Bird feeders are a great oneFamily project for bird loversand a great way to do something good for the birds in the cold season. Today we'll show you two simple DIY ideas made from materials you probably already have at home - empty plastic bottles. While making crafts, children can learn more about the value of recycling and protecting wildlife.
Make a bird feeder out of a PET bottle to hang up
You can make a bird feeder in 10 minutes using an empty plastic bottle and two mixing spoons. This is one of the easiest bird feeders you can make yourself.
For crafting you will need the following:
1 empty water bottle 500 ml
2 mixing spoons
Vogelsamen
Jute twine
Scissors
Instructions:
1. Cut an approximately 25mm hole in the side of the bottle near the bottom of the bottle. Insert a spoon handle through until it meets the other side of the bottle and cut a small hole there for the handle to fit through.
2. Repeat step 1 further up the bottle for the other spoon.
3. Tie a piece of string around the neck of the bottle as a hanger for the bird feeder.
4. Fill the bottle with bird seed and hang the feeder outside.
The seeds fall onto the spoons when the birds eat. Refill if necessary! What do the birds particularly like?In this articlewe have listed some suitable ingredients.
You can also use wooden round sticks, unsharpened pencils, chopsticks, twigs or other similar sticks as perches.
The children can also paint the wooden spoons colorfully
You can also use a larger bottle, but be sure to clean the bird feeder regularly and replace its contents to prevent the spread of bird diseases. The concentration of birds in one area promotes the growth of pathogenic bacteria, so regular disinfection of feeders is necessary.
Bird feeder with hanging tray
In addition to water bottles and sports drink bottles, empty plastic ketchup bottles are also ideal for this DIY project. Instead of simply throwing the empty bottle into the recycling bin, you can repurpose it into a great hanging bird feeder.
What you need:
1 ketchup bottle, transparent
1 small plastic plant collecting tray
700mm long jute twine
Craft scalpel
Step 1 – Gather your materials
The Heinz upside down bottles work very well for this project because they are transparent, but there are other similar alternatives. Make sure to wash the bottle thoroughly to remove any ketchup residue. Use a mixture of soapy water and white vinegar to clean the inside of the bottle as well. It is important that you rinse it thoroughly several times. Allow the bottle to air dry for several hours or, better yet, overnight. Make sure to remove any residual moisture from inside the bottle, otherwise it may spoil the seeds later.
Step 2 – Create four openings for the seeds
Using a sharp craft knife, make four evenly spaced openings in the top of the bottle. A triangular cutout works very well.
Step 3 – Make two holes for hanging
Using the craft scalpel, make two holes in the bottom of the bottle to attach the string for hanging.
Step 4 – Attach the hanging cord
Cut a piece of string and insert the ends through the two holes you just made. Make sure the string is long enough so that both ends hang at least 10 cm out of the bottle opening. Tie the ends of the string together in a tight knot, then pull the knot into the bottle to form the hanging loop.
Step 5 – Cut a hole in the center of the plastic planting tray.Make sure the size fits your bottle. Also make three or more holes around the bottom of the planting tray to ensure drainage.
Step 6 – Fill your new bird feeder
Fill your feeder with your garden birds' favorite food. Use a funnel to make filling the feeder easier.
Step 7 – Attach the Drip Tray
Place the drip tray on the bottle and screw the bottle cap back on to make sure everything fits together.
Now all you have to do is hang your new bird feeder in the garden and wait for feathered visitors!
Also read: “MAKE YOUR OWN BIRD FEEDER: UPCYCLING IDEAS FOR DIY FEEDERS IN THE GARDEN OR ON BALCONIES”
