Go Birdwatching In Your Backyard With This Simple DIY

Easy DIY Backyard Bird Feeder - paper plate full of bird seed with an acorn squash slice slathered with peanut butter; DIY Squash bird feeder hanging from a branch

This Bird Feeder DIY Will Have Birds Flocking To Your Yard

One of my favorite parts of spring is seeing all the chickadees, robins, and woodpeckers return to my backyard. Nothing beats opening my kitchen window and hearing their cheerful tunes!

I’m always looking for new ways to make my yard more of a haven for the local birds, and I’ve already added a few new elements, including a pretty bird bath. This week, I’ll be making a new backyard bird feeder that I learned about in Gardening for Birds & Butterflies Magazine.

Not only is it a simply DIY bird feeder, but it’s fully biodegradable too, because it’s made from an acorn squash! I love the shape and look of the squash, and the project couldn’t be easier!

How To Make A Simple DIY Bird Feeder

Easy DIY Backyard Bird Feeder - an acorn squash

You’ll need:

Acorn squash
Peanut butter
Bird seed
Dried cherries (optional)
String or twine

Directions:

Easy DIY Backyard Bird Feeder - cut side of an acorn squash; hand holding a one inch slice of acorn squash with seeds removed.

Step 1: Make A Squash Ring

Use a sharp knife to slice the top and bottom ends of a raw acorn squash. You want to end up with a round slab from the center of the squash that’s about 2 inches thick.

Easy DIY Backyard Bird Feeder - slice of acorn squash with seeds removed

Use a spoon to scrape out the flesh and seeds from the center of your squash ring.

Easy DIY Backyard Bird Feeder - slice of acorn squash with seeds removed and peanut butter slathered on it

Step 2: Add Peanut Butter

Next, spread a generous amount of peanut butter on one side of the squash ring.

Easy DIY Backyard Bird Feeder - paper plate full of bird seed with peanut buttered acorn squash slice next to it; acorn squash ring after peanut butter side has been dipped in bird seed

Step 3: Cover With Bird Seed

Spread bird seed out on a plate in an even layer, then firmly press the squash against the bird seed with the peanut butter side facing down.

Easy DIY Backyard Bird Feeder - closeup of acorn squash ring and peanut butter covered with bird seed

If you want to go the extra mile for your backyard birds, you can add a few dried cherries to the bird seed mixture.

Easy DIY Backyard Bird Feeder - two shots of the DIY acorn squash bird feeder, one a closeup, one hanging from a hook

Step 4: Hang It Outside

To finish it off, string a piece of twine through the hole in the squash, tie a knot, then hang it your DIY bird feeder in your backyard somewhere. (I used a bird feeder hanger, but you could hang it from a tree if you have one.)

More Ways To Attract Birds To Your Backyard

Add A Water Source. Water is perhaps even more important than food if you want to attract feathered visitors. Not all birds eat seeds and nuts, but all birds require fresh water!
Offer Different Foods For Different Birds. A hummingbird feeder is great for hummingbirds, orioles, tanagers, while a homemade suet cake can entice woodpeckers, wrens, blue jays. Do some research online to find out which foods will attract the birds you want to see.
Make Feeders Easy To Find. Keep feeders in a place that is relatively easy to spot for passing birds. Putting feeders in the open will make them more attractive to birds who are wary of predators.
Plant Purple Coneflowers And Sunflowers. Both flowers produce seeds that birds just love!
Offer Shelter And Perching Options. The more shelter and perching options you have, the safer and more welcome your neighborhood birds will feel. Birdhouses and trees are simple solutions, but even shrubs can be safe havens too.