If you’ve got an empty wine bottle sitting around, don’t toss it just yet. California gardeners are finding fun ways to give them a second life as bird feeders.
I’ve tried a couple of these projects myself, and the backyard birds were quick to approve. Here are some creative ideas to get you started.
1. Hanging Bottle Seed Dispenser
California’s finches and chickadees will flock to this simple design. Just drill a small hole near the bottle’s bottom and insert a wooden spoon handle through it for birds to perch.
Fill the bottle with birdseed and hang upside-down from a sturdy tree branch. The seed gradually dispenses as birds feed, perfect for drought-prone Southern California gardens.
2. Hummingbird Nectar Feeder
Attract Anna’s hummingbirds, California’s year-round residents, with a vibrant nectar feeder. Cut the bottom off a colorful wine bottle and insert a specialized feeding tube assembly.
Fill with homemade sugar water (4:1 water to sugar ratio). The bottle’s green or blue tint mimics natural flowers, making it irresistible to hummingbirds zooming through California gardens.
3. Window-Mounted Tray Feeder
Bring birds closer for viewing by mounting a wine bottle horizontally to a window. Secure the bottle to a wooden base with cut-out sides for seed access and add suction cups.
California towhees and juncos will appreciate this convenient feeding spot during foggy coastal mornings. The bottle’s length provides ample seed storage while the glass makes cleaning simple.
4. Bottle Base Succulent Planter Feeder
Cut the bottom third of a wine bottle and fill with California native succulents. The remaining top portion becomes a hanging seed dispenser above the plants.
Desert birds in Southern California appreciate this dual-purpose creation. The succulents attract insects while the seed dispenser provides direct nourishment, creating a mini-ecosystem perfect for drought-tolerant landscaping.
5. Wine Cork Mosaic Feeder
Collect corks from California wineries to decorate a wine bottle bird feeder. Glue corks around the bottle’s exterior, creating texture and natural insulation for seed.
Cut a feeding window in one side and mount horizontally on a fence or post. Northern California oak woodland birds like jays and woodpeckers will appreciate this rustic feeder that celebrates the state’s wine heritage.
6. Bottle Bottom Water Dish
California’s hot climate makes water sources crucial for birds. Cut the bottom few inches of a wine bottle to create a shallow dish, then sand the edges smooth for safety.
Mount on a stake or railing in your California garden where birds can easily access it. During summer heat waves, resident mockingbirds and thrashers will gratefully visit this simple water source.
7. Etched Glass Nectar Station
Use etching cream to create California poppy or quail designs on a wine bottle before transforming it into a nectar feeder. The etched patterns attract curious birds while reflecting California’s natural beauty.
Attach a commercial feeding tube to the bottle’s mouth and hang in a shaded spot. Perfect for coastal California gardens where fog provides natural cooling for nectar on hot days.
8. Solar-Lit Night Feeder
Insert small solar-powered string lights inside a colorful wine bottle before converting it to a seed feeder. The gentle illumination attracts nocturnal insects that California birds eat at dawn.
Mount near a garden path in wine country settings. The soft glow creates ambiance for evening entertaining while ensuring early-rising California birds like wrens can locate breakfast as soon as they wake.