Make a natural log feeder

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 8 July 2019 at 8:51 am

Give your garden birds an energy-rich feast, by creating a simple log feeder.

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This easy-to-make log feeder offers birds a feast of energy-boosting seeds and fat. Over time, the log will rot down, providing a perfect habitat - and a food source - for lots of different insects, many of which would make a tasty snack for birds, too.

You Will Need

Log or thick branch
Drill
Drill bits
Auger bits
Ready-made suet and seed block, or any mix of suet/fat and seeds
Garden spade

Total time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Drill lots of holes of various sizes into the log, using a selection of drill bits and auger bits. Work along the full length, on all sides.

Step 2

Push the fat and seed mix into all the drill holes. Then find a suitable site for the feeder where visiting birds won't be disturbed.

Step 3

Dig a hole, deep enough for support your log. Stand the log upright in the hole, then backfill with soil, firming it down with your foot.

Kate Bradbury says
If possible, use a log from a native tree, such as an oak or beech, growing in your garden or nearby. As it rots, it will attract beetles and other wood-boring insects, which have evolved alongside that tree. It’s a lovely symbiosis that happens all the time in the natural world, but which we can replicate in our gardens.