Making a model bird feeder is a fun craft project that allows you to create a miniature version of a real bird feeder. Model bird feeders make great decorations and can also be used as teaching tools to demonstrate how bird feeders work. In this article, we will walk through the full process of constructing a model bird feeder from start to finish.
What is the purpose of a bird feeder?
Bird feeders serve several important purposes:
- They provide birds with supplemental food, especially during winter months when natural food sources are scarce.
- They attract different species of birds by offering specialized feeds like sunflower seeds, suet, or nyjer thistle.
- They keep food off the ground and away from predators.
- They allow people to easily observe and enjoy feeding birds up close.
By making a miniature model feeder, we can recreate many of these key features and functions on a small scale.
What are some different types of bird feeders?
There are many different styles of bird feeders available, but some of the most common types include:
- Hopper or house feeders – Enclosed feeders with trays or tubes that hold large amounts of birdseed. Popular for feeding larger backyard birds.
- Tube feeders – Cylindrical transparent tubes with built-in perches. Allow birds like finches to cling and feed.
- Suet feeders – Cages that hold suet cakes made of fat, nuts, seeds, and fruit. Attract woodpeckers, nuthatches, etc.
- Platform or tray feeders – Open trays that spread feed out over a flat surface. Accommodate larger birds and lots of visitors.
- Window feeders – Specialty feeders that attach to windows with suction cups. Provide up close viewing.
When making a model feeder, you can choose to recreate any of these common styles in miniature form.
Getting Started
Before beginning construction on your model bird feeder, there are a few key supplies you will need to gather:
Materials
- Small wooden dowels, craft sticks, or twigs for perches
- Wooden base for platform feeders or wood strips for building enclosed feeders
- Transparent plastic or acrylic sheets for tube feeders
- Wood glue, hot glue, craft glue, or glue gun
- Acrylic paint and brushes for painting
- Fake leaves, moss, flowers for decorations (optional)
- Birdseed, wooden beads, or other items to represent food
In addition, you may need some basic craft tools like scissors, wire cutters, a hobby knife, and sand paper. Gathering these essential supplies before starting will make constructing your model feeder much easier.
Design Ideas
Sketching some initial design plans is also very helpful. Consider the type of feeder you want to build and how you will assemble the pieces. Having a basic blueprint will allow you to work more efficiently and intentionally as you put the model together.
Think about size, colors, construction order, and decorative elements. Don’t worry about making complex plans since many design choices can be made during the creative process. Simple sketches are fine for mapping out the framework.
Safety Tips
Since you will be working with hand tools, keep in mind some basic safety:
- Use sharp tools carefully and avoid cutting towards yourself.
- Wear glasses if using power tools that may create debris.
- Supervise children and assist them with any dangerous steps.
- Choose non-toxic glues and paints if making feeders for display.
Now you are ready to start building your model bird feeder!
Constructing a Platform Feeder
Platform feeders are a great introductory project for novice DIY-ers. They have a simple open tray design that allows you to focus on decorating. Follow these steps:
Making the Base
1. Cut a 3-4 inch wooden square as the base. Plywood, balsa, or basswood are good options.
2. Sand the edges and corners smooth.
3. Paint the base in your desired color. Allow to fully dry before continuing.
Creating the Tray
4. Cut a shallow tray shape out of thin wood or cardboard. Size it about 1 inch smaller than the base on all sides.
5. Glue or staple the tray centered onto the top of the base.
Adding Perches
6. Cut small wooden dowels, craft sticks, or twigs into 2-3 inch lengths.
7. Arrange and glue perches around the outer edges of the tray so birds can perch while feeding.
8. Allow glue to dry fully before moving on.
Finishing Touches
9. Decorate around the feeder tray with fake leaves, moss, flowers, etc using hot glue.
10. Add a layer of birdseed, wooden beads, or other items to represent food.
11. Spray with sealant if using outdoors. Your platform feeder is complete!
This simple design allows you to get creative with colors, textures, and arrangement. Platform feeders are great for Cardinals, Jays, Sparrows, Finches and other medium backyard birds.
Building a Tube Feeder
Tube feeders attract colorful finches like the American Goldfinch. Follow these steps to construct a clear plastic model version:
Making the Tube
1. Cut a 4-6 inch section from clear plastic tubing, pipe, or an acrylic rod. Plastic water bottles can also work.
2. If using tubing, seal one end completely with hot glue. Allow to fully dry.
3. Paint the outside of the tube in sections if desired for a stained glass effect.
Adding Caps
4. Cut two circles from thin plywood or acrylic roughly 1⁄4 inch wider than the tube diameter. These will cap the ends.
5. Drill a hole in the center of each cap slightly smaller than tube diameter.
6. Glue caps on each end of the tube over the holes. Allow glue to set completely before handling further.
Making the Base
7. Cut a base about 2 inches wider than the tube diameter from wood, acrylic, or cardboard.
8. Drill or cut a hole in the center just slightly larger than the tube diameter.
9. Glue tube into the base hole leaving 1-2 inches protruding out the bottom.
Finishing Touches
10. Decorate base as desired with paint, fake foliage, beads, etc.
11. Add birdseed to fill the tube feeder.
12. Hang or display your model tube feeder and enjoy watching the birds!
Tube feeders allow you to use clear plastic to observe the seed level and feeding action inside. Make sure to proportion the size appropriately so finches can comfortably perch and reach the openings.
