DIY: Winter Bird Feeders

Five DIY wintertime bird feeders

Invite winged friends to your yard this winter by making one of these bird feeders. Position the feeder in front of a window, and your kids will have an opportunity to become winter bird watchers, especially if they want to stay cozy inside with a cup of cocoa instead of braving the cold.

Bird Seed Ornaments

These goodies are so pretty they’d brighten a tree even without the snow. Use walnuts, cranberries, and kumquats to form a garland to add a little extra cheer.

Ingredients

¾ cup flour
½ cup water
1 packet unflavored gelatin
3 Tbsp. corn syrup
4 cup birdseed

Directions

Mix ingredients together in a large bowl.
Use vegetable oil on a paper towel to coat the insides of the cookie cutters (or use vegetable spray); this will allow you to remove the ornaments from the cookie cutters more easily.
Spread waxed paper over your work area, then fill the insides of the cookie cutters with birdseed mixture, packing tightly. (We used circle and heart shapes.)
Poke a drinking straw through each ornament near the top to make a hole for hanging.
Carefully remove each ornament from the cookie cutter and set on waxed paper. Let dry for several hours.
Once the ornaments are dry, you can use peanut butter to decorate the rims and insides with other seeds. For example, spread a line of peanut butter around an outside rim, then press thistle onto the peanut butter. Or use peanut butter to create a heart shape atop a circle, and press in thistle and corn kernels.
Thread ribbon through the hole, and hang on a tree.

Ground Bird Seed Feeder

ground bird seed feeder

Trace a bird outline in the snow, then fill the shape with different types of seed.

Bird Seed Wreath

bird seed wreath

Bake bread dough in a doughnut shape, slather on peanut butter, and coat with seeds. A yummy dinner for the birds! Add a pretty bow to make it a decoration for the yard.

Fruit Bird Feeder

fruit bird feeder

Most birds love apples. Create this feeder for approximately $7 plus paint. Screw a threaded rod into a post cap. Drill holes through apples and thread them onto the rod, then top with a finial and a screw eye.