Are you looking for a way to get your kids back into nature? One that’ll require them to get crafty, upcycle household materials, and learn along the way? If so, you'll love this DIY bird feeder for kids to make at home.
Birdwatching for Kids
Winters here are long - REALLY long. We often get snow in late September, and as I'm writing this on May 6, 2021, we still have huge mounds of snow outside. And our lake is frozen solid.
Yet the birds are back! One of the big perks of living in Canada's far north is the number and variety of birds (and other wildlife) we see.
That's why nature studies is such a big part of our homeschool day.
As a child, I'd often visit my grandparents on St. Joseph's Island in northern Ontario. My grandfather was an avid birdwatcher. Some of my best memories are of sitting on his back deck, binoculars in hand, watching out for a new bird.
Even children as young as three get captivated by bird watching.
Maybe you're stuck inside on a rainy spring day or heading into the woods for a nature walk. Or maybe you're out foraging with kids on a beautiful summer day. We made bird feeders as an extra activity alongside our Think Outside Boxes Nature Box.
We even made DIY bird feeders as part of our nature lessons for preschoolers when the kids were small. Whatever the case, take every opportunity to point out each bird you see.
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Homemade DIY Bird Feeders & More
Creating a diy bird feeder for kids is just one way to introduce birdwatching into your homeschool. You could also try the following:
- Download bird lists for your area. Check off each kind as you spot them.
- Download a bird app to your phone instead.
- Complete a bird unit study.
- Look through the best nature books for kids to find birds native to your region.
- Create a variety of homemade bird feeders from milk cartons, cans, and other recyclables.
DIY Bird Feeder for Kids Instructions
You’ve probably lost count at the number of cardinals, sparrows, robins, and blackbirds that have flown by you these past few weeks. And I’m pretty sure if you’ve been keeping count then your kids are counting too.
(Tip: Try a bird list. Seriously. Even just posting one on the front of your fridge can make your whole family more intentional about bird watching.)
Welcoming birds returning from the winter chill has always been a favorite activity with my family. And we love to see them around our place. So we needed more bird feeders.
Yet, like most homeschooling and homesteading families, we're on a budget. So I had to think creatively.
Make This Simple Cork-Pop Bird Feeder
So after rummaging through my crafts box, I came up with the perfect idea for a cute DIY bird feeder for kids to make. It's inexpensive to make, and also lets the girls combine their love of crafts with nature.
Here’s What You Will Need
To create your ‘Corkpop Bird Feeder’, you will need the following items:
1-4 Pieces of Cork (pot coolers are great because they usually come in a pack of 3 or more)
1-4 plastic bowls
1 Pair of Garden Shears
A Marker Set, assorted colors
1 large Gorilla Glue Stick
Assorted twigs, pinecones, leaves, flowers (optional)
Follow These Steps
Step 1: On a sturdy flat surface, grab your plastic bowls, your pieces of cork, and a marker and mark where you would like the glue and rope to go.
Step 2: Take your gardening shears and gently poke a hole through the cork. Once all 4 holes are in place, go back and slowly widen the holes being careful not to apply too much pressure and break the cork in half.
Step 3: Once you’ve created your holes, grab your bowl(s) and gorilla blue and place a 1-inch dab of glue to the back of the bowl, and press firmly onto the marked cork spot. Hold in place for at least 1 minute.
Step 4: Repeat step 3 for all the bowls and cork you have and allow the glue to set for at least 45 minutes.
Step 5: While the glue is setting, have your kids go around the yard collecting items to decorate their bird feeder with (small items that your gorilla glue and cork can handle).
Step 6: After 45 minutes have passed, glue on additional decorations and let sit for additional 30 minutes.
Step 7: Once both decorations and bowl are firmly in place, cut your rope into the desired length and pull through all 4 holes (I suggest criss-cross underneath the cork for balance).
Step 8: Attach bird feeder to sturdy branch and make sure the bowl is firmly set on the cork before adding in bird food.
Step 9: A Complete DIY Bird Feeder for Kids to Make!
The best part about this project is (other than the food) I had most of these items on hand.
If you're looking for ways to get your kids interested in nature, try a nature craft like this one. Hang it near a window and watch out for hungry birds.
Think of this DIY bird feeder for kids as a fun family nature craft to teach your kids about your local area birds. And maybe (just maybe) you'll inspire a love of ornithology in your little ones.
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Do you know of a family that might need a little nudge to get outdoors? If so, why not gift them one month or more of these fun and educational boxes? Think Outside Boxes are a great way to build up wilderness survival kits for kids quickly and easily. And they'll learn how to use their gear the right way, right from the start.
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Julie
I hope it warms up a little for you soon! Thanks for sharing at Handmade Monday, this is a lovely simple idea to get the kids interested in bird watching. We get a lot of robins and various types of tit's here in the middle of the UK. I find the pigeons come in like greedy so and so's when I put food out for the birds so I try to have feeders that are better suited to the little ones but I guess the pigeons need to eat too so I can't be too mean to them 🙂
Marie B.
As a Canadian prairie girl from outside Edmonton, Alberta I understand all too well those long winters. Not quite as long as yours but long nonetheless. This is a great project for me to do with my grandkids. Thank you!