How to Make a Suet Bird Feeder

by Jane Lake

Here is a free woodworking plan to make a simple, homemade suet feeder for the birds. The schematic plan was originally published in 1916, in the book, Bird Houses Boys Can Build, by Albert F. Siepert. But girls, ladies, or gentlemen beyond boyhood shouldn't be deterred; almost everyone will find this little birding project easy enough to do, as it requires only basic woodworking skills.

Suet Feeder Supplies

• scraps of 1/2" wood, cut according to the diagram
• wood glue
• small hinges for lid
• nails
• chicken wire or 1/4 inch wire mesh
• wire cutters
• hand saw
• hammer
• pliers
• double-pointed U nails
• suet or suet cake

Suet Feeder Instructions:

1. Cut 1/2 inch thick wood according to the Suet Feeder Woodworking Plan.

2. Assemble wood pieces as indicated on the diagram, applying wood glue between each of the joins. Nail through the back of the main board to attach the angled side pieces to the front. Nail a small 3" x 1/2" wide shelf between the two sides to make the bottom of the feeder.

3. Attach the lid with metal hinges so that the lid rests on, and overhangs, the two sides. It should open upwards, allowing you to replace the suet as necessary.

4. Cut a piece of wire mesh about 1/2 inch bigger all around than the front opening. Fold over a 1/2 inch on each side so that the sharp wire edges will all be fastened inwards. Attach the wire to the front of the feeder with U-shaped nails, holding the nails steady with a pair of pliers as you drive them into place with the hammer. 

Cautions:

- Children, of course, should always be supervised when using woodworking tools.
- Wear safety goggles when working. 
- Be careful around the wire, as the edges can be sharp.

More Free Suet Feeder Plans

All you need is a log of suitable size, and a drill, to make this Log Suet Feeder, shown at left. Or look at the instructions and photos from the DIY Network showing how to make this easy 
suet feeder, open on two sides, which is suitable for kids to make with a little supervision.

How to Make Oriole Food using an Easy Oriole Nectar Recipe

Copyright 2004-2010 Jane Lake

If you are lucky enough to have willows, poplars, elms or cherry trees in your yard, you already have a favorable environment to attract orioles. If you don't, however, there are still several simple ways to attract orioles to your garden.

What Orioles Like to Eat


Orioles feed on insects and caterpillars, but also like nuts, suet, and fruit such as oranges, cherries, apples, pears or bananas. In additon to offering the oriole nectar from the recipe below, consider offering chopped fruit on a feeding platform, or nailing half an orange to a tree (simply hammer in the nail, then force the nail through the skin of the orange). Replace fruit daily to ensure the food is fresh and doesn't go moldy.

Nesting Materials

You could also leave various nesting materials nearby, to encourage the orioles to nest near your home. Good choices include cat or dog fur, natural fibre dryer lint, or short pieces (3-4 inches) of natural fiber twine and yarn.


There's no need to buy expensive Oriole nectar - make your own, from this simple Oriole syrup recipe:

Oriole Nectar Recipe

You Will Need:

1 part sugar/6 parts water

Instructions:

Boil the water first, then measure and add sugar, at the rate of 1/3 cup of sugar to 2 cups of water.

Let cool and store excess in refrigerator until ready to use.

Although commercial oriole food is usually orange colored, do not add food coloring, honey (which ferments), or artificial sweetener to this homemade oriole food recipe.

You will need to clean your feeder every few days, with hot water and a mild (10%) bleach solution to inhibit mold. Rinse thoroughly before refilling with water syrup.

How to Make Hummingbird Food

How to Make Hummingbird Food
by Jane Lake


Bee balm, hollyhock, hibiscus, trumpet honeysuckle, clematis, impatiens, phlox and fuchsias are some of the common flowers that will attract hummingbirds to your garden. But hanging a hummingbird feeder where you can easily see it is probably the best way to observe the hummingbirds in action.

There's no need to buy expensive hummingbird nectar - make your own, from this simple hummingbird syrup recipe.

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

1 part sugar/4 parts water

Boil the water first, then measure and add sugar, at the rate of 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water.

Let cool and store excess in refrigerator until ready to use.

Do not add food coloring, honey (which ferments), or artificial sweetener, which has no nutritional value.
You will need to clean your feeder about once a week. According to the National Audubon Society, this should be done by rinsing with one part white vinegar to four parts water. If the feeder is dirty, try adding a few grains of dry rice to the vinegar solution to help scrub it clean. Follow the vinegar wash by rinsing three times with clear, warm water before refilling with sugar solution.


The wing beat rate of hummingbirds varies by species, with the common Ruby-Throated Hummingbird averaging a wing beat of about 53 per second, seen by the human eye as a blur. The wings move in a figure eight pattern to produce the gravity-defying hover effect for which hummers are famous. The energy needs of this little bird are amazing - they must feed every 10 to 15 minutes throughout the day, consuming up to two thirds of their body weight in food. An important part of the hummingbird diet is sugar, from flower nectar, tree sap and, of course, backyard feeders.

Hummingbirds cannot smell and depend on their eyesight to seek out flowers and food sources. Inexpensive hummingbird feeders are readily available and will attract the busy little birds without the need for coloring the food - the bright red container and easy food source will keep them coming throughout the day.


Since hummingbirds are territorial, you may want to hang two feeders - one in the back yard and one in the front, to accomodate as many hummingbirds as you can. Hanging the feeders in a shady spot will discourage fermentation and spoilage of the nectar.

tiny holiday banner tutorial

We're thrilled about today's guest post from our friend Jennifer! She gets crafty with oilcloth, paper, punches, and glitter to transform her kitchen shelf into festive holiday decor. I can't decide which I want more--the tiny banners or the cute bowls she has on her shelf! Enjoy!







Tiny Holiday Banners & Bunting Tutorial

As my family was growing up, I was always quoting to my kids a saying that I learned at church. “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or go without”. I hate going without, so this year I am making do –and its turning into a lot of fun. I was cleaning up my house trying to get it ready for Christmas decorating when I cam across some oilcloth tablecloths leftover from one of my daughter’s weddings. It gave me a great idea.





I measured the oilcloth to fit a shelf that I had in my kitchen and then used a ¾” circle to draw scallops on the oilcloth. After a lot of cutting, I had shelf liners for all five shelves.



They looked pretty cute by themselves, but I decided to decorate them with mini-banners to add a more festive touch. I made two mini banners. The first one was so simple. You just need two things, paper and string. I cut a long diamond shape from red dot paper, folded it in half and glued it to baker’s twine. Ta da! The first banner took me less than an hour, and that includes cutting.









The second banner was made from punches, patterned paper, glitter glue and a digital collage sheet that I bought last year. I punched hearts from red dot paper, circles from green dot paper, and scallops from red paper. I glittered my Santa’s and punched them out with a circle punch. I didn’t want the banner to have a wrong side, so I sandwiched the hearts and circles wrong sides together so that the pattern shows on both sides. I sewed the circles, hearts and scalloped circles all together. Then I glued the glittered Santa’s onto the scalloped circles over the sewing.











I think it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.