STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

How to make a bird table

Invite our feathered friends into your garden by making a bird table. It's not difficult to make and it will reward you with years of pleasure.

How to make a bird table

You will need:

  • Exterior wood glue
  • Brass nails
  • Exterior quality plywood or pressure treated softwood
  • Base: one piece 18mm ply, 250 x 250mm (10 x 10")
  • Sides: 25mm x 37mm (1" x 1 1/2") square - two pieces 200mm (8") long, two pieces 250mm (10") long
  • Base supports: four 300mm (1') lengths of 25 x 37mm (1 x 1 1/2")
  • Pole: 7.5cm sq. (3"sq.) 2m (6' 6") long
  • Roof supports: two pieces 25mm (1") thick 75 x 225mm (3" x 9")
  • Gable ends: two pieces 25 mm (1") thick 75 x 250mm (3" x 10")
  • Roof: Four pieces 12mm (1/2") thick 100mm x 250mm (4" x 10")
    One 45cm (18") length of beading
  • Spirit level
  • Brick
  • Hardcore
  • Cement
  • Wood preservative

Time to complete job: Half a day
Approximate budget: £25

A bird table is the perfect way to encourage birds into your garden. By regularly putting out table scraps between October and April, birds will get used to visiting and you'll have a good show almost every day.

It is easy to make your own simple bird table. The basics are given below but you can embellish the design according to your own skills.

The requirements for a good bird table are that it provides a safe platform so that predators (cats usually) cannot sneak up on birds when feeding. The table should be close enough to the house to be seen from a window in winter and at least 1.8m (6') from walls or trees.

Remember to stock up on wild bird food. You can also offer your guests dried fruit and bacon to provide a varied diet.

Related sections: Garden structures & water features

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