If you are searching for a simple way to support conservation efforts this winter, creating a bird feeder for your backyard is the perfect option. These animals play a vital role in the ecosystem by controlling pests and helping pollinator communities thrive. When food sources become scarce during the cooler months, feeders can provide much-needed supplements to a bird’s natural diet.
Fun for all ages and anyone wanting to connect with nature, here are three homemade bird feeder projects demonstrated by two future conservation rock stars!
1. Bread Bird Feeder
What you’ll need:
Peanut butter
Day old/stale bread
Birdseed
Bread
Cookie cutter
Yarn (bright colors)
Skewer
This idea is great for both decorative purposes and for attracting colorful birds. First, use a cookie cutter on bread pieces to make different shapes for your treats. Once you have your set, take a skewer and thread a piece of yarn through each so they are ready to hang. Spread peanut butter, which is a safe option for birds, on either one or both sides. To eliminate any risks the peanut butter could pose, mix in some cornmeal to make it less sticky and more crumbly. Finish it off by sprinkling birdseed over as much of the treats as desired.
2. Pumpkin Bird Feeder
What you’ll need:
Pumpkin
Birdseed
Carving tools
Twine (for hanging)
Still wondering how to reuse thoseleftover pumpkins? To begin, cut the pumpkin in half and remove all seeds. Fill the hollow area with birdseed and leave it outside for them to enjoy. If you want your feeder to be even more attractive, you can also create an outdoor ornament by tying two strands of braided twine around a tree and the pumpkin half.
3. Toilet Roll Bird Feeder
What you’ll need:
Peanut butter
Birdseed
Empty toilet paper roll
It doesn’t get much easier than this. Simply spread a medium coat of peanut butter on the outside of an empty toilet paper roll. To eliminate any risks the peanut butter could pose, mix in some cornmeal to make it less sticky. Then, pour birdseed onto a plate and roll the toilet paper roll over it until completely covered. Find a tree branch outside, slip it over, and you are all set! If you would rather hang them up, just thread a piece of yarn through the middle.
The three projects in total took just 20 minutes to complete. An easy way to give back to the birds that give us so much joy.
In addition to building your own bird feeders, you can make TRIPLE the impact for birds and other types of wildlife through December 31 with a gift to SCA!
