Make A DIY Bird Feeder

What do birds eat in winter? Studying nature and natural life is a rewarding science activity to set up for kids, and learning how to care for and give back to nature is equally important.  Make your own super simple DIY bird feeder and add this fun bird watching activity to your kid’s day!

HOW TO MAKE A DIY BIRD FEEDER

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE BIRD FEEDER

Get ready to add this simple DIY bird feeder to your winter activities this season. While you’re at it, make sure to check out more of our favorite winter activities for kids. ALSO CHECK OUT: Bird Seed Ornament Recipe Our activities and crafts are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind.  Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun!  Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home. Make these easy DIY bird feeders and hang them off a tree in the garden or porch.  Find out what wild birds do in the winter to survive!

WHAT DO BIRDS EAT IN THE WINTER?

When its cold and snowy outside, we get to stay indoors and keep warm.  Let’s find out how our local wild birds survive through the cold winter days. Birds are warm-blooded which means they maintain a stable body temperature even when the temperature around them changes. Maintening their body temperature within a normal range depends on the amount of heat the bird produces through the food they eat and their behavioral changes. ALSO CHECK OUT: How Do Polar Bears Stay Warm? On cold wintry days birds will fluff up their feathers, which creates pockets of air to keep them warm. Some birds perch on one leg, drawing the other leg to the breast for warmth. In winter birds may find it hard to get enough food to stay warm.  Their natural food may be finished or hidden by snow. Most insects are dead or dormant. Water can be hard to find, and food needed to provide the energy to keep birds warm might be scarce. Rich, high energy foods such as seeds, insects and suet are great for birds in winter.

PROVIDING FOOD FOR BIRDS IN WINTER

Providing high calorie and high fat foods in winter can be important for your local wild birds. Feeders should be located out of the wind. Position your DIY bird feeder in the open but near cover. Birds will appreciate having a perching spot nearby such as bush or tree to survey the feeding area. Trees provide safe cover from predators and shelter from the wind and weather.

DIY BIRD FEEDER

YOU WILL NEED:

• empty produce netting (We used a netting that held 3 lemons in it. You can use any produce netting that is similar.)
• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cups of birdseed (sunflower seeds that are larger in size are a great choice and help make a thick mixture)
• string
• bowl
• spoon

HOW TO MAKE A DIY BIRD FEEDER

STEP 1. In a mixing bowl, mix the birdseed and peanut butter together until a thick paste forms. STEP 2. Spoon the mixture into a large ball shape. It does not have to be perfectly round. Then freeze the ball shape in the freezer for about 1 hour. This will help it drop into your produce bag nicely without making a huge mess! STEP 3. Find the bottom of the produce bag. Drop the seed ball into the bag so it reaches the bottom. STEP 4. Gather the additional netting at the top of the bag and tie it closed with string. You can add additional string for hanging as well. STEP 5. Hang the bird feeder on a shepherd’s hook or tree branch where birds can find it. The high protein and high fat ingredients will help keep birds fed and warm during the winter months!