How to make a bird feeder

Would you like to see a variety of birds in your garden? If you leave out a tempting range of treats, including sunflower hearts and suet cakes you could be in with a chance of spotting rarely-seen goldfinches, woodpigeons and long-tailed tits. 

According to the journal Nature Communications, more than half of British homeowners feed the birds in their gardens, supporting more than 133 different species. 

Commenting on the research, Peter Brash, animal ecologist at the National Trust, says: 'This is really interesting research and proves that many more species are adapting to a relatively new food source. 

'Feeding birds in the garden can really help some species survive periods of extreme weather, especially cold and snow. This is when you’re likely to get the greatest variety of birds as they come in from the wider countryside or even the continent.'
 

Method

Step 1

Tie string to the top of your pine cone.

Step 2

Soften the vegetable fat with your hands or a stove.

Step 3

Add in the bird seed a bit at a time until it sticks together easily.

Step 4

Gently squash the mixture into all the holes in your pine cone.

Step 5

Roll the cone in even more seed to coat the outside.

Step 6

Tie your finished feeder directly onto a tree branch.