This past summer, I replaced some of my deck boards. I had leftover cedar wood so I decided to build a bird feeder.

Birds play an important role in maintaining balance within ecosystems. Birds control insect populations, pollinate flowers and scatter seeds, ultimately enhancing the biodiversity of your garden. Plus, it’s enjoyable to see different varieties of birds in your backyard.

I never built a bird feeder before, so I did some quick research and found some important elements to incorporate into the design.

First, you must keep the bird seed dry to prevent mold, which can make birds sick. Also, avoid creating sharp edges or points on the feeder that may potentially hurt the birds.

I tried to construct the bird feeder with materials I had lying around —  scrap wood, an old window screen, and a chunk of undersized piano hinge. You can do the same. The size of glass panes I used to hold the bird feed dictated the dimensions, but you can easily adjust them to fit your particular requirements.

Cutting List

Figure A: Bird Feeder Side Template

Family Handyman

Project Overview

TMB Studio