It would be a good idea to place a bird feeder in your garden if you find that you get frequent bird visits. A bird feeder can also add a whimsical touch to your garden or even in your lawn. Wouldn’t it be nice to see the birds approaching the bird feeder instead of searching for them in the trees?
You can buy ready-made bird feeders in stores. However, these can sometimes be very expensive. If you have some scrap wood lying around, why not make one yourself?
A bird feeder is easy to construct. You can make a very simple one. But for a better look, a gazebo styled feeder would be a better design.
You can buy gazebo bird feeder plans from Amazon, eBay or from other woodworking sites.
The material’s list, wood cut and measurements for this project are all in the woodworking plan.
You also have the option of building a six or an eight sided gazebo.
Instructions
First, measure and cut the top (roof) and bottom (flooring) boards to size.
Cut out the boards for the walls of the gazebo. Each of the wall sections must have the exact same measurement.
Make a drawing of the wall design that is on the woodworking plan. Photocopy the design if it is the actual size of the wall section. Stick the drawing/photocopy over thin plywood. Use a jigsaw and small drill bits to cut out openings for the window and any other shapes in the template.
Next, use small nails to attach the plywood template over one of the wall boards. Trace openings and other design shapes over the wall panel. Remove the plywood template from the board. Use a jigsaw to cut out the window openings and design shapes on the wall board.
Repeat the wall cut out process: Five times for a hexagonal gazebo; seven times for an octagonal gazebo.
Attach a wall to each side of the roof and flooring. Use nails and wood glue to secure the boards in place. Make sure that all pieces fit well together.
Draw lines to connect the corners at the top of the hexagonal/octagonal roof. From this, you can measure the length of each roof rafter. Cut out six or eight triangle slices for the roof rafters.
Position each of the triangles at the rooftop. Make sure all triangles align in the center and the tips meet at the top corner of the walls. Use wood glue and small nails to fasten each of the triangle slices.
Next, measure and cut the shingles for the roof. Start by making larger shingles for the lower part of the roof. Cut out smaller shingles as you reach the roof top.
Arrange the shingles over and around the rafters. The lower shingles should hang a little bit above the walls. Check for equal distances between shingles. Use wood glue and some nails to fix the shingles in place. Continue adding the shingles until you reach the rooftop. Always check for spacing and fit.
The corners of each wall would still have some space that water can seep through. Measure and cut appropriate sized dowels to seal the corners. Nail the dowels over the corners. Apply some wood filler to seal any gaps.
Drill two small holes a few inches apart at the bottom of the feeder. These will serve as clean out slots. Make a flap to cover the holes and use a screw to secure the flap. Apply some protective coating to finish the gazebo.
You can now hang the wooden gazebo birdfeeder on a tree. Or you can attach a long pole at the bottom of the feeder and stick it to the ground. You can add a baffle at the top of the gazebo to prevent squirrels and other rodents from reaching the gazebo.
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