DIY A Feature Birds Will Love Using A Commonly Trashed Item

If backyard bird watching with a glass of vino sounds like the perfect way to spend an afternoon, this DIY is for you. Instead of adding leftover corks to your compost pile or tossing them in the trash, consider repurposing them to make a cute and functional birdhouse. You will need a lot of wine corks for this project, so start collecting them in a bowl and ask friends to donate theirs too — a great excuse to host a little wine tasting. You can use a bread knife to cut corks in half lengthwise and essentially double your supplies, though you may need to soak them first to make this easier. There are many ways to assemble your birdhouse, but some basic materials include paper for tracing wall templates, hot glue or wood glue for attaching the corks, and popsicle sticks to reinforce the structure. 

Besides looking adorable, this birdhouse provides other potential benefits. Cork is a naturally insulating material, so it can help birds stay warm in winter or cool in summer. It also provides some acoustic absorption to shield birds from loud sounds, and it's breathable, antibacterial, and antifungal, ensuring that moisture and odors won't stay trapped inside the birdhouse.

Begin by sketching each wall of your birdhouse on paper, using careful measurements to ensure they'll align properly. Cut out the paper shapes and lay them flat on a table to be used as templates. One at a time, align each cork piece within the template and use hot glue to adhere it to the adjacent cork pieces. Be sure to leave a hole in the front piece about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter to allow small bird species to enter. 

Once the glue is cool and dry, lift the cork walls from the template. Add popsicle sticks to the back of each wall for extra support, then stand them up and begin assembling the house. For the floor, you can make a base out of popsicle sticks or use a solid object, such as a square plastic plate. Frame out the roof with popsicle sticks and cover it with your material of choice. This could be more corks, more popsicle sticks, moss, wood, or something creative, like bottle caps. Attach a stick for birds to perch on near the entrance and screw in eye hooks to the top of the birdhouse to hang it. 

Before hanging the birdhouse outside, make sure that it is sturdy and safe. Otherwise, it would be better to use this DIY as indoor décor, rather than a functional nesting site for wildlife. If you aren't confident that the birdhouse will hold up when hanging, secure it to a tall post, ensuring that the post is a slick material like metal or plastic and it's high enough to keep snakes and other predators far from your birdhouse.

Hot glue may not hold up well outdoors, especially if you live in a climate with extreme temperatures, so consider using wood glue or another non-toxic adhesive for more durability. You can also use the wine corks to decorate the outside of a solid wooden birdhouse instead. It's important to note that this DIY wine cork birdhouse isn't designed to be cleaned out or reused. It may not last more than one season outdoors, but it's still a great way to reuse corks that would have otherwise gone to waste. And before you dump out your recycling bin, you can turn old wine bottles into an artsy yard feature too!