Learning Goals:
Bird feeders are a great way to observe birds while supplying necessary food to birds, especially in winter when natural foods are hard to find. Follow the directions below to make a homemade bird feeder to hang outside your window or in a tree by your home and observe the results with your child.
Age Range:
3-6
What to Do:
- Select a bird feeder base:
Pine cones are a popular and natural foundation for a bird feeder, but you may also use an empty paper towel roll or a stale piece of bread. - Make it sticky:
Coat the base with peanut butter or honey. If you are making your bird feeders with a child, be sensitive to potential peanut allergies and use honey instead. - Add some goodies:
Roll the feeder in raisins, cranberries, unsalted and unbuttered popcorn, Sunflower seeds, shelled plain peanuts or mixed birdseed. - String it up:
Run a wire, dental floss or cotton string through your bird feeder. Secure the two ends together to make a loop. - Hang your bird feeder outside:
Place your bird feeder on a hook outside a window, or in a tree outside your home. If you are unable to see the bird feeder from your home, place it in a tree near a bench where you can sit and watch the birds feed.
Extensions:
- Some birds like to eat fruit - create a simple bird feeder by threading an apple or an orange half.
- Customize your bird feeder. Observe which birds are popular in your neighborhood, research what they like to eat and make a bird feeder for them.
- While observing birds, sprinkle some bird seed on the ground in front of you. Patiently wait for birds to come feed. Don't give up, it is a great way to watch birds up close!
- Help everyone understand the birds in your area by participating in a citizen science project, such as Project FeederWatch.
- Extend what you’ve learned with easy-to-use activities from BirdSleuth, especially created for homeschool learning.
This activity was created in partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
