STEAM: Bird Seed Feeders

Hey Kids, 

The birds woke me up from my hibernation and I’m so excited that spring is finally here!

Some of the birds stayed up here all winter, but others have just migrated back to Michigan. Both migration and hibernation can take a lot of energy. Animals who migrate travel great distances either by flying or walking. Animals who hibernate don’t eat, our metabolism (that’s how the body makes energy from food) slows down so we don’t need to. 

The thing is, all my friends and I are hungry. Thankfully, the librarians showed me how to make bird seed feeders. This is a fun way to feed birds. Bears love seeds too, but I don’t think your feeder is going to attract any bears to your house.

There are a few ways to make bird seed feeders. They all require help from your grown up, so you should decide what you’re making together. Then you and your grown up can watch your feeder be enjoyed all season long. 

Your friend,

Thorndyke

Bird Feeder #1: Craft Stick Feeder

Materials

• Craft sticks*
• Liquid glue or Modge Podge
• Something to hang it with (i.e. string, twine, pipe cleaner or fishing line)
• Birdseed

*Large craft sticks tend to warp and curve. Popsicle sticks might be smaller but are more level. The librarian used a hot glue gun to connect the warped sticks.

Instructions

1. Place two parallel craft sticks a few inches apart. Add a line of glue along the length of both craft sticks.
2. Place craft sticks going in the opposite direction on the two original sticks. Try to line them up so there are no gaps. This is the base of your feeder, and where the food will stay.
3. Let the base dry. While it’s drying, get started on the walls.
4. Lay two craft sticks parallel to each other and use a third to measure how far apart they should be. Then place a dab of glue on the corners and connect them. Add glue to the corners again and repeat the process until you have five layers.
   
5. Once both pieces of the feeder are dry, glue the walls to the top of the base.
6. Cut about 8 inches of string or line (if using). Thread the string (or whatever you’re using) through one of the layers and knot it. Then, provide enough slack to do the same on the other side.
7. Fill the feeder with birdseed and hang it on a sturdy branch.

Bird Feeder #2: Milk Jug Feeder

Materials

• Gallon milk jug (empty, clean and dry)
• Liquid glue or Modge Podge
• Scissors
• String
• 2 craft sticks
• Markers for decorating

Instructions

1. Cut large holes in the flat sides of the milk jug. The holes should be large enough for the birds to enter and get the food.
2. Decorate the jug with the markers.
3. Glue the popsicle sticks to the bottom of the holes to give the birds a perch to eat from.
4. Poke two holes in the top of the milk jug, push the string through the holes, and tie a knot in the string.
5. Add birdseed to the feeder and hang it outside.

Bird Feeder #3: Peanut Butter Feeder

Materials

• Toilet paper roll
• Natural peanut butter
• Plastic knife or spatula
• Plate
• String or twine
• Birdseed

Instructions

1. Stand the toilet paper roll upright. Spread a thick layer of peanut butter onto the roll, ensuring the entire outside is covered.
2. Pour the birdseed onto a paper plate and spread it out evenly.
3. Gently roll the toilet paper tube around in the seeds, pressing down gently to get as many seeds to stick to the peanut butter as possible.
4. Sprinkle extra seeds on the outside.
5. Run a string through the holes of the tube and tie the ends together.
6. Hang the feeder outside.