14 Clever Ways To Repurpose Common Trash To Attract More Birds To Your Yard

There are many benefits you can enjoy by having birds in your yard, including natural pest control, a reduction in weeds, more pollinators, and an improved ecosystem in your yard. While you can go to the store and buy those pricey bird feeders, bird baths, and birdhouses, you can also save money by using items that you planned on tossing out anyway, like empty plastic bottles or popsicle sticks. So, don't toss your waste away when you can use one of more of these 14 clever ways of repurposing common trash to attract more birds to your yard.

When gathering garbage to use to get birds to come to your property, there are some important safety and cleaning steps you must follow. Just like many other living creatures, there are some materials that just shouldn't be used around them. Keep in mind that some garbage, like plastic bleach bottles, originally carried potentially harmful chemicals that could injure birds if ingested. Therefore, it may be wise to use items that originally held substances that aren't harmful to birds. However, no matter what container you use to create your bird project, just make sure to thoroughly clean it before setting it out, especially if you plan on putting food or water inside. 

Make sure to collect your empty plastic bottlesm because you can easily attract more birds to your yard with a fairly straightforward hack. Take your empty bottle and punch holes in the middle section. Then, slide sticks through the holes to create a perching spot. Pour feed into the bottle and hang it in a tree. Small birds will come and pick away, giving you a nice sight to see. It doesn't even have to only come from plastic soda bottles, you could also try a simple detergent bottle DIY to attract more birds to your yard.

Repurpose cardboard milk cartons around your home by turning them into unique bird feeders or a birdhouse. If you are making a bird feeder, create a large hole a couple of inches above the bottom on three sides of the carton. Punch holes at the top so that you can tie it up with string. Also embed a wood stick at the bottom of the carton as a perch for the birds. Creating a birdhouse is also quite easy. You'll cut out one hole for a window and hang it up. Feel free to decorate it to add character.

Repurpose old trash cans in a variety of ways by taking the lid and turning it into a bird bath. All you need to do is add your water-filled cover on top of some sort of post, and place it near a shady spot in your yard so the water doesn't evaporate too quickly. Take it to the next level by adding a rock for perching in the middle or hanging a punctured container filled with water above it to provide dripping water, which birds love. If you're worried about other animals tipping or drinking from the water, set it in a higher spot.

As a creative way to repurpose your old coffee mugs to use around the house, create a bird feeder to attract more feathered creatures to your property. Start by rendering a pre-made suet cake in a pot. With an old or chipped coffee cup (make sure the sharp edges have been sanded down), place a stick inside that juts out a few inches, acting as a perch. Fill the mug halfway with bird feed mix and then pour the melted cake on top. Let it cool and solidify in your refrigerator for about an hour or so. Then tie a string on the handle and hang it outside.

Did you know that an old egg carton is the secret to attracting more birds to your yard? For this project, you'll take an empty egg carton and remove the cover. For a hanging feeder, create a hole at each corner of the egg carton, and add a string to each one. Tie the four strings together so that you're able to hang it. You can even set it out as it is. Now, you have the perfect tray for holding bird feed. 

Cleverly reuse old glass jars around the house by making a hummingbird feeder. Take an empty spice glass, or a peanut butter or mason jar, preferably with a red lid, and drill about four or five small holes into the lid, and add a hanging chain. Fill your jar with sugar water and set outside. While these birds have flexible beaks, remember to fill it high enough so hummingbirds can easily reach the nectar.

Entice feathered friends by reusing an aluminum pan to DIY a simple bird feeder for your yard. All you need to do is grab a pan and cut some holes to pull string through. Tie it at the top and hang from a branch. Add some bird seeds, and you're ready to go. You can also place the thin metal pan near shrubs or trees and add water to it. Add a rock for a perch or hang it from a tree to create variety. Once the pan rusts or breaks, replace it with another used one.

There are various ways to use biodegradable trash to attract birds, including making a bird feeder out of an orange. There are a few different types of these orange scrap feeders. Dunk half an orange in nut butter and bird seed, place toothpicks with cranberries and grapes on the other side, and then hang it off a branch. You could also slice up an orange and take an old wire clothes hanger and create a hanging wreath for birds to pick at. Or spoon out the insides of a cut orange and place bird feed inside to create a hanging bowl.

Aluminum cans, like coffee or veggie cans, are common household items you should be repurposing in your yard and garden to attract birds. These types of cans are great as bird feeders or birdhouses. To make it into a bird food dispenser, take your cylinder container and add a wooden stick to act as the perch. Tie a string around the middle of the can and hang it up. Add nuts and seeds and watch as the birds come flocking. It also is a durable and clean spot that is a perfect for nesting grounds.

An unexpected and brilliant use for the wood ash from your fireplace is to leave it in a bowl for birds to bathe in the dust. Just like water, many birds use dirt, dust, and ash for feather maintenance. With its powdery texture, wood ash can be even more helpful than dirt at preventing parasites, like mites and lice. All you need to do is set out ash in a large bowl by a shrub, and feathered friends will come to roll around in it. Just refrain from using any ash that came from chemically-treated wood.

An amazing way to repurpose pots and pans in your house and garden is to set them out as a shallow bird bath. In a shady spot, take your old cookware and fill it with water, dirt, or wood ash for your feathered friends to bathe themselves in. In larger pans, add a rock for a perch or keep the handles on. Remember to maintain the water or dust to ensure there aren't any pests, like mosquitoes, lingering around. Once the pot rusts, toss out and get your next used pan.

There's an easy way to transform an empty cardboard tube into a perfect DIY bird feeder in under five minutes. First, take your toilet paper or paper towel roll and punch two holes at the top and add a string for hanging. Then, scoop out some peanut butter and spread it all over the cardboard. With a plate or tray full of bird seed, roll the tube over it until it is coated with the feed. Once covered, hang it outside and wait for the birds to come and pick at it.

Get crafty and try out this clever way to repurpose popsicle sticks in your home and garden. For this project, you will be making a small open basket that you can hang as a bird feeder. Take your washed or old popsicle sticks and stacking them on top of each other with glue, forming a square. Don't forget to stick one or two wood sticks out to act as a perch for birds to sit on as they feast. Once dried, add string and bird seed and then hang outside.

Don't toss that chipped planter. Instead, after sanding down the sharp edges, use it as a creative way to repurpose broken plant pots in your home and garden by making birdhouses and feeders. As a means to create shelter from other animals, a natural looking structure, and a comfortable, enclosed space for breeding, your plant pot is the perfect home for birds. Create a hole in the pot plate and add it to the top. Add sturdy hanging mechanisms, like thick rope or a chain, and hang in a backyard tree. If you want it to be a feeder, just fill it with bird feed.