Spring is here, flowers are blooming, and the birds are chirping. It’s officially spring in Texas! This Earth Day, continue your efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle by making a DIY Bird Feeder with your family and friends. It couldn’t be easier…
{Note :: There are a lot of recipes on Pinterest for those cute birdseed ornaments, but please avoid them, as corn syrup is not bird friendly at all. Instead, stick to the good old-fashioned way of making bird feeders using peanut butter. Or, if your child has a peanut allergy, other types of nut butter substitutes will work just dandy.}
Materials ::
- Empty Toilet Paper Roll
- Peanut Butter {or nut butter substitute}
- Small bag of birdseed
- Twine
- Thin twigs
- Single hole puncher
- Plate
- Butter knife
Directions ::
Before you start, send the kids outdoors to collect thin twigs for your project. Try to keep in mind that the twigs will have to fit through the hole-punches. Luckily for me, I have a son that randomly collects twigs every time we are outside and has made a small stockpile for us in the yard.
First, punch all the holes in your cardboard roll. You will need two for the top of the bird feeder and some at the bottom to insert your twigs through.
Second, lather enough peanut butter onto the paper tube so that the seeds will stick to it. Remind the kids not to cover the holes with peanut butter.
Third, roll the tube in the seeds and apply light pressure so that the seeds will adhere well.
Insert the twigs. This will serve as a perch for the birds to rest on while they enjoy their treat.
Lastly, loop the twine at the top of the bird feeder and knot it so that you can hang it on a branch outside.
This was such a fun activity for me to share with my kids, and we talked about the environment and other ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle while we worked together. In fact, we had so much fun that we created multiple feeders and brought one over to their grandparent’s house so that they too can enjoy bird watching!
Enjoy time with your family loving our earth, and be sure to check out more Earth Day ideas that we love too!