Assembling a Hopper House Feeder
Hopper feeders (also called house feeders) are enclosed wooden structures that hold large amounts of birdseed to feed bigger backyard birds like Cardinals. Build your own model version using these steps:
Making the House
1. Cut two identical end pieces for sides from thin wood or cardboard. Cut sloped roof shape at the top.
2. Cut a rectangular back piece the same height as the sides and width of the feeder interior.
3. Cut a floor piece that matches the dimensions of the end pieces.
4. Glue or staple the back and floor into the end pieces assembled at 90 degree corners.
Adding Door and Perch
5. Cut an access door into the front side slightly smaller than the floor and about 1 inch up from the bottom.
6. Cut a wood dowel perch 2-3 inches long. Glue below access door for birds to stand on.
Creating Dispensing Tray
7. Cut a shallow rectangular tray that sits just inside the feeder housing and dispenses through the access door.
8. Drill small holes in the tray bottom so seed can sprinkle through into the access door area.
9. Glue or staple tray into position centered inside the house.
Finishing and Filling
10. Paint and decorate the feeder as desired once glue has fully dried.
11. Fill the dispensing tray with bird seed.
Your hopper feeder is ready to attract Jays, Cardinals, Grosbeaks and other large ground feeding birds! Adjust size and door proportions to allow easy access for your desired bird types.
Creating a Suet Feeder
Suet feeders provide high-fat nuts and seeds to help insect-eating birds like woodpeckers survive cold months. Build a model version using:
Making the Cage
1. Bend an open cube or cylinder shape from wire coat hangers or other pliable wire.
2. Affix the ends together by twisting, soldering, or using wire nuts. The interior should be about 3 inches across.
Adding Hanger
3. Make a wire hanger section and attach it to the top of the cage.
4. Alternatively, glue a small magnet onto the back to hang it against a metal surface.
Filling with Suet
5. Mix melted peanut butter or lard with birdseed, oats, cornmeal, and dried fruit.
6. Pack the mixture into the cage feeder.
7. Insert sticks or drill small holes if desired before the suet hardens.
Decorating
8. Paint the wire cage and add any decorative elements.
Your miniature suet feeder is ready for the Downy Woodpeckers and White-breasted Nuthatches to stop by for a snack! You can reuse plastic holiday ornaments, jar lids, and other items for molded suet shapes.
Building a Window Feeder
Window feeders affix to glass windows and provide close viewing of feeding birds indoors. Construct a model using:
Making the Base
1. Cut an acrylic, wood, or cardboard base 4-6 inches wide and 1 inch deep.
2. Paint or finish the visible side. The other side will attach to “glass”.
Adding Outer Walls
3. Cut strips from cardboard or foamcore to glue onto three outer edges of the base, creating outer walls.
4. Make the front wall lower or cut viewing windows to allow visibility inside.
Attaching the Tray
5. Cut a shallow tray that fits inside the walls and rests on the base. This will hold seeds.
6. Drill small holes in the bottom of the tray so seeds trickle down.
7. Glue plastic aquarium plants onto the tray for decoration.
Finishing Touches
8. Paint the outer walls, tray and plants.
9. Add decorative rocks, fake water, or re-create other natural elements.
10. Glue magnets or velcro onto the back so it “sticks” to windows.
Your window feeder model is ready to install on any metal or glass surface! Adjust transparency and access holes to control the viewing experience.
Tips for Adding Realism and Details
To take your model feeder to the next level, incorporate additional realistic details:
- Use textured, layered paints for wood grain, moss, rocks, etc.
- Incorporate natural items like seeds, twigs, dried flowers.
- Add weathering like fading, cracks, mud, etc.
- Drill small drain holes in feeder floors.
- Hot glue tiny leaves, nuts, fruits around openings.
- Use real metal parts like wire, eye hooks, staples.
- Recreate signs, plaques, houses numbers, mailboxes.
- Make scale models of bushes, fences, bird baths.
- Use fake succulents, flowers, and plants for landscaping.
Think through all the little details that make up real backyard feeders. The more life-like touches you add, the more authentic your model will turn out.
Displaying Your Completed Feeder
One of the joys of constructing a miniature bird feeder is styling and displaying it after completing the build. Here are some fun presentation ideas:
- Place in an outdoor potted plant for a nature scene.
- Surround with fake grass or moss and plastic critters.
- Hang with fishing line from ceiling in a winter snowscape.
- Mount on wood, acrylic, or cardboard backing like a diorama.
- Pose next to framed photos or paintings of birds.
- Incorporate into holiday displays, wreaths, or centerpieces.
- Give as gifts to fellow birding enthusiasts.
- Sell at craft fairs, Etsy, or donation auctions.
Get creative with fun backdrops and vignettes. Change themes with the seasons or holidays. The options for sharing your miniature bird feeders are endless!
Conclusion
Constructing small-scale model versions of common bird feeder designs is a rewarding DIY project for birders and crafters alike. By following the steps outlined for building platform, tube, hopper, suet, and window feeders, you can create charming decorative pieces that also mimic how real feeders function to serve wild birds. Incorporate natural elements for added realism. Once complete, enjoy styling and gifting your miniature bird-feeding stations!