Peanut Butter Bird Feeder

A peanut butter bird feeder is great for attracting wild birds including woodpeckers and other tree clinging birds.

I was shopping in my favorite wild bird store a few weeks ago and noticed a new bird feeder. It looked very much like two slabs of natural bark with a small slit in the middle. The slit seemed ideal for peanut butter or suet.

Woodpeckers can easily cling to the sides of the feeder and with their long bills and tongues they will have no trouble eating any treats inside. This peanut butter bird feeder design makes it almost pest-proof. Starlings cannot cling to the sides to eat and squirrels have trouble reaching the food inside.

Whenever I see a new bird feeder, I always think to myself... I can make that. So I decided to try making this one.

The most challenging part of this project is finding the wood. I was able to cut a few pieces from wood in my firewood pile. If you have a sawmill near by, you may be able to purchase a couple of pieces of thin sliced, bark backed wood. These are often used for making mulch, since they have no value as lumber.

Materials

Two pieces of trimmed bark slabs approximately 6 X 12 inches
Four bolts with matching nuts (or wing nuts)
Plastic Spacers
Wood Shim
Wire or Chain for hanging

The length of the bolts is determined by the thickness of the wood and the size of the spacers you use. If you plan on using suet bird food you may want a larger opening than if you are using peanut butter.

Process

Step One:

Drill a hole in each corner of the pieces of wood. Hold the pieces of wood together when drilling to be sure that the holes line up.

Step Two:

Slide the bolts through the holes in one piece of wood. Add a spacer to each bolt.

Step Three:

Insert the bolts through the corresponding holes in the other piece of wood. Lightly secure the two pieces of wood using the nuts, but do not tighten.