Do you remember when setting up a birdfeeder in the yard was the start of something magical? Instead of hanging up expensive feeders, bird attraction gadgets, and bird houses from the gardening center, parents and grandparents would home-make all of the necessities to attract songbirds. They used everyday items that were lying around the house. It may have looked ragged but it worked wonders to attract all the birds. Here is how we can recreate that magic in our own backyards.
Bring Hummingbirds Right To Your Window!
Check PriceYour Grandma Used to Save Old-School Metal Pie Tins
In certain situations, putting off a chore ends up being beneficial. An outdoor faucet that drips can be a more effective birdbath than an actual birdbath. The constant, close intervals of water dripping make puddles that birds can bathe in; this includes small goldfinches, all the way up to big robins. This is especially true for summer days when it’s hot outside.
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An Unmowed 'Rebellion' Spot on the Perfect Lawn
The back corner of your yard can be like those wild vacant lots we used to love. Areas of wild growth in a yard attract seed-loving birds. Little cardinals and juncos will love what you do. Maybe your neighbors will not see the beauty in it, but we know the birds will appreciate it.
The Old Blue Vintage Mason Jar That You Discovered in The Basement
Don't just use those old canning jars for trendy wedding centerpieces. You can make an adorable hummingbird feeder out of them. Simply fill the jar with sugar water, punch some small holes in the lid and hang it up in the shade. You won't find anything like it in a store! Plus, the blue glass will slow the fermentation of the sugar water.
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The HOA's Complaints About the Overgrown Blackberry Bushes
Those wild brambles are not only nostalgic for summer pie making, they are also five-star lodgings for the local songbirds. The thorny sticks give great defense against the local kitties, and the berries provide a feast that puts your fancy feeders to shame.
A Pile of Sunday Newspapers (Yes, Really!)
Before you recycle your Sunday paper, first, rip it into strips and stuff it into an old suet cage. Birds will pull out pieces to build their nests much like the newspaper your Dad used to stuff in his work boots. We like to think they love the comics section the best.
The cracked concrete birdbath you have been intending to replace
There's no need to replace the cracked bird bath from your great-aunt's garden just yet. The imperfections will form little shallow puddles perfect for smaller birds. If anything, the bird bath will get more use from its rough surface. While modern baths are smooth, this bird bath's rough surface will actually give birds better grip. Remember, wear and tear are marks of character!
The Christmas Lights You "Forgot" to Take Down
It's more than just holiday cheer! The twinkling lights you've left up are helping birds find shelter at night. The insects attracted to the lights draw in late-night feeding birds like warblers and flycatchers. It's a good reason to justify keeping the holiday decorations up!
A coffee can full of kitchen scraps (just like mom used to save)
Think like your grandparents during the Great Depression and start saving fruit peels, stale bread, and leftover oatmeal. If you throw them on a bare patch of ground (not close to the house), you will attract all kinds of birds. Just like Mom used to feed the neighborhood strays, but these visitors actually help your garden.
The Sunflowers that volunteered from last year's birdseed
Nature's buffet is serving up a second round with the sunflowers sprouting under your bird feeder. No, those are not mistakes, they are "volunteer" plants which create feeding stations that goldfinches and chickadees enjoy more than any feeders you could buy. And what about the nostalgia from watching the sunflower grow? It reminds us of those elementary school science experiments we all did where we sprouted seeds in a paper cup.
