November is the ideal time to start feeding wild birds, and a simple homemade pumpkin feeder can help attract them to your garden. As plants wither and the ground hardens, many natural food sources disappear, while birds need more food to build fat and stay warm.
Why Pumpkins Help Birds in Winter
Pumpkin seeds provide protein, beneficial fats, and minerals, giving wild birds a nutritional boost during colder months. The flesh holds moisture, offering an extra source of hydration. The bright orange colour of the pumpkin can initially attract birds, while the seeds and other food encourage them to return.
One gardener has been placing surplus pumpkins outside for years and now has two robins calling by each morning. Last year, the feeder attracted robins, blackbirds, house sparrows, chaffinches, and even a few owls.
How to Make a Pumpkin Bird Feeder
To create a feeder, you need a firm pumpkin, bird food (such as mealworms, peanuts, or sunflower seeds), and some twine or string. First, check the pumpkin is firm and fresh; discard it if it is starting to deteriorate. Slice the pumpkin in half horizontally and scoop out the seeds or flesh, keeping the half whole so it looks like a small bowl.
Use a butter knife to make small drainage holes at the base, then add holes around the rim and thread twine or string through them. Fill the pumpkin halfway with seeds and place it somewhere sheltered, such as near a shed, fence, or tree. The process takes no more than 10 minutes.
What to Feed Birds and What to Avoid
It is vital not to scatter any leftovers outdoors, as foods such as bread are genuinely detrimental to wild birds. Bread provides empty calories and lacks nutritional content, so birds become full quickly without gaining the energy or fat they need. Instead, birds need foods rich in protein and fat that mirror their natural diet.
Bird mixes are relatively inexpensive and can be bought in the pet sections of most supermarkets. One gardener buys bird food at Pets At Home for £2 per bag, which lasts a month, though cheaper options are available at Home Bargains. Sunflower seeds provide beneficial fats, crushed peanuts are energy-dense, and dried mealworms are an excellent source of protein.
It is essential not to leave the pumpkin feeder on the ground, as hedgehogs should not consume it because it can lead to digestive problems, and it could also attract rats. Check the pumpkin each day and remove it once it begins to appear soft or deteriorated. Birds should start visiting within a few days.
