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DIY Bird Feeder Craft & Bird Watching Tips for Outdoor Fun

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bird feeder activity for kids

Inside: Looking for an easy way to get your kids outdoors in cooler temperatures? Bring them closer to nature with a DIY bird feeder craft and activity.

bird feeder activity for kidsBird-watching is a favorite outdoor activity in our family. So what better way to prepare for spring and enjoy the last few weeks of winter than with a homemade bird feeder craft for kids to celebrate nature’s beautiful creatures!

It’s no secret that this winter has been frigid with snow accumulation continuing into March. So now that the ground has finally begun to thaw, we are ready to spend more time outdoors exploring nature and releasing some energy!

My son who is almost 3 years old loves observing all of nature’s wonders on the other side of the living room window. And since love of birds runs through the family, he can’t get enough of them. Every weekend he watches with awe as daddy refills the bird feeders while scheming up a plan to keep the pesky squirrels away. Sometimes he even gets to help feed the birdies! So I knew what craft we had to create!

bird watching

How to Make a Bird Feeder with Kids

Bird Feeder Materials

  • Paper rolls
  • Peanut butter
  • Birdseed
  • Twine or rope
  • Shoebox

Step 1.

First, we spread a thin layer of birdseed into a shoebox cover to contain our mess because let’s face it, working with toddlers is bound to get messy. It worked well, but next time I think I will use the entire shoebox to keep it even cleaner.

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Step 2.

We started with a toilet paper roll, and spread a good layer of peanut butter all over it to help the bird seeds adhere easily. It also makes a tasty snack for the birds.

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Step 3.

Once we had a good amount of covering, I let my son go at it rolling the paper over the bird seeds. I filled in any sparse areas to complete the look.

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We were initially going to keep it simple, but after speaking with the bird “expert” hubby, we decided it would be more fun to add a second tier so that the birds could perch onto it easier and have more to snack on.

This time we used a long paper towel roll.IMG_3576

Step 4.

To complete the bird feeder, I used twine to connect the two paper rolls, making sure the distance between the two tiers would be a good size for birds.

IMG_3577

We hung the feeder right out front so we could watch the birds easily.

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While outdoors, I let him enjoy the melting snow and throw the remaining bird seeds around…which he most definitely enjoyed.

natureWe walked around a bit keeping an eye out for our friends.

IMG_3598

Although we were pretty excited to see if any birds would perch onto the feeder, we couldn’t help but notice their hesitation to visit the newest feeder. According to our resident bird expert, birds are wary of new feeders and need at least a day to scope out the scene. And I guess it makes sense.

So after running around for a while and getting a bit wet, we headed back into the warm house to wait for the birds to appear.

There were a few times he started pounding on the window so I had to make sure to go over a few things with him, like being quiet so the birds wouldn’t fly away and to keep an eye out for new ones.

PicMonkey CollageBird Watching Tips for Kids

Here are a few tips I’d recommend to make the birdwatching experience successful with kids:

1. Find a quiet place where you can keep your distance, yet still have a good view of your bird feeder. The backyard is usually a safe place to start, as you can easily contain kids as they explore. If you’re watching from indoors, grab some binoculars. For us, the big window worked well as long as I made sure to reiterate the importance of keeping quiet.

2. Make the experience a teachable moment, by engaging your child with questions. What color is your favorite bird? How many birds do you see? Where are the birdies hiding?

3. Make it fun! Bird watching is a great way to introduce your kids to nature and celebrate Spring, so make sure they are having fun doing it by making your own bird feeder (like we did here!) or drawing some pictures of the birds you see!

bird feeder craft + tips

This fun activity is part of the March Outdoor Play. I’ll be linking up with a bunch of great bloggers to share even more fun that you and your kids can have outside! Go check out the landing page for awesome ideas for exploring outdoors this Spring!

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Ana @ Mommy's Bundle

Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.

Filed Under: Activities, Crafts, Toddler | 13 Comments

Comments

  1. Bev says

    March 16, 2015 at 10:45 am

    What a fun activity to do together! I used to make bird feeders when I led playgroups — I should do this with my daughter!
    Bev recently posted…Friday Finds: Hammered MetalMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Tina Marie says

    March 16, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    What a great idea. I will have to pass this on to my son, he is going to love doing this with his daughter.
    Tina Marie recently posted…Chocolate Whoopie PiesMy Profile

    Reply
  3. MultitaskMomma says

    March 18, 2015 at 2:02 am

    This is a great craft!! me and my little ones just painted bird houses the other day!! Gotta love nature!!

    Reply
  4. Theresa @DearCreatives says

    March 18, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    Hi Ana, Love this idea! When I used to make them with Sammie we used pine cones. Perfect for teaching kids about nature. Feel free to linkup your projects at my party anytime!
    Theresa @DearCreatives recently posted…Crafting: Craft Paint News And Color ResourcesMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Abby says

    March 19, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    My two older boys both love to watch for birds. We have feeders right outside our kitchen window and we see all kinds of birds. I’ve always meant to let them do something like this, but have never gotten around to it. Need to get it together and give it a go!

    Reply
  6. Lee says

    April 2, 2015 at 10:37 am

    We’ve been studying and enjoying birds lately too! I love that your feeder has two tiers.
    ~Lee
    PS I came over from Outdoor Play Challenge!
    Lee recently posted…Free Bird Printable Set of Hunting RedMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ana says

      April 3, 2015 at 3:33 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Lee! We had a lot of fun watching the birds!

      Reply
  7. Lauren says

    April 7, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    This is very cute.. my kids would love it, esp Mila since she is obsessed with birds and bird houses!
    Lauren recently posted…March Family FavoritesMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Tricia the Good Mama says

    April 8, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    This is a great craft idea! I would also recommend getting a window feeder if you have a spot. We put one up this past winter and it has been SO much fun watching all the birds that come and go. They eat breakfast and lunch with us. My son loves it.
    Tricia the Good Mama recently posted…Why I Will Teach My Kids to ShareMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Alexson@Dress The Yard says

    February 20, 2016 at 7:49 am

    WOW! At first glance I’m totally surprised by learning about such fun activity. This DIY bird feeder craft and bird watching tips are good, and I’m looking forward to surprise my kids ASAP. Thanks for sharing a very nice topic.

    Reply
  10. Melissa says

    October 17, 2016 at 3:57 pm

    This is a great craft to make with your little one(s). Unfortunately we live in bear country, so I can’t make this one. Love the idea though, thanks:)
    Melissa
    Melissa recently posted…Bob Tarte’s Ohio Birding TipsMy Profile

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Outdoor Play Challenge | Building Blocks and Acorns says:
    March 22, 2015 at 9:56 am

    […] Bird Feeder Craft & Bird Watching […]

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  2. 21 Easy Nature Crafts for Kids - Look! We're Learning! says:
    June 29, 2018 at 7:21 pm

    […] DIY Bird Feeder Craft – Mommy’s […]

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