Invite nature into your backyard with this easy, hands-on project! A homemade bird feeder is a simple way to get up close and personal with the birds and critters in your neighborhood.
Gather Your Supplies:
- A mold or tray
- 1 cup bird seed
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1 packet unflavored gelatin
- Twine or string
- Dried berries or nuts (optional)
- A spoon and bowl
- Fridge space
Let’s Make Bird Treats!
- Warm up water. Heat about ½ cup of water until it’s nice and warm but not boiling.
- Make your gelatin. Pour the warm water into a bowl and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Stir it up until it dissolves completely.
- Mix in the seeds. Add 1 cup of bird seed to the gelatin mix a little at a time, stirring until the seeds are coated and there’s just enough liquid to hold them all together.
- Mold it. Spoon the mixture into your mold or tray.
- Add some flair. Top your bird treat with a handful of dried berries or nuts to make your feeder extra fancy.
- Chill out. Pop your tray into the fridge and let it set for at least 30 minutes or until it’s firm.
- Hang it up or set it out. Carefully remove your bird feeder from the mold. Add string to hang them on a tree branch or place them outside on a dish.
- Watch and learn. Find a quiet spot nearby and see who shows up! What colors do you notice? What sounds do they make? With a little patience, you might discover something new about who likes to visit your backyard.
Grown-Ups—Ready to Spark Even More Wonder?
Here are a few playful ideas to take this activity a little further:
- Grab a bird guidebook or app and try identifying the visitors to your feeder.
- Start a “Bird Log” or make your own nature journal with your child—draw pictures, jot down colors, and give your feathered friends silly names!
- Make a few extra feeders to bring out over the next couple of days and weeks, or gift them to neighbors, teachers, or friends.
Did you know birds are modern-day dinosaurs?
It’s true! Your backyard visitors are distant relatives of the T. rex! Want to learn more? Come face-to-face with our life-sized Mama T. Rex and Max and explore even more prehistoric facts.
Back
