A milk carton is more than just a container for milk—especially for the birds! It's surprising how many end up in landfills, but with a bit of resourcefulness and creativity, kids can turn them into something amazing in just minutes.
Time spent outdoors sparks a child’s creativity, nurtures their imagination, and provides a natural boost to their well-being that indoor environments simply can’t match. Making outdoor crafts with your kids, like creating bird feeders from recycled milk cartons, is a fun, hands-on way to inspire creativity and a deeper appreciation for the world around them. This can be achieved by:
- Teaching the importance of recycling and upcycling materials to reduce waste.
- Fostering creativity by encouraging kids to use their imaginations and problem-solving and design skills to help others—in this case birds.
- Encouraging environmental responsibility by teaching children to care for nature and develop curiosity and compassion for birds and their ecosystems.
Why Make a Bird Feeder?
Birds need feeders to provide a reliable food source, especially during times of food scarcity, harsh weather, or habitat loss. Bird feeders play an important role in supporting bird populations and fostering a child’s stronger connection to nature.
DIY Bird Feeder
Let’s grab an empty milk carton and get started; it’s time to help nature in a fun and delightful way. Plus, your feathered friends will thank you.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create an eco-friendly milk carton feeder the birds will flock to:
Supply List
- Empty milk cartons (washed and dried)
- Non-toxic acrylic children’s craft paint and markers
- Paint brushes
- Nature-themed stamps and stamp pads
- Pencil and ruler to measure the seed window
- Scissors or a craft knife
- Hole punch
- String or twine
- Glue, Mod Podge, or a glue gun
- Sticks for the perch and roof (gathered from the ground)
- Used wrapping paper, magazines, books
- Birdseed
Instructions
- Clean the carton, and allow it to air dry for two days.
- Consider your design. You can make your carton into anything: a house, a drive-through window, a flower, a tree, a bird, or another animal (as long as it won’t scare the birds away).
- Paint two coats of one colour of your choice. Cover all surfaces. This will be your creative canvas.
- Draw a U-shape on one side of the carton to mark where you will make the food window, leaving about 2 inches (5.08 cm) at the bottom to hold the seed.
- Slowly cut along the lines using scissors or a craft knife. If younger children are making the bird feeder, make sure an adult does the cutting.
- Punch a small hole into the lower part of the carton with a hole punch. Insert a sturdy stick, and secure it with glue. This will serve as a perch for birds to rest on while feeding. You can also punch a hole in the back and push the stick through to make a perch on both sides.
- Decorate your feeder—this is the fun part. You can choose bright and colourful to attract birds, or natural colours so the bird feeder blends into the trees around it. Decorate with markers, stamps, and paint. You can also add images from used wrapping paper, magazines, or books to your feeder. Cut out the images, apply a thin layer of decoupage glue like Mod Podge to the feeder, place the images on top, smooth out any bubbles, and seal with additional layers of glue or a clear finish.
- Let your creativity shine, but avoid using anything that could be harmful to birds like glitter or plastic stickers.
- Make a small hole at the top of the carton. Thread a piece of string or twine through the hole and tie it securely. This will allow your parents to help you hang the feeder in a quiet, bird-friendly location, safe from predators.
- Pour birdseed into the feeder.
- Adapt and innovate: Watch the birds arrive for a snack, and double-check that your snack window is big enough and your perch is strong enough. Be open to seasonal changes and customer feedback from the birds. Change up your menu to keep things fresh.
Dining Is For The Birds
- Choose the right seed menu: Different birds prefer different seeds. Ask your parents to help you research the best seed for the birds in your area. Black-oil sunflower seeds are a great all-purpose choice and are especially favoured by chickadees, finches, and cardinals. Mixed seed blends are also a good choice. They’re a general-purpose blend that usually includes sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, and other seeds. This can attract a wide range of species, including jays, doves, and sparrows.
- Location, location, location: Place the feeder in a spot with some shade and near bushes or trees where birds can perch but stay safe from predators like cats.
- Maintain cleanliness and safety: To prevent mould and disease, ask your parents to clean your feeder and replace old seeds regularly. Clean the feeder with hot water and diluted vinegar or eco bleach, and always wear gloves when cleaning.
Now that you’ve made your amazing bird feeder, park yourself nearby and observe all the wonderful birds that pop by for a snack.
Bird Watching 101
Bird watching provides opportunities for patience, learning about the environment, and the importance of conservation.
- Gear-up: Grab binoculars, a camera, and a field guide, or download a bird identification app.
- Observe: Quietly watch the birds. Look for key features like size, shape, colour, and sounds, then use your guide or app to identify the birds.
- Record: Take notes or photos, and keep a journal of the birds you’ve spotted. You can even draw the birds you see and share your findings!
