Bird Station from a Recycled Skid

I love watching the birds. I've had bird feeders and bird houses for as long as I've had a home to place them. Where we live now has a lot of property and I've had them scattered around. But that can make for a lot of work filling the feeders. So, when we built the fence to keep the chickens out of the courtyard garden, I moved all the feeders to a section that is close enough for me to still watch the birds and accessible for the chickens (they peck and eat the seed that falls to the ground, which keeps the weeds down). But it was still a bit of a distance from where I stored the feed. And, come winter, will be a bit of a pain to drag all the containers out for filling.

 The bird fence

The bird garden with my home made bird bath

I knew what I wanted...a bird station. My husband has a bunch of old skids and a slew of wood out back. I asked him nicely if he could cut one of the skids.

And while he did that, I used the saw to cut the legs. I wanted a tall table to I didn't have to bend over to fill the feeders.

Then I screwed the legs to the skid and voilà! I have a bird station!

Yes, there are a ton of weeds in this section of the property, and what is with that little pot sticking out from under the lean-to? 

I had made a sign that was perfect for this area. I printed out a bird graphic from The Graphics Fairy and using Paint Shop Pro I typed up a bird saying in a cute font. I reversed the words to transfer to a board I had painted.

I painted over this...for some reason I didn't like the way it turned out so I started again.

 And this is what it looks like after I painted the letter transfers and mod podged the bird graphic! I love it. I distressed it to look old, and I just noticed, I still haven't painted the screw heads.

 I actually ended up using a different bird from The Graphics Fairy than the one shown previously.

I have it against the back of the lean-to and added the bird house, feeder and signs. I absolutely love my bird station! It is right beside the 'bird garden'. It's on the north side of the building, I don't have to worry about baking the feed. 

 The large plastic container underneath is the one I use for unshelled peanuts for the jays & chipmunks. 

The large wooden bird was on sale at Zellers. Metal feed containers I got for a song at the thrift store. I toyed with the idea of painting them, but I like the designs on them, they fit the theme. One has mixed bird feed and one is filled with finch feed. I still need to find something to store the suet blocks in. 

 I plan to plant ground-cover underneath the bench.

 My little wooden birds I picked up from work, Walter's Greenhouses, last spring.

This suet sign I picked up at work on sale a few years ago...plus my employee discount. I love shopping at work! 

 This birdhouse, and basket feeder on the wall were also on sale at work.

I love how easy it is to fill my feeders now. The board underneath is where I store a scrubber for the bird baths, and a screwdriver to pry open the smaller tin container (it sticks bad). 

As I find more bird decor, feeders & houses they will get added to this special spot on our property. 

Do you have a specific place to store your bird feed? 

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Home-made Bird Bath

I built a homemade bird bath using a leaf from my Sum & Substance hosta plant.

I certainly don't need another bird bath. We have 2 ponds with waterfalls the birds love to play in, an old plastic bird bath and a terra cotta one that is at ground level for the chickens when they are free-ranging. But I saw this done and really, really had to have it!

It was very simple to do, sort of winged it as I went along. My husband wasn't home so I literally mixed the cement myself, believe it or not! So proud of me! 

I made a mound of soil in a shady spot of the yard. (Next time, I'll dig a hole and do it in reverse). I had cut off a leaf from my Sum & Substance Hosta. It has lovely markings that will give the bath a pretty texture.

 Position Sum & Substance Hosta leaf on mound of dirt

 Slather on a layer of cement

 Chicken wire

Put wire on cement for added support

 Add a second layer

 Let dry for at least 2 days

 The reveal...now this is why next time I'll dig the hole. The cement 'fell' and  made a ring around the leaf creating this messy looking edge. Maybe I used too much cement, there was still loads on the body.

Notice a bit of the hosta I couldn't remove...it will wear off in time.

 Used an old tree stump as the holder

All in all, I'm very happy with my hosta bird bath. I've gotten used to the edge and it actually gives the birds somewhere to perch. 

 Filled with water

 The ladies inspecting the new water feature...that they can't reach. You can see their water behind them.

 My bird garden

You can see I like using old stumps. I have a bird house screwed into that tall one in the back. 

Hope you like my new bird bath! Have you ever made one?

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