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Simple bird feeders kids can make

Help kids get in touch with nature by inviting more wildlife into your own backyard. Kids will love trying to spot the different varieties of birds that come for a snack!

Milk carton bird feeder

What you’ll need:

  • milk carton
  • paint
  • paint brush
  • decorative scissors
  • construction paper
  • glue
  • hole punch
  • wooden stick
  • bird seed

What you’ll do:

  1. Thoroughly rinse out the milk carton, then cut a small arched doorway on the front of the carton.
  2. Paint the outside of the carton and let it dry.
  3. Cut out construction paper with the decorative scissors and glue the construction paper pieces to the carton.
  4. Cut a rectangle out of the construction paper that is just slightly larger than the slanted top of the milk carton. Cut a decorative edge along one side of the rectangle and glue it to the top of the carton to form the roof.
  5. Punch a hole in the carton just below the door. Feed the stick through the hole and glue it in place.
  6. Fill the bottom of the carton with bird seed and place it outside.

Cookie cutter bird feeders

What you’ll need:

  • bird seed
  • 1 packet unflavored gelatin
  • measuring cup
  • bowl
  • cookie cutters
  • wax paper
  • straws
  • scissors
  • string

What you’ll do:

  1. Mix the unflavored gelatin and 1/3 cup water in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
  2. Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave (be careful, it may be hot!).
  3. Once the gelatin has cooled enough to safely touch, pour in 1 cup of bird seed. Kids can mix the gelatin and the bird seed together with their hands.
  4. Lay out a piece of wax paper and place the cookie cutters on top of it.
  5. Press the bird seed mixture into the cookie cutters.
  6. Cut your straws in half and place one half of the straw in each cookie cutter to make a hole. Leave the straw in until the bird seed has hardened.
  7. Let the bird seed harden overnight, then remove the cookie cutter and the straw.
  8. Cut a 6-inch piece of string and thread it through the hole, then hang the bird feeder outside.

Pipe cleaner bird feeders

What you’ll need:

  • pipe cleaners
  • Cheerios

What you’ll do:

  1. To make a straight bird feeder, fold 1 inch of one end of the pipe cleaner back and twist the end around the pipe cleaner to make a small loop.
  2. Feed Cheerios on the pipe cleaner, stopping about 2 inches from the top of the pipe cleaner.
  3. Fold the top of the pipe cleaner to make another loop and twist the end to keep it in place.
  4. To make a shaped bird feeder, first bend the pipe cleaner into a fun shape like a heart or a star.
  5. Feed the Cheerios on the pipe cleaner, leaving about 1 inch on each end of the pipe cleaner.
  6. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together to close it.
Image credit: Amy Vowles

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