Now that the days are getting warmer and the sun is out longer we are constantly outside. We love it. We are outside first thing in the morning and we are out there until bedtime. We wanted to make your own bird seed feeders because we love finding fun crafts that can be for the outdoors. I have so many ideas and can’t wait to start doing them all!
This one is super simple and you probably have all the supplies already on hand.
Supplies Needed:
- paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls
- bird seed
- twine / hemp cord
- peanut butter or any other nut butter
- butter knife
- paper plate
- scissors
Cut your paper towel roll into three sections and pout your bird seed into a plate. Make sure there is plenty of bird seed.
At the last moment I remembered that I had a cashew butter that had recently expired and I thought instead of letting it go to waste I’d use that instead. I know items don’t really go bad the day marked on the packaging but in my head I just can’t use them. So the consistency was a little off from regular peanut butter. If you have thick butter you can use the knife to spread it on. If you have a creamy, more natural butter then pour some on another paper plate and your child can roll the tube in the creamy butter first.
At first Sawyer really had a hard time willing himself to get sticky. He kept a very serious face throughout the entire process. He slowly went from creamy butter to seed and back to start again and repeat.
When he was done though he was all about getting messy. First, he pretended he was going to come get me with them and then he decided to butter and seed half his toys with the left overs.
To hang I cut some long strips of hemp cord and knotted them at the top. Then we walked them all into the woods where we can see all the nests in the tops of the trees. Sawyer had so much fun hanging his up on the tree off a branch. We found homes for the remaining bird seed feeders and now we just wait.
If you didn’t have twine you could also just string the tubes over the branches themselves. I worry though that the squirrels and chipmunks will eat them that way before the birds have the opportunity. Also remember that leaving food out of any kind does leave the possibility of other wildlife coming to them out of curiosity. It is well-known, for example, that bears enjoy bird feeders.
Do you enjoy bird watching? What birds are you hoping to attract when you make your own bird seed feeders?
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Ahh! How wonderful! What a great way to repurpose those aper towel and TP rolls. There’s a big glass window right outside where I sit at the computer – I could put these these out there and watch the birdies come and hear them sing. What a fabulous idea! (((((((((HUGS))))))) and thank you!!!
Love this idea! Have to do it with the kids soon 🙂
I love this! if we had birds like you guy do this would be an awesome idea ! 🙂
Thanks! xoxoxo
This is the perfect craft to make with my toddler. She’ll love getting peanut butter all over her hands- yum” moreover, she’ll love watching the birds enjoy it. I hope it will bring the cardinals to our yard!
that is so cool,they only thing I would do different is get a cheaper peanut butter for the birds,,,my husband would faint if i fed the birds his skippy,,lol
I love this idea. It looks so fun and easy. I love to feed the birds and they would just love this. Thanks for the darling idea.
I love being crafty, and this is such a great idea. I usually just throw the paper towel roll on the floor for my cat to play with, which she loves to play with …in the middle of the night (it’s a lot louder than you would think, lol). These bird seed feeders would be perfect to put on a couple of the bushes in front of the cats favorite window.
I want to make these with my niece and nephew! They would love making these and putting them out for the birds. I think yours turned out great, and it looks like so much fun to make!
Hey my Pre-K just did this at school..
Fun to make and then fun to watch the birds. Great craft.
This is such a fun activity to do with little ones. It’d be nice to watch the birds afterward too. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
these came out so nice! and Sawyer is so cute! I have a retired relative who loves watching birds and puts out treats – I have to tell her about this!
These look really neat and I know my son would enjoy making some for our back yard.
These are great and would be so much fun to make with my niece.
I remember making these! I love watching birds and squirrels, so we always put out seeds.
I really have to try this!