Emergency - Easy to make Bird feeder.

[manaylor]

Here's a very low cost way that can keep the kids entertained for a while and feel good about it! It's a bit of a Blue Peter method but this is an emergency and I'm sure it will save many a bird's lives. It seems most of these wild birds are having a terrible time due to severe wintry weather. We have noticed quite a few species of birds feeding from a bush that was laden with small orange berries. They usually don't touch this food source which gives me the impression that they must be really desperate. So what to do?

 

HOW TO MAKE A FREE BIRD FEEDER.

 

You will need;

 

2 litre plastic milk bottle.

Smallish pair of scissors.

Felt tip or marker pen.

Some gloves if you have tender hands

Some home made or purchased bird food. See below.

 

You may want to supervise younger kids when using scissors. Use gloves to prevent cuts by sharp plastic edges and corners.

 

Please read the instructions before making an attempt.

 

Tip! You can use a pencil or pen and credit or similar sized card to create a marking out stencil made from cardboard or paper!

 

To make the bird feeder. Starting from about a 3 inches from the base of the container, begin marking out a small rectangular area of about 2½ inches wide by 3½ inches high (credit card size) on the centre of the 4 sides of the plastic bottle. The base of the container will form the tray into which you will place your bird food.

 

Make a hole with the point of the succors at one of the bottom corners of the marked area. Cut only the left, right and bottom markings to the openings beforehand to form a sharp angled "U" shaped cut. Then bend and fold the plastic out and up to about a 90 degree angle to form a simple awning on the outside of the bottle. This will provide overhead cover for any feeding birds in rain or snow.

 

The bottom of the opening will form the perch where the birds sit to gain access. I'd recommend that you cut a half inch slit vertically down from each end of the bottom opening and then roll or fold the plastic down to make a more comfortable, branch like perch for the birds claws. Then use the scissors to pierce a few small holes in the bottom to drain any rain water. Hey presto! You have a no cost, recycled, environmentally friendly bird feeder without wasting time and fuel to go and buy one. There is no shortage of plastic milk bottles and each time you make a new bird feeder, the results get better and easier. Please give some feeders to your friends and neighbours.

 

BIRD FOOD PREPARATION.

 

Prepare all manner of spare, donated, waste or unwanted foods, such as;

 

Bacon rinds (chopped).

Meat off cuts or left over, unwanted meal time meat.

Chopped nuts (unsalted or rinsed with plenty water and drained to get rid of the salt).

Bread (chopped).

Chopped fresh or desiccated coconut.

Seeds (any).

Dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas, etc.

Fats (optional) such as lard (cheapest), dripping, marge, butter (pricier!). Birds really need this fat in severe cold weather.

Bird food now can often be purchased locally.

Anything you can think of... suggestions please!

 

Leaving the fats until last, place the foods into a bowl and mix together. You can use this mix as food for your feeder without fat if you wish. However, if you mix in some fats at different intervals whilst stiring, you will eventually create a dough like mix that can be shaped into balls and will better suit the birds food requirement plus they love it!

 

This is handy if you don't have any plastic bottles available, the fatty food mix can be shaped into balls around some largish knots made in string, old strips of materials, unused knitting wool. Failing this you could use cut strip lengths of used shopping bag or cling film that has been stretched and twisted to form a cord. The knots form a sort of anchor for the food mix and stops the food from sliding off and falling to the floor when you hang them somewhere. The cold weather will keep it solid.

 

In warmer weather you could place the fatty food mix balls into a used plastic bag or old cloth material, wrap it around the food ball to form a sack and tie it with a knot or some string or cord. After trimming any excess material you then punch holes in the sack with an old disposable pen, chop stick or a screw driver. This allows the birds to gain access to the food with their beaks as well as a place to cling on to.

 

WHERE TO PLACE BIRD FOOD

 

I think the best place to put the feeder or food balls would be in a bush or tree or a washing line or poles. You could also place it on top or hanging from a shed roof or garden fence. Ideally it would be a place where it would not be easily ambushed by cats and the like and hard for rats to access. Consider that birds of prey may spot your feeding birds whilst looking for a quick meal. It may be better to place the food fairly close to some bushes or trees so they can flee for cover. Maybe you can place it where it can be viewed from your window and indulge in some bird watching! You could even hang the food from just outside your window for a much closer, armchair view. Thanks for reading and please leave a comment.

[Mecky]

Thanks but I'd rather just go to wilkinson's and get a net of bird food for about £1.50

[sccsux]

Thanks but I'd rather just go to wilkinson's and get a net of bird food for about £1.50

 

But that's no fun for the kids though.

[Guest]

Thanks but I'd rather just go to wilkinson's and get a net of bird food for about £1.50

Best not to use nets. From the RSPB:

There are no nets on our suet balls - or any other feed we make - we don't use them because birds and other wildlife can get trapped in them.

[mj.scuba]

Why is this an emergency?

[Bonjon]

Why is this an emergency?

 

Because cats are going hungry this time of year, and due to their lazyness these days they need us humans to put bait out for the birds so they can just scoop them up.

[manaylor]

But that's no fun for the kids though.

 

We had 3 kids visit us yesterday and they all loved making them!

[wednesday1]

Why is this an emergency?

 

 

 

Because it is freezing - ground solid, no worms or insects, berries solid..

 

 

In the severe winter of 1963 apparently 80% of wrens were wiped out.

[Berberis]

Because it is freezing - ground solid, no worms or insects, berries solid..

 

 

In the severe winter of 1963 apparently 80% of wrens were wiped out.

 

while in traffic I watched a two black birds eating berries from a bush only yesterday and it was -5 outside at the time.

[boyfriday]

..yet nobody spared a thought for turkeys