Bird eating seeds.
Turn your garden into a bird park with a few home-made bird feeders. It is a fun way to educate your kids (and yourself) which birds are specifically native to your area, as well as learning the difference between the breeds. It is important to strategically place them around the garden so you can look at them up close and personal.
It is a great way to use up household items/items you would put in the recycling, or even in the bin. They're cheap, easy and a great activity to do with your little ones. Plus it will be rewarding to see that the birds, squirrels and other wildlife are enjoying the feeders that they created and designed. You can even give them away as gifts to other wildlife lovers, so they can enjoy the beautiful birds too.
Take a look at our 5 different home-made bird feeders...
1. Apple Feeder
You will need:
- Seeds
- String
- An apple
- Sticks
Step One: Thread the string through the hole in the apple.
Step Two: Make an 'X' with the sticks and tie them to the string so the apple sits on top.
Step Three: Make a pattern by pushing the seeds into the apple, then it's ready to be hung up outside.
2. Bird Cake
You will need:
- Seeds/Bird feed
- Peanut Pieces
- Dried fruits softened with water
- Crumbled or grated cheese
- Cooked rice and other leftovers
- Breadcrumbs.
- Lard/Dripping
- Empty yoghurt pot
- String
Step One: Combine your chosen ingredients in a bowl and add softened lard or dripping
Step Two: Mix together until it forms firm paste. We recommend to use your hands – it's a great activity for kids, but definitely a bit messy!
Step Three: Pierce the bottom of a clean yoghurt pot and poke a length of string through
Step Four: Knot the string tightly on the inside of the pot so that it hangs upside down like a bell
Step Five: Fill with the fat mixture and hang outside
3. Recycled Feeder
You will need:
- Plastic drinks bottles
- Yoghurt pots or milk cartons
- String
- Bird seed
- Scissors
- Twigs
Step One: About half-way up the sides, cut large, square windows into each side of a juice/milk carton or pot.
Step Two: Pierce a hole at the same height beneath opposite windows, making one pair of holes slightly lower than the other.
Step Three: Thread long, thin twigs through these holes to make the perches
Step Four: Punch two more holes through the lip at the top of the carton to fasten string for hanging the feeder
Step Five: Fill with a bird seed mix and hang up outside.
4. Hoop Feeder
You will need:
- Apple
- Cheese
- Raisins
- Berries
- String
- Garden Wire
Step One: Cut up your apple and cheese into cubes.
Step Two: Then thread the raisins, berries and cheese onto the wire like a necklace.
Step Three: Bend the wire so it looks like a hoop and make sure it is secured so it won't open.
Step Four: Finally tie it to some string and it is ready to be hung outside.
5. Peanut Butter Feeder
You will need:
- Peanut butter
- An empty paper towel roll (just the cardboard roll)
- Bird seed
- String
Step One: Spread the peanut butter onto the tube. Make sure you don't spread it too thin as you want the seeds to stick.
Step Two: Coat the tube with bird seed. You can either sprinkle them on top or roll the peanut butter tube on a plate with seeds.
Step Three: Tie some string through the tube making sure you leave enough hanging space so the bids can sit comfortable and enjoy their food (the tube should be hanging horizontally not vertically).
We'd love to hear your tips for making a home-made bird feeder, let us know!
