Birds Will Flock To These Homemade Feeders

Looking to invite some winged wildlife to your garden or windowsill? Try these easy DIY bird feeders! With winter ending and spring migrations just beginning, birds need all the rest stops they can get to refuel for long journeys. Lil’ Sprouts will enjoy the tactile aspect of the project (we promise there isn’t too much clean up), as well as the satisfaction of seeing the birds gather around once the feeders are hanging. Plus, once they’re up, you can participate in Cornell’s citizen science project, Feeder Watch!

Materials

• Bird seeds (sunflowers, peanuts, shelled and cracked corn, flax, golden millet, safflower, thistle, and many more)
• Metal cookie cutters (make sure you pick some that are oven-safe!)
• A few pencils or sticks
• Gelatin
• Boiling water
• Twine

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix one packet of gelatin and 1/4 cup of boiling water. Stir until the gelatin is dissolved.
2. Add a cup of bird seeds to the water and gelatin mixture. Gently mix until all of the seeds are coated evenly.
3. Press the mixture into the cookie cutters. Be sure to push them firmly, so that the seeds are tightly-packed.
4. Use a pencil or stick to punch a hole near the top of the bird seed cake.
5. Let the cakes dry overnight.
6. In the morning, remove the pencil or sticks, gently push the cakes from their molds, and thread twine through the hole.
7. Hang in an accessible spot outdoors and enjoy your newfound friends!