A Great Outdoor Family Project: Make a Bird Feeder Together

Inclement weather, breeding, and migration are taxing on birds and can change their food needs. According to the National Audubon Society, “More than 100 North American bird species supplement their natural diets with birdseed, suet, fruit, and nectar obtained from feeders.” Feeding birds benefits them and provides you and your family with opportunities to observe them up close. In addition, bird feeders make great gifts and festive yard decorations. Gather the family for an afternoon of fun. All ages will enjoy making these easy feeders.

Bread Cookies

What you will need:

• Cookie cutters in a variety of shapes
• 1 loaf of day-old bread (whole-grain or nutty varieties are most appealing to birds)
• 1 strand of raffia or ribbon

What you will do:

Use cookie cutters to press shapes out of the bread. Cut a small hole in the bread shape for hanging. Use ribbon or raffia to hang the treats outside around the yard.

Fruit Cups

What you will need:

• 1 grapefruit or orange
• 1 bag of birdseed
• 1 roll of string or ribbon

What you will do:

Cut the grapefruit or orange in half and hollow out the fruit with a spoon. Make a handle for hanging by poking 3 holes ½ inch from the edge, evenly distributed around the fruit. Thread string or ribbon through the holes, leaving approximately 1 foot for hanging. Tie a knot on each thread end to hold the handle in place. Fill with seed; then hang in yard.

Dipped Cones

What you will need:

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup lard
• 1 bag of birdseed
• 10-12 pinecones
• 1 roll of ribbon or raffia

What you will do:

Place the peanut butter and lard in a microwave safe glass bowl. Microwave the combination on high for 30 second intervals until melted. Dip pinecones into the mixture, and then roll in a bowl of birdseed. Set the pinecones on wax paper to dry. After they have dried, tie lengths of raffia or ribbon around the cones. Hang the cones on trees.

Help keep the birds safe while feeding by positioning the feeders ten to twelve feet away from low shrubs or brush piles. Never place feeders in locations that could provide hiding places for cats and other predators. Provide fresh water for drinking and bathing nearby. For more tips on bird feeding, visit the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife page.

Once the birds start coming to your yard to feast, you will naturally want to learn about and identify them. You probably already know more about birds than you realize. Get Started Birding will help you take your knowledge to the next level with tips on choosing birder’s tools, taking notes, recognizing behavior, and listening for sounds and calls. Before you know it, you will be among the 48 million birdwatchers in America.

Andy and Tami McDaniels

Andy McDaniels is the Sportsmen’s Outreach Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation’s Vanishing Paradise Campaign. Andy works with hunters, anglers, outdoor media and the hunting and fishing industry throughout the United States. Andy also serves as the Conservation Director of Pro-Staff for Hardcore Decoys and Huntducks.com. He believes that conservation is the cornerstone of hunting and fishing, and he has committed himself to educating hunters and fishermen about the conservation issues that will affect our children and grandchildren. His effort on behalf of conservation and his outreach to hunters, anglers, congressional members, political groups, and citizen action organizations has been monumental. In 2003 and 2004 Andy was recognized for his work on State Wildlife Grants by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. His efforts on the Farm Bill garnered him the esteemed Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Award from the National Wildlife Federation in May 2008.

Tami is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a certified English teacher and freelance writer. She has published numerous articles on a variety of outdoor topics. Her most recent articles on outdoor subjects include 10 Indicators of a Quality Guide, The Anatomy of a Hunting Guide Website, Hunting Guides along the Corridor, and First Steps to Get Kids Hunting and Back into the Outdoors. In addition, she is the web content administrator for three websites. Her volunteer work includes managing web and social media sites, writing grants, organizing fundraising activities, and planning community events.