Pint-Perch Birdfeeder
check out my latest design: New Year's Cards

Official entry #2
ReadyMade Magazine MacGyver Challenge

Issue 12, July/August 2004

Bird nests fascinate me. I love how birds are able to fuse nature's refuse (grass,
twigs, etc) with human excess (strings, rubber bands, etc) in the creation
of their simple, yet wholly functional, domiciles.
The Pint-Perch Birdfeeder
hospitably aims to reproduce the same fusion and provide a familiar setting
for a bird to feed.

Here's how to make your very own.

Materials:

Tools

Begin by flipping the basket over and threading sticks through the sides. Make sure to vary the
angle to get a more natural looking final product, and make sure no sticks come out the top. It
is important to keep this area flat. Keep inserting sticks of various sizes and lengths...

...until you have filled the basket with sticks. If done properly, the sticks won't
need any sort of adhesive -- the friction will hold them all in place. Once you are satisfied
with this nest of sticks, set this piece aside.

Cut four equally spaced, dime-sized arches around the base of the yogurt container.

Punch holes in the middle of the yogurt lid, margarine lid, and bottom of the yogurt container.
Cut a four foot length of string and tie one end around the washer and secure with a knot.

Thread the other end of the string bottom up through the margarine lid,
the yogurt container, and the yogurt lid. The margarine lid should be upside down.

Glue the yogurt container in the center of the margarine lid, then secure the yogurt lid on
its container. Pull any remaining slack through the top, and make sure the washer is held
tightly against the bottom. Now you are ready to put the two parts together.

Use a generous amount of glue to affix the margarine/yogurt component to the top
of the nest of sticks.

Fill yogurt container with seed, replace lid.

The Pint-Perch Birdfeeder in its natural habitat.


EXTRA TIPS

Hole size may need to vary depending on how big your seed is. For added stability, pull the washer
down through the maze of sticks and tie it off around one of the sticks before gluing the two
components together
. If you are concerned about the seed in the tray getting wet, you could
use a bigger lid to sit atop the yogurt cup.

VARIATIONS

Instead of a yogurt cup on top, you could substitute a pine cone feeder (spread peanut
butter all over a pine cone, roll in bird seed). Tie the pine cone feeder to the mesh of
the strawberry basket, or create some kind of cage to hold it in place
.


Another idea for a strawberry basket.
See how I answered the Altoid Tin challenge.
Also see my latest design: New Year's Cards

Email thoughts, comments, and suggestions to mac_challenge@garrettfam.com