What To Do
Get Ready
We poked around in the back yard to find some pine cones to use
for our feeders. Pine cones that are partially opened are the
easiest to hang, but the birds aren't picky and will gratefully
take whatever you find!
If your pine cones are buried under snow, or you
don't have any pine trees handy, you could also use a recycled
yogurt cup, an old peanut butter jar or similar item. (This is
a great way to teach the kids about "recycle - reuse".)
 We
tied the string to the pine cones when we were done – I
would suggest doing it first. If you are using a yogurt cup or
something similar, poke a hole in the bottom, feed the string
through and tie it to a twig wider than the top opening. This
twig will serve as a perch for the birds. Make sure to leave enough
string to hang the finished feeder.
Get Set
Once you have the base set up, have the kids cover it with peanut
butter. For younger kids, you could use the back of a spoon or
a spatula instead of a knife.
 Next,
roll the feeder in bird seed. Make sure your little bird watchers
don't try to sample the product!
Go!
Hang the feeder from a tree branch. If you can, try to hang it
near a window in your house to view your feathered friends enjoying
your treat.
If you prefer you can place the feeder on a deck
or window sill. Just be aware you may get squirrels as well as
birds .
Keep It Going…
Watch to see what types of birds come to visit. What color are
the birds? Are they big or little? Have them listen, is the bird
chirping? Is it making other sounds? Have the kids draw pictures
of the birds they observe.
You can also go to the library and borrow a book
on birds to help you identify the birds you see. Common North
American feeder birds are: chickadees, cardinals, finches, sparrows
and woodpeckers.
|
