Biodegradable Bird Feeder
Make your own Biodegradable Bird Feeder to hang in your garden
Created by Tom Newton from Henley Fort
Make the most of all the birds that are around this spring and encourage them into your garden or outside space by make this simple bird feeder. Fun to make and the perfect activity to identify the different birds that come to visit.
Suitable for: pre-schoolers and upwards
Curriculum areas covered: science and literacy
Duration: 30 minutes plus time for observation
Safety: adults to help alongside where necessary (use the scissors for the participant if needed)
Materials:
- cardboard tube i.e. toilet roll or kitchen roll. (alternative flat piece of cardboard and masking tape)
- peanut butter or similar i.e. butter, biscotti spread (alternative edible paste that can be used as a glue i.e. mixture of lard and grated cheese)
- birdseed or similar (alternative mixed seeds, nuts or dried fruit)
- spoon or spatula (alternative a spreading implement)
- plate or dish
- optional scissors and string
How to make:
Start by taking a flat piece of cardboard (about the size of an A5 piece of paper). Roll this into a cylinder with the edges overlapping by about 1 cm and stick this with masking tape.(Alternatively use a pre-made cardboard tube from a toilet or kitchen roll).
Optional, attach a hanging loop. Use the scissors to cut a 10 to 15 cm piece of string and attach it using masking tape to opposite sides at the same end of the cardboard tube.
Place the cardboard tube onto the plate, take a tablespoon of peanut butter and spread it over the outside of the cardboard tube using the spoon or spatula.
Holding the inside of the tube over the plate. Sprinkle the birdseed over the tube (occasionally patting it down if needs be).
Finally, either slide the cardboard tube over a branch in your garden or hang somewhere outside using the string.
Learning Outcomes:
Leave the feeder for a minimum of 30 min to let birds come and visit .
Then, for about 10 min observe the visitors to your bird feeder and write down the answers to these questions:
- How may birds come to feed over a 10 minute period?
- How many different types of birds did you see?
- Can you describe each type of bird that visited the feeder?
- Are you able to find out what type of birds visited the feeder from your description? Take a look at the RSPB Bird Identifier online tool for help.
Once the birds have enjoyed the seeds and nuts, your feeder can be composted.
Don't forget to post a picture on our social media of your bird feeder once you've made it.
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