Up-cycled Wine Bottle Bird Feeders

I originally saw a DIY wine bottle bird feeder on Pinterest. However it was just an image of the finished product and didn't link to any instructions. I recently did find some instructions, after I completed this project (always happens like that).  I thought I could do it without instructions and I did.

Items needed:

·         Wine bottles (keep corks)

·         Wire (I used aluminum)

·         Drill

·         Glass cutting drill bit (diamond tip)

·         Small plates – saucers (from thrift store)

·         Epoxy

·         Safety glasses

·         Thick gloves

·         Bird Seed

If you don’t know that you should first drink the wine from the bottles before starting this project, we can’t be friends in real life.  Keep your wine corks after drinking because you will want to use them as a topper.  Mine went missing but was able to get free replacements from the liquor store after their wine tasting.

Suit up with the safety glasses and thick gloves.  This will keep you pretty in case of breaking glass from drilling.  You will fill up a sink or a tub with enough water that it will fully submerge the portion of the bottle you will be drilling.  I filled my sink about halfway up with water.  The water will keep the tiny glass debris from being blown around while drilling.  I wasn’t able to “start” my hole in the water as the drill kept slipping from the clean empty bottles.  So I first laid the bottles horizontally and used the drill to get a small divot in it.  Once I had that I was able to then place it under the water and continue drilling.

Once I was satisfied with the hole size, I dried and drained both bottles.  

Donovan inspects all of my work.

Next I put the epoxy on the saucers.  I did not center the epoxy as you want room for the birds to perch on the plate. 

After mixing the epoxy on the plate, place the bottle with the hole facing the wider side of the plate.  Let dry – mine stated 24 hours for a full cure

If you don’t want to hang it in a tree then you are basically finished.  Simply funnel in some bird seed, top it with a cork and place it on your patio.

If you want a hanging one you have to stay with me for one more step. Tie the wire around the neck of the bottle to make a “hanger”.  You can secure in several different ways.  I am no girl-scout but I did a fine enough job that I didn’t even have to use hot glue. 

Back

Front

Then viola; funnel in some bird seed and top with a cork.

Go hang in a tree and wait for birds or naughty squirrels.  I have yet to replace the bird seed but I imagine that it will be as easy as removing the cork and funneling in more seed. 

Ta-Da

On another note I learned that wire is filthy.

All in all this project cost me around $20.  Half of the cost being the drill bit as I didn’t already own one of that type already.  The plates were a dollar each from the thrift shop (even more reuse yay).  I tried to find the best plates for the job that weren’t in a set.  The wire and bag of bird seed was around $3 each.  The rest of the items I already owned. 

Drunk Proof It :

While this project came out great, it could have been cuter if I had taken the time to sharpie some little bird prints on the saucers or etched the wine glass with a saying.  I figured the birds didn’t care so neither did I.  I have also thought that since this will be outside there may be some way to improve the topper so that it won’t get all funky after being in the rain…possibly by attaching a plastic bottle cap.

Hope this helped you in some way.

*Do not do this project inebriated!  Anytime a drill is involved you should be sober or hung-over like I was.