Make-your-own Bird Feeder

How long it’ll take:

20-30 minutes

What the goal is:

Campers will make a bird feeder they can hang in their yard.

What the objectives are:

Teach campers how to relate this activity to the Birding Activity. Give the campers tools to make their space bird friendly to better their chances of identifying birds.

What you’ll need:

• Pine cones, sticks, or empty toilet paper roll (you can get creative if not available)

• Peanut butter (not for consumption but be conscious of food allergies), or sunflower butter.

• Wild Bird Seeds, or store bought sunflower seeds with husks, crushed peanuts, millet (Avoid seed mixtures that have split peas, beans, dried rice or lentils as again only the large species can eat them dry. These are added to some cheaper seed mixes to bulk them up.)

• String or cord

• Plate or shallow dish

Other optional items:

• Sliced oranges and grapes, watermelons or other sweet fruits. Just tie onto a string with the bird feeder

• Mealworms (attract robins)

• Oats (uncooked)

What you’ll do:

1. In a plate or shallow dish, pour a cup or two of bird seed and set aside.

2. With a butter knife or fingers, cover your pine cone, toilet paper roll(free of paper), or stick with peanut butter or sunflower butter.

3. Roll your pine cone, stick, or toilet paper in the dish with bird seeds.

4. Tie a knot through or around your bird feeder using an overhand knot

5. Find a branch to tie your bird feeder from, that is reachable without climbing the tree. If a tree is not available, find an awning or post the hang it from.

6. Throughout the week, take a break and sit a comfortable distance away from the feeder to see if any birds bite. Try to identify what species are visiting. Notice which birds come most often and at what time of day.

   • Optional: record in your Field Guide (if made earlier in the week) or on your Bird Bingo Card.