We Turned A Dollar Tree Lantern Into A Platform Bird Feeder And Made A Few Friends

Birds are hungry creatures, and treating them to a buffet is a nice way to get to know these backyard visitors better. Nearly anything can become a bird feeder, though some objects are arguably better than others. My husband and I share our Colorado mountain acreage with a pleasant variety of bird species, and we try to have feeders at the ready, well-stocked with a few types of food to appeal to the varied flock. Dollar Tree sells this Candle Lantern that's been getting attention for how versatile it is. Could it also serve as a platform birdfeeder?

Thrifty creatives are constantly coming up with DIY Dollar Tree feeders to attract birds on a budget, but they're not always the nicest to look at. The candle lantern is both inexpensive and attractive, and its metal frame seems surprisingly sturdy for a $3 item. It has a 4-inch-by-4-inch base with a raised edge that provides just enough space for 1 cup of seed. The frame creates a sort of roof over the platform area, and a thick metal ring attached to the lantern's peaked top makes hanging easy.

Among the many bird feeders we maintain, two are sizable platform feeders with mesh bottoms and square frames that are a bit over a square foot. This size makes them heavy enough to not sway too violently in the wind and provides lots of food and space for birds to perch. Comparing these features to the small, impermeable base and lightweight structure of the lantern, I wasn't getting my hopes up that it'd bring in the birds, but I wouldn't know until I tried.

Right away, I noticed a couple of issues that could make the lantern not a very effective feeder. It's lightweight, so in our windy area, that opens up the potential for seed to blow out of the base and for it to be too prone to movement for birds to be comfortable on. Also, the solid base will allow moisture to collect there, potentially spoiling the seeds before birds can enjoy them. I kept these things in mind as I prepared the ersatz feeder.

I'd initially thought this structure would be a handy way to hang blocks of suet. I imagined cutting them to size and sliding one or two into the opening like books on a shelf. Fortunately, I learned just in time that the oils in suet can be dangerous if they come into contact with birds' feathers. Instead, I saved the cakes to put in our safer cage-style suet feeders. 

I filled it and hung it in a spot that had previously held a popular suet feeder; to keep our feathered friends safe, it's at the corner of an eave that's at a healthy distance from windows and sheltered from the wind. The base is just the right size to hold a cup of small seeds, but a small handful of peanuts in the shell topped it off perfectly. Peanuts are a huge magnet for birds to our existing platform feeders; although I'm not sure how good birdy vision is, having a few choice morsels visible could up the chances of birds checking this feeder out more quickly.

Several bird-less days passed with the lantern swaying slightly in the breeze. Some of the peanuts blew off or were grabbed and dropped by a hungry friend, and I patiently replaced them. After all, I wasn't sure the lantern's base would feel spacious enough to invite perching.

Finally, in the midst of a late-winter snowstorm, my husband spotted a siskin snacking at the feeder. Despite the snow that had accumulated on the seeds, the little spotted fellow was enjoying Nyjer seeds under the meager protection of the lantern's "roof." Moments later, the little guy was joined by another siskin. Our siskins tend to be on the smaller side (about 4 inches from head to tail), and the feeder could barely hold two of them. Compared to our pricey platform feeders that lure in sometimes 10 birds at a time, this is a pretty paltry number. However, since I was skeptical that any birds would take to the lantern-feeder, I was thrilled to see the two tiny diners.

Late winter snow in Colorado tends to disappear quickly, and dry air takes over after a couple of days. Still, after two sunny, breezy days, the birdseed in the lantern's base was unpleasantly damp. Not wanting to waste any seed, I scattered it to dry on one of our ready-made platform feeders. Another wash, dry, and fill for the lantern came next. Perhaps this small-volume feeder will help our backyard flock stay healthier; we'll probably keep the lantern-feeder cleaner than our other ones, since it makes sense to wash it before refilling each time.

Despite a few downfalls with the lantern's design, this product did effectively feed birds. Given that sometimes it takes weeks for birds to discover a new feeder, seeing visitors at the lantern-feeder after just three or four days was encouraging. Post-storm, we haven't noticed any return customers to the lantern-feeder. Granted, I'm not sitting with my eyes fixed on the feeder at all times, and we don't have any nearby bird feeders with a camera. Was it the snow that enticed the siskins to give the new feeder a try? The "roof" feature of the lantern did little if anything to keep snow from building up on the seeds, so that doesn't seem likely. I guess, as with any other wildlife interaction, waiting and observing over a longer period of time is the best bet.

At a wallet-friendly $3, the lantern is definitely a feasible stand-in for a much more costly platform feeder. It's important to locate a spot that's a safe distance from windows and is somewhat sheltered from wind. The biggest flaw I found with the lantern is its lack of drainage. But as long as you check on the seeds' moisture level frequently and ensure that there's a fresh, dry supply, this product is a good-looking way to nourish the birds for a tiny fraction of the price of conventional platform feeders.