Ditch Traditional Bird Feeders For A Savvy DIY Solution That Uses A Kitchen Essential

These days, you can find a bird feeder in every shape and size, from birdhouses to tube feeders and even ones decked out with solar lights and smart cameras. While that might seem impressive, they also come with equally flashy price tags. But if you'd rather skip the traditional bird feeder and embrace a savvy DIY, you won't have to look any farther than your own kitchen. We're making a hanging bird feeder out of a kitchen essential: a bundt pan. This is such a fun way to repurpose an old bundt pan around your home and garden, and the birds will love it.

Besides providing endless hours of entertainment for the bird-watchers in your life, there are also amazing benefits for your garden to having birds around. Birds love to munch on the pesky aphids and beetles that can ruin your flowers, so they become a kind of living pest control for the garden. Some birds also help deter rodents that most gardeners would rather not have running around the yard. So go ahead and dig that old bundt pan out of the back of your kitchen cabinet and dust it off. Alternatively, you can find one at your local thrift store for a few dollars, making this the perfect budget-friendly DIY to attract more birds to your yard.

You'll also need some twine rope and a pair of scissors, as well as something to anchor the rope with, like a tennis ball or piece of wood. Optionally, you can grab some paint if you want to jazz up the bundt pan. Of course, you'll need bird seed to fill it when you're done.

First things first, wash the bundt pan with soap and water to get rid of any leftover food or oil residue that might be left over from its baking days. If you want to paint it, make sure you select a non-toxic paint that is safe for birds. As with most painting projects, it's best to be in a well-ventilated area or outside, especially if you opt for spray paint.

To create the anchor piece, grab a small ball, like a tennis ball, or a piece of wood. It just needs to be large enough that it won't slip through the center hole of the bundt pan. Tie one end of the rope to your anchor piece. You can tie it a few times for extra stability. Then, starting underneath the pan, thread the opposite end of the rope through the center hole from the bottom. As you pull it through, the anchor piece will sit just outside the bottom of the pan or slightly inside the middle tunnel. It will secure the rope to the pan so you can then use the other end of the rope to hang it up.

Tie a loop at the top of the twine or simply tie it directly around a tree branch or hook that attaches to a structure, like a covered porch or shed overhang. You can also hang it from a shepherd's hook in the garden or yard. Once your bird feeder is complete, you can fill it with bird seed that you purchase from a local garden center or even learn how to DIY your very own birdseed blend at home.