An Empty Toilet Paper Roll Is The Secret To Attracting More Birds To Your Yard

Love listening to the sound of birdsong while relaxing on your patio — but having some trouble luring the little singers to your backyard? While you could go out and buy an expensive bird feeder, there's also a much more affordable DIY option you can make instead. Best of all, it uses items you probably already have around your house.

Next time you finish a roll of toilet paper, don't toss the empty tube. There are all kinds of ways to reuse the cardboard tubes around your house, but one of the best for outdoor use is upcycling them into a DIY bird feeder. All you need to do is cover the empty toilet paper roll in peanut butter and bird food, and then hang it somewhere in your yard, like a tree branch or bush. It's a project that won't take long to complete, but will keep your yard an attractive place for birds to gather.

To begin your DIY bird feeder project, start with the cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper. Next, prepare for it to hang somewhere. Poke holes on one end of the tube so you can tie string through it later. Next, cover the tube with a solid layer of something edible and sticky, like peanut butter or even shortening like Crisco. Peanut butter is safe and even beneficial for birds — it can be a good source of protein — but something like Crisco can be a better option if someone in your house has a nut allergy.

Once you've covered the tube in your preferred spread, sprinkle the birdseed that will attract your favorite birds onto a plate. Then, roll the sticky toilet paper roll around the plate, covering it in the seed. Attach string, like twine or fishing wire, through your previously poked holes, and find a good spot in your yard to hang your creation. The safest place is near some kind of natural protective shrubbery like a tree branch. There, birds will feel safe enough to eat without the threat of predators, and will fill your backyard with relaxing birdsong (in between their grateful gulps).