April is the time for Orioles....

This is the time of year that I teach classes and do demonstrations on constructing copper oriole bird feeders. We construct these feeders as garden art to decorate our yards and hang them filled with orange halves or custard cups full of grape jelly to give these beautiful orange feathered birds energy as the make their spring migration from Mexico. We are also selfishly hoping to feed them long enough that they make their nests in our yards so we can watch them all summer. Orioles prefer yards with deciduous shade trees, fresh water and reliably filled feeders. Besides oranges and jelly, orioles enjoy liquid nectar's similar to what hummingbirds enjoy. It is important to keep the feeders filled until at least one week after the last oriole has been seen feeding.

To make a feeder you will need 40" of 1/4" OD flexible cooper tubing like what is used for
waterlines for refrigerators. Use a hammer to flatten both ends of the tube to keep water and bugs out of the inside. Always bend the tubing slowly around something that is curved to prevent crimping of the tube. I use the outside of the custard cup that I will use as the actual feeding tray.

Begin by bend a hook so the finished feeder will hang over a tree branch or from a Sheppard's hook. Do this around the cup forming a "C" shape.

Hook for hanging

Then, from the other end wrap the tubing a few times around the cup to form a spiral, ending by turning the hanger 45 degrees (or upright) from the spiral which will hold the feeding cup. Expand the spiral. Decide where you want to position the feeding cup, allowing enough space for the bird to land and eat comfortably.

Wow, this didn't take long! No, but the next step - embellishing - is the longer process since this is where the creativity comes in.

I decorate my feeders with beads, single and grouped, strung on copper or silver wire (or any color you like) and leaf shapes, flower shapes, and spirals cut from very thin copper or silver sheeting. This sheeting is used for embossing so veins can be added to leaves with pressure from a pointed wooden stick.

Flattened end with hole for stringing wire.

Because you don't want everything "blowing in the breeze", secure segments of wire to the tubing by making a hole through the entire diameter of the tube by hammering a nail or awl through.Thread a wire through the hole and twist to secure, then string on some beads. To hold a bead along the wire, bring the wire through the bead twice. Use this process to hold a flower shape in place by securing a bead on the wire both before and after the shape. This works for the leaves too. I also wrap the wires around a pencil to form tendrils rather than keep them straight. I form tendrils from elongated triangles cut from scrapes of the sheeting which dangle quite nicely.

Metal sheeting leaves and tendril
with attached  floating beads.

Remember you want to attract the birds and the embellishments are  for our liking. Keep all the dangles away from the feeding area.

This technique can also be used to make butterfly feeders by substituting a terra cotta saucer for the custard  cup and filling it with banana slices, watermelon chunks or grape halves.

Butterfly feeder

Now locate a place in your yard to hang the feeder that is secure, were the birds are close to cover and where you can keep an eye out for the birds. Remember to clean your feeder every 2-3 days.

My thanks go out to the gals and guys that attended my classes! Some attend through Community Education Classes, some are garden club members or belong to the Red Hat groups. We just keep having fun creating and learning.

Now we are ready for Spring!