds, so long as the water isn’t too deep. And this DIY bath uses an extra tall candlestick as its stable, sturdy pedestal base.
Funky Birdhouse
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
For a funkier look that repurposes something we all have in our garages, this DIY wren house uses an old license plate as a roof. Such a fun decorative element for your yard AND it’s handy for your backyard birds, too.
Window Deterrents
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
While this may not look like the typical DIY bird project, I assure you it is. These window deterrents look pretty hanging in your largest picture windows, but they also alter the reflection that can cause collisions between songbirds and clean glass windows.
Stacked Bowl Bath
Image credit: House of Hawthornes.
A stack of thrifted bowls from the thrift store or your own kitchen is an artsy way to create a decorative totem for a shallow bird bath like this. Garden decor and a watering source for your backyard birds, all in one DIY project.
Teacup Feeder
Image credit: Petticoat Junktion.
Not sure what to do with Grandma’s collection of teacups and saucers? Build a stacked bird feeder like this for a fresh new way to use them!
Junky Birdhouse
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Luckily for use, backyard birds don’t have an HOA to answer to- so the outside of their houses can look as funky or junky as you want. As long as the entrance is small and their nest is in a sturdy structure protected from weather, they’ll be as happy as can be.
Nesting Material Holder
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Contrary to popular belief, scraps of yarn are NOT safe for birds to use during nesting season. But there are Audubon-approved nesting materials that you can put out for your backyard birds, such as this plant fluff in an old mattress spring.
Lamp Birdbath
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A vintage lamp from Grandma’s house or a thrift store might be exactly what you need to make a birdbath like this. It’ll be sturdy, stable, and far more visually interesting than your typical standing birdbath.
Upcycled Furniture
Image credit: The Interior Frugalista.
An old chair with a broken leg or other damage is ideal for upcycling projects. And in this case, the back of a vintage chair was upcycled into a backboard for this DIY bird feeder. Isn’t that perfect for hanging on a fence?
From Dollhouse to Birdhouse
Image credit: House of Hawthornes.
Vintage dollhouses are absolutely adorable, but can fall into disrepair. So, here’s a most charming upcycle idea: a birdhouse for your backyard birds! Simply attach it to an old ladder (which plants can climb on) and create a whimsical birdhouse that looks as cute as can be.
Your Backyard Birds Will Thank You!
Photo source: Sadie Seasongoods.
Backyard birds aren’t too picky when it comes to sources of food, water, and shelter. But with these DIY projects, you’ll add whimsy to your yard and garden AND give your feathered friends what they desire.
Craft on!
S
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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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