by Angie Pollock

Created on: October 10, 2009

Drawing wild birds to your yard is as simple as crafting a few bird attractions and placing them in safe locations outdoors. Making homemade bird feeders is one of the simplest projects that children can make. But before you begin your project, you need to know what birds like that will invite them to your yard.

Birds are drawn to many things, most of which includes food and water. These simple bird projects will appeal to the birds, inviting them into your yard, and you won't break the bank. Most of these projects can be made from recycled materials you have right at home and the kids will have fun making something for the wildlife in their yard.

Suet Feeder

Suet feeders are useful to certain species of birds especially in the winter. Two ingenious items that can be used to hold suet are a metal soap dish or you can use produce baskets like those that come with store-bought strawberries. Choose a soap dish that has wire sections (not solid) and is coated to prevent rusting. Place suet in your holder, face the opening of the holder towards the tree, and attach to the tree with rope or wire.

Bird Seed

One of the greatest craft projects that you may have learned in school is the "pinecone bird feeder". Simply spread peanut butter liberally over the pinecone and roll in bird seed. You can hang these in various areas of your yard. But you can go beyond this nifty idea and simply hang orange slices or peanuts from your trees and porch. The birds will love these fun treats and squirrels shouldn't be able to get to them very easily as there isn't anything to balance on.

Those empty margarine tubs that many throw away can be turned into a fun bird feeder. Drill or poke four holes along the top side of the bowl. Put string through the holes and tie the ends in a knot. You can fill your instant feeder with seed or treats for the wild birds. You can also use the bottom half of milk jugs just make sure there are no jagged edges. You can use duct tape along the edges to keep the bird's feet safe while perched on the edge.

To make covers for these bird feeders, just take plastic lids that are larger than the containers and place holes in the lid and thread the string through the lids. Place knots on the underside of the lids so that they don't slide down. Leave enough space between your container and the lid so that birds can get to the food easily. Any of these recyclable items can be painted or decorated by the kids to make them one-of-a-kind crafted items.

Water

The wild birds will need some refreshments following their free meal. The same project with the margarine tub feeder can also be used to hold water. And after their meal and drink, perhaps your feathered guests would like a bath. A birdbath can be made from almost any semi-flat item you have around that will hold water. Trash can lids, large shallow bowls, and even a short storage container can all turn into a welcomed treat for the wild birds. You can hang them from trees, place on an elevated stand, or simply leave on the ground.

Always remember when making homemade items for wildlife to use non-toxic materials especially for birds. Some pans have toxic coatings and painted items may contain lead. You will need to change your feeders and water containers often to keep the birds returning and prevent anything becoming spoiled. With only your imagination, you can create some wonderful feeders for the wild birds. And the birds don't mind what the container looks like, they are only interested in the free meal.

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