One of the many blessings of living in the countryside is the privilege of having many beautiful birds flocking to our homestead. Birds chirping and singing must be one of mother nature's most alluring sounds.

I always try to find ways to attract birds as there is something so relaxing hearing and seeing them playing in our garden. They bring me so much joy! By putting out some food and treats, especially during the drier and colder months, I know that I am also contributing to the livelihood of these beautiful creatures.

For this fall, I am making these fun, eco-friendly, all-natural DIY bird feeders and will hang them on trees all around our homestead. It is such a fun and easy DIY activity that you can do with the little ones. All the while sharing the importance of caring and being responsible for all that nature gives us.

See below how to make these!

HOW TO MAKE THESE DIY BIRD FEEDERS

You’ll need:

Large-sized apples

Oranges

Birdseed mix (if you scroll down you’ll see some recommendations on seeds that are safe for birds)

All-natural peanut butter (I love this one countrylifefoods.com/products/peanut-butter-og-cremy-s?variant=39401111912632 from Country Life Natural Foods! Use code AZURE for 10% off)

Twine

Some garden twigs with sharp points at the ends

A little helper ;-)

Steps for the apples:

Cut your apple in half and remove the core and some of the flesh.
Fill the inside with peanut butter.
Sprinkle your seed mix.
Tie some twine to the apple’s stem, or if it broke off as mine did, you could twist a metal wire into the apple (shown in photo).
Place in the fridge for about an hour so the peanut butter hardens a bit ( this step is optional)
Hang!

Steps for the oranges:

Cut your orange in half and remove most of the flesh.
Fill the inside with peanut butter.
Sprinkle over your seed mix.
Twist 3 sharp-edged twigs into the orange’s skin.
Tie the twine to all 3 twigs and bind all 3 loose ends together at the top.
Place in the fridge for about an hour so the peanut butter hardens a bit ( this step is optional)
Go hang them in your trees!

The ideal seed mix

Sometimes during the dry seasons, birds may struggle to get quality feed in the wild. By making bird feeders, you can help giving back to nature. Research has shown that if best practices have been followed, feeders can help birds to survive and reproduce.

It's essential to choose the right type of seeds for your bird feeder, as not all are safe for birds. Here are some seed/ filling options:

Sunflowers: Sunflowers are the best and safest option for all birds. The most popular one being the black-oil sunflower seeds. They are high in oil and are less expensive than other varieties.

Safflowers: Safflower is a bit smaller than black-oil sunflower and has a tough shell for such a tiny seed. Many people call safflower a "miracle seed" because some of the most annoying pests at your feeders don't particularly enjoy it.

Nyer (thistle): Thistle is perfect for birds with tiny beaks, as it's a small seed. Just be careful, it can spoil quickly, so don't keep it forever in the sun and rain.

Cracked corn: An inexpensive option to fill up your mix.

Dried Fruit: Fruit provides a healthy snack for many birds and is a great way to attract new species that don't regularly visit your backyard. Dried cranberries and raisins will work great.

Peanut butter spread: Birds love peanuts. It provides a perfect amount of fat and protein.