Bird feeder

You will need

• Pallet top deck board

• 4 x 40mm screws to attach the roof to the main body • 1 eyelet screw to hang • 3 nails to use as perches • Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat paint: Resene Sweet Corn

Cost: $3 excluding Resene products.

Step 1

Mark one end of a 100mm top deck board with two 20-degree cut lines that meet in the centre.

Measure down the length of the board by 150mm, then mark two more 20-degree cut lines that mirror the other end.

Measure in 70mm and mark a point for drilling the hole for the fruit.

Step 2

Clamp the deck board down and cut out the 70mm hole with a hole saw.

Step 3

Drill a hole through each side of the deck board that crosses through the middle of the fruit hole to support the steel fruit skewer.

Cut the bird feeder out off the deck board using the marked lines as your guide.

Step 4

To make the “roof”, use the 20-degree cut on the main body of the bird feeder as a guide to mark the angle onto the edge of a deck board. Then cut that piece 120mm long. Cut that piece in half along its length to make two roof pieces.

Glue and screw the roof onto the top end of the bird feeder body. Then drill and screw an eyelet screw into the top of the roof for hanging, then hammer some nails into the bottom for perches.

You will need

• 1 pallet stringer board

• 1 75mm nail

• 1 40mm screw

• Wire for hanging

• Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat, Parsley, lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel

Cost: $0.70 excluding Resene products.

Step 1

On the stringer, cut two parallel 35degree cuts 240mm apart. The angle cut at the top allows rainwater to run off; the bottom one prevents rainwater from hanging at the opening.

Step 2

For the viewing door, make a cut 8-10mm in from the wide edge, cut three-quarters of the way down the piece of wood. Then cut the door piece off with a taper of 25 degrees (to keep the door locked in place when closed).

Step 3

Drill a 14-16mm entrance hole in the bottom. Mark out the negative space in the wood, then use a drill, chisel and hammer to carve it out (but not too smooth as wētā needs something to attach itself to).

Step 4

With the door in place, drill and attach a screw at the bottom left corner. For the door pin, drill a downward angled hole in the top right corner of the door through to the main body of the whare. Make it big enough to fit a nail.

Finally, make a hole through the top for looping wire or string so you can hang your whare wētā in a tree. Paint the top to stop moisture from getting into the grain of the wood.