DIY An Effective Cover For Your Hummingbird Feeder Using A Dollar Tree Hack
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If you are an avid bird watcher, you may have noticed that hummingbirds avoid feeders after rain. This is because the water dilutes the nectar supply. Diluted water makes it difficult for hummingbirds to get the nutrients they need. When they detect that the nectar in a feeder has been watered down, they avoid that food source. Feeders that sit in heavy rain also threaten hummingbird health because they are more prone to mold growth. To protect the health of these feathered creatures and encourage their return, install rain shields over your feeders. You can do this yourself by covering metal wreaths in a waterproof material. Dollar Tree sells the main components of this DIY, so it is super budget friendly.
To build this Dollar Tree hummingbird feeder cover, you will need to purchase the store's Floral Garden Square Metal Wreath Forms, Tool Bench 8-in. Nylon Cable Ties, and Black Metal Binder Clips. You can snag the rest of the materials for this DIY on Amazon. The Walrus Clear Vinyl Tablecloth Protector can be cut into squares to use as the first protective layer for your shields. The smallest size of this table cloth is priced at $8.90. You will need to cover the shield with a second layer of material for extra protection. This will also help block out excessive sunlight. Amazon sells various waterproof tablecloths that you could cut into the appropriate sizes. However, you might want to consider purchasing waterproof material from a fabric store.
How to create a shield for your hummingbird feeder
Although it may seem harmless, excessive water following a rainstorm is just one of the many threats to hummingbirds. Building this DIY is well worth it. Before creating this hummingbird feeder cover, you may want to take a look at the video above from the Robbie and Gary Gardening Easy YouTube channel. This should give you a better idea of how to craft the DIY and what the finished product will look like. If you decide to purchase the table cloths to use as your wreath cover, use the wreath to measure the squares of fabric you will need to cut as your first step.
You will notice that the content creator in the video starts out by attaching the metal wreath to a metal pole using zip ties. This pole holds the hummingbird feeders. However, your feeders might hang from a tree or on your porch. If this is the case, you can attach rope or a hook to the center of the wreath so that you can hang it above your feeder regardless of where it is located. After securing your wreath in place, attach your plastic layer followed by your fabric layer as shown in the video. Use the binder clips to secure the layers in place, and you are good to go. With the burden of emptying and refilling diluted feeders off of your shoulders, you might just enjoy hummingbird watching even more.