In December 2009 the Explorers created bird feeders.
Before starting, the group talked about how it is important to consistently keep a bird feeder stocked during the cold winter months. During the summer birds have little trouble finding plenty of food, but this is not the case for those birds that remain in our area during the winter. If food is placed out for the birds during warmer times, the birds will get used to finding it there, and then waste precious energy looking for it in the same place if it is not there in the winter. It is actually worse for the birds to stock a feeder during warm seasons but not during cold times than it is to not put one out at all.
Our feeders are about as simple as can be. We started with clear, empty 2-liter pop bottles. We mixed some glue and water together and stirred in some glitter, then poured the mix into the bottles and spent some time swirling it around to spread the glitter evenly across the inside surfaces of the bottles. The glitter will not only give the feeder some decorative sparkles, it will also catch the attention of birds that are attracted to shiny things.
We will hold a brief session in a couple of weeks (after the watery, gluey mix in the bottom of the bottles has had time to completely dry) to poke holes in opposite sides of the bottles. We will then stick a long wooden spoon through the holes--the bowl part of each spoon will collect the food as it spills out of the hole on that side. Pour in some food, add the bottle lid, tie on a long piece of yarn to hang the bottle from a tree branch--and voila, bird feeders.
Click on the gallery link below to view some photos from our session.
