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Bird Feeders

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Bird Feeders

Some of the easiest to build bird feeders for children are made from simple household items and recycled garbage. One of the simplest and easiest feeders to make for birds is made from a stale bagel. A child or group of children can make a mixture of peanut butter, shortening and bird seed and apply it to a bagel in a short amount of time, finishing the project in less than an hour.

Simply mix 1 teaspoon of peanut butter with a teaspoon of shortening. Add enough bird seed to make the mixture thick and sticky. Thread a string through the center of the stale bagel, then apply the bird seed mixture to the outside of the bagel. A short amount of time is needed for the seed to set onto the bagel with the peanut butter and shortening acting as a glue. Now the bagel can be hung from a nearby tree or post. Birds will devour the entire project from seed to bagel leaving only a string in a tree. This is one of the simplest and easiest crafts for children who enjoy feeding the birds and it can be done any time of the year, but in spring it will be devoured quickly.

Other easy to build bird feeders are made from recycled plastic and glass bottles. A one liter soda bottle can be altered to make a feeder for sparrows, song birds or even humming birds. This project involves a craft knife, such as an Exacto knife, so it may not be suitable for the youngest of children unless they have enough help from a responsible adult. Clean the bottle and let it dry. Next, you will need to find two unused wooden spoons 6-12 inches in length. Using the craft knife cut a hole in the plastic half way to the top. Cut a cross slit directly behind the hole. Now rotate the bottle ninety degrees and cut a hole closer to the bottom of the bottle with a similar cross slit directly behind the hole. At this point the outside of the bottle can be decorated with markers or paint, just make sure they are non-toxic.

The next steps are simple and can easily be done by young children. SImply take the wooden spoons and insert them into the round holes and then through the cross slit directly behind the circular holes. The mouth of the spoon should be resting right at the opening of the bird feeder with the handle extending out the back. This will be a perch for the birds and also provide a basin for seed on one side. Repeat this step using the other spoon in the other hole. Now an adult can attach a small eye screw to the cap of the bottle. A child can run a length of twine through the eye hole and tie it off into a loop. 24 inches of length is usually plenty. Let the children fill the bottle with seed, screw on the cap and hang it from a tree. Watch as birds quickly devour the seed inside.

These simple bird feeders make great educational and fun crafts for children and adults to take part in, strengthening bonds while having and giving life to a commonly discarded item.