DIY Bird Feeder

Family Adventure

GOAL:  Develop appreciation for, and build a connection with nature.

THE ADVENTURE:  Build a DIY bird feeder to hang outside your window.

TIPS:

   Seed and supplies for the bird feeder

   Spend time with the kids watching the birds at the bird feeder and talk about how it helps the birds during the cold winter months

   Now that they have fed the birds, fix them their favorite meal or treat!

   Let them choose a favorite treat for themselves while grocery shopping

In winter, food and water become scarce for many species of birds. Bird feeders not only provide essential nourishment for winter birds, but provide people with free entertainment (and therapy!). It also provides families with a GREAT opportunity to spend quality time together doing something meaningful and positive.

There is a huge connection between children and nature. Children that learn to respect it will do so for life and look after and nurture friends and animals alike. Feeding birds teaches children empathy skills, care, and respect for wildlife. Additionally, it instills a sense of wonder and amazement of the natural world. Imagine teaching your child how sitting by a warm window to watch the birds feast can calm down their upset feelings, reduce stress, or help them to work out confusing thoughts! What a positive, powerful coping skill!

Take time to treat your feathered friends to extra winter treats—using winter elements! Kids will have a great time putting them together!  What’s more,  you can also encourage kids to mimic the birds and eat the seeds too. Packed full of nutrition for birds and kids alike.

CHECK OUT THESE IDEAS FOR EASY DIY BIRD FEEDERS

Orange Bird Feeder

• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup dried fruit
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup corn kernals

Hollow out an orange and fill with the seeds to feed your feathered friends.

Apple Bird Feeder

Ice Ornament Feeder

• Pour ½ cup of water into a plastic bowl.
• Add about 1 cup of seed to the water and mix well.
• Cut 2 strips of ribbon and tie them together on one end.
• Place the knotted end into the water.
• Freeze the bowl overnight outdoors or in the freezer.
• The ice ornament should pop out easily if you gently squeeze the plastic.
• Hang the bird feeder on a nearby tree!

Snow Sculpture Bird Feeder

• When the snow has warmed midday, it should become cohesive and packable.
• Sculpt a bird feeder into whatever shape you desire.
• Ideas include a snowman, a hollow tree stump shape, or the shape of a bird bath.
• Fill the snow sculpture with bird seed and watch the birds flock to it!

Ice Bowl Bird Feeder

• Pour about 1 cup of water into a large mixing bowl and freeze it outside overnight or in the freezer.
• When frozen, place a smaller mixing bowl inside of the larger one, on top of the ice.
• Place something heavy, like a bag of brown sugar, inside of the smaller bowl to weigh it down.
• Next, fill the space between the large bowl and small bowl with berries, leaves, small pine cones, twigs, and pine branches.
• Pour water over the decorations to the rim of the large bowl and freeze.
• When frozen, hold under warm water to release the bowls from the ice. Fill with bird seed and enjoy.

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

• To prepare for this activity, scoop some peanut butter from the jar and put it into a small bowl.
• Pour some bird seed into a small bowl.
• Give everyone a paper plate or plastic tray. You can also just do this activity outside.
• Cut twine or string into pieces that are about 8 inches long for each feeder.
• Place the pine cone onto a paper plate or plastic tray and spread peanut butter on it. It is easiest for young children to spread the peanut butter with a popsicle stick.
• Sprinkle the bird seed on the pine cone so it sticks to the peanut butter.
• Tie the twine or string around the top of the pine cone and hang them from a tree or hook.

Craft Stick Bird Feeder

• The beauty of crafts sticks is that they’re easy to glue together and can be used to build a bird feeder of any size.
• You can build openings for access to the seed into your design or you can cut them out when you finish building.

Soup Ladle Bird Feeder

This unique winter bird feeder is another one that you create using materials you may already have around the house.

• Attach a soup ladle to a board or other sturdy backing material.
• Fill the ladle with bird seed
• Hang the feeder on the side of the house, porch or deck.

Soda Bottle Bird Feeder