DIY Cup Bird Feeder
Want to bring a little more birdlife into your backyard? Turn a simple eco cup into a hanging bird feeder!
This is an easy DIY project for kids and families, and a great way to get creative while spending time outdoors. Once your feeder is ready, hang it up, add some birdseed and see which feathered visitors come to say hello.
You will need:
Espresso Paper Cup
Approx. 3–4m twine or wool
Hole punch
Dowel
Double-sided tape or glue
Birdseed
8 wood beads (optional)
A few small rocks
How to make your bird feeder:
1. Make the holes
Make a hole in the cup about 0.5cm below the lip with your hole punch. Push your dowel through the hole until it reaches the other side, then mark where it meets the cup. Remove the dowel and punch a second hole at your mark.
2. Add your adhesive
Place double-sided tape or glue around the top of the cup, just below the lip. Be careful to leave your two holes clear.
3. Wrap the cup
Start wrapping your twine around the cup, keeping the strands nice and close together. Add more tape or glue as needed to help hold the twine in place.
4. Finish wrapping
As you reach the bottom of the cup, add a little more tape or glue and finish wrapping the twine securely. Trim the end.
5. Add the perch
Push the dowel back through the two holes. You may need to gently move the twine aside to make room.
6. Add the twine to hang
Cut a 30cm piece of twine and tie one end to the dowel. Thread on 8 wood beads if you like, then tie the other end to the opposite side of the dowel. Apply some glue to the dowel to stop the twine from slipping off. You can add decorations too!
7. Fill and hang
Place a few small rocks in the bottom of the cup to help keep it steady. Fill with birdseed, hang your feeder outside and keep an eye out for your feathered visitors!
🐦 Tips for Feeding Birds Safely
Choose bird-friendly food: Avoid bread and processed human foods. Different birds eat different foods, so native plants are a great natural option.
Keep it clean: If you use a feeder or water dish, clean it regularly to help reduce the spread of disease.
Keep birds safe from predators: Hang feeders well away from cats and other predators.
Don’t feed too much: You want to supplement their natural food, not replace it.
Grow their own food: Native plants such as kōwhai and harakeke provide natural food for birds like tūī and korimako/bellbirds. Leaving some leaf litter also helps attract insects for birds such as pīwakawaka/fantails.
Make windows visible: Keep feeders away from windows to reduce the chance of birds flying into the glass.