Bird feeders are a great way to bring local wildlife into your yard. Whether you’re a photographer or you just like to watch birds in their natural environments, feeders not only draw feathered friends in, but they can also keep them from munching on your garden plants and flowers. However, feeders shouldn’t just be left in the yard unattended, as they can get very dirty and overgrown with mold. One way to avoid this problem is to create a feeder out of an apple, making it completely waste-free and sustainable. TikTok offers an easy way to DIY a bird feeder out of an apple that will seriously up your bird-watching game while also benefiting the current nesters in your yard.
One thing to consider when installing any kind of feeder, whether store-bought or made out of produce, is where to place it. You should keep it closer to your home and further away from where any nests are. This will benefit the birds because predators who may come to investigate the food will likely stay far away from their breeding grounds and hatchlings. It also forces the birds to come out into the open to feed, allowing for better observation of them.
Create a waste-free bird feeder out of an apple
@joesgarden
How to turn an apple into a bird feeder to help nesting birds #didyouknow #upcycle #birds #birdfood #wildlife
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If you’re looking to create more sustainable, natural, and beneficial feeding options for your neighborhood birds, take a look at TikTok’s apple feeder hack. It’s a great way to be more environmentally-minded and also bring birds to your yard without the expense of traditional feeders. Start with a large apple and remove the core with a paring knife or specialty tool, leaving the rest intact. Take a thin stick like a dowel rod or a wooden kitchen skewer, snap it in half, and stick each half horizontally through the center of the apple, creating a cross in the center hole.
Then, pull some natural jute or garden twine through the apple’s center, tying the bottom end to a small rock for weight. Use unsalted sunflower seeds — or pumpkin seeds, which are also hard-shelled, pointed, and good for birds – and stick them into the flesh of the apple. Finally, tie the feeder to a tree branch or other suitable place, where it will hang until the apple is entirely consumed. The twine and stick pieces will then fall to the ground and become ideal materials for nest building. If any of these components are not used or consumed, they will naturally biodegrade. If you do this with one or two apples a week, you’ll notice vibrant and bustling bird activity in your yard.
