10 Bird-Attracting Features You Can DIY From Scrap Wood

Birds are an essential part of your backyard ecosystem that improve the health of your plants, fill the air with beautiful songs, and keep the pests away from your family. Homeowners and gardeners are always on the lookout for ways to attract a variety of birds to their yard without breaking the bank. Luckily, you can easily make your own bird-attracting feature from leftover wood scraps from other DIYs, home improvements, or garden projects. However, it is important to avoid using treated wood for bird features as it may be toxic. 

Whether you are looking for specific species or seeking a diverse variety of birds, if you want to attract more to your yard, you'll need to create an oasis they'll enjoy. Birds will flock to environments that are filled with food, water, and shelter, and maybe a few other comforts. If you have enough scrap wood around, you can make some pretty amazing items that birds will love. Bird houses and nesting shelves provide essential shelter for a variety of species all year long. Customized bird feeders or bird benches give them a safe place to eat with a comfortable perch. On the other hand, you could use your scrap wood to make features that offer more indirect benefit to birds, such as garden boxes with bird-friendly plants.

Installing birdhouses is one of the best ways to attract birds to your yard and keep them coming back day after day. Birds are constantly on the lookout for a place to hide from predators, and DIY birdhouses made from scrap wood provide just that. Plus, by giving them a place to nest nearby, they will hang around for the season as long as there is ample access to food and water. You can make birdhouses in any style if you have enough wood, but make sure you leave enough space for native birds to be comfortable.

Spare wood can also be repurposed into several different types of bird feeders for seeds. Bird feeders can be mounted to vertical surfaces or suspended from a hook. They do best in areas that are protected from predators, such as under trees or overhangs. You can make simple trays, self-filling feeders, and even rustic feeders made from leftover scrap wood. As long as you choose the right feed for local birds and provide a comfortable environment, you're sure to see more feathered friends stopping by.

Putting out suet in addition to seeds is a fantastic way to bring a wide variety of birds to your yard or garden. There are two ways to hang suet to attract birds; you've probably seen blocks of it placed in a cage, but you can also drill holes in some scrap wood and stuff the suet inside. Make customized suet feeders using scrap wood cut into any shape and add a suet cage or drill holes.

A bird feeder bench is an adorable feature that is essentially just a tray feeder designed to look like a garden bench. It makes for a whimsical addition to your garden while providing birds with comfortable access to food. Birds like to have a place to perch, and the bench adds plenty of space for them to land and congregate. Start by building a tray with a frame for birds to perch on. Add legs and, if desired, backing and armrests. If you decide to paint it, use a non-toxic latex paint.

There is more to creating a bird paradise than just building some stylish living and feeding stations. Birds still like to have natural elements for foraging and hiding. Native plants that grow at different heights are essential if you want to turn your yard and garden into a bird haven. You can use scrap wood to make garden boxes of any size. Place smaller boxes near bird baths or feeders to create a more natural atmosphere, or attach them to the top of an existing structure for extra height.

Not all birds take shelter in birdhouses. Depending on the types of birds you want to attract and the local species in your region, you may want to add nesting shelves. Some birds, like barn swallows, prefer to build nests on narrow shelves underneath some form of cover. You can take a simple piece of scrap wood and mount it under any overhang to attract more bird species and create a safe place to rest.

Birds aren't like humans; they don't spend much time in their houses unless the weather is particularly unfavorable. But that doesn't mean that they won't be looking for a place to rest during the day. When they aren't eating or bathing, birds still enjoy a comfortable place to rest that is safe from predators. Use scrap wood to create a mount for fallen branches or cut it into thin strips to create new perches. Place them around bird feeders to give birds a clear view of the area, allowing them to scan for danger before eating.

Gone are the days of stark white bird baths that need to be cleaned day in and day out to fend off the green scum building up in the standing water. Now, bird baths are turning into luxury spas with moving water and natural elements. However, birds still need a dry place to land near the water. This gives them the option to keep their feathers dry if all they want is a drink. Place some scrap wood against the edge of the bird bath or let it float so the surface is out of the water.

If you have a significant amount of scrap wood to deal with, you can create a stunning backyard feature that creates the perfect environment for birds. Build a garden trellis with at least two posts and a top frame. You can add lattice or other scrap wood to add features for climbing plants that birds can feed on. In addition, the trellis's height will create a safe area for birds to scan your yard for predators and prey.

Scrap wood comes in all shapes and sizes, making it the perfect resource to find materials for extra features to add to your bird feeder. Not all birds are comfortable at the same heights, so if you want to attract more varieties, you will want several feeders around the yard. You can use scrap wood to make custom mounts for your feeders at different heights. You could also create more shelter by adding a roof or more perching spots.