Welcome to day 3 of DIY Summer Camp at home. On this first week of DIY Summer Camp, we’re going to learn about backyard birds. Today, we’re talking about feeding the birds and what birds eat. There are so many things we can create to help feed the birds.
How will you feed the birds?
Activity: Make a bird feeder
The first step for today’s DIY Summer Camp at Home is to create a bird feeder. There are 3 different kinds of bird feeders we’re going to make, so grab your recycling and some bird feed mix.
Milk Carton Bird Feeder
For this bird feeder, you will need:
- empty milk carton (1 L or more)
- wooden dowel, chopstick, unsharpened pencil or straight twig, about 15-20 cm long
- pencil
- paint
- scissors (even better, a craft knife)
- twine, cord or thick yarn
- birdseed or birdfeed mix
What you do:
Soda Pop Bottle Bird Feeder
What you need:
- empty soda pop bottle (2 L)
- paint
- scissors
- glue
- decorations
What you do:
Pine Cone Bird Feeder
What you need:
- large pine cone
- twine, cord or thick yarn
- peanut butter or shortening
- bird seed
What to do:
Snack: Nuts and Seeds
What do birds eat? Nuts, seeds, berries, bugs and worms! So after you’ve created feeders for the birds, break for a snack and enjoy some bird food of your own.
Try a variety of nuts and seeds, assuming you don’t have any allergies. Sunflower seeds, roasted pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts — there are tons of choices available.
If you do have allergies, offer some berries instead. Summer is the perfect time to get fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. And if you really want to give your kids a treat, try some candy worms!
Activity: Feed the birds
Grab your old bread crusts, cracker crumbs, cereal bits and leftover bird seed mix. And head to the nearest park or conservation area where you can interact with the birds.
There’s no better way to learn about feeding birds than to actually do it.
NOTE: Make sure you go to a park or conservation area where feeding birds is allowed and encouraged. Some places may ban the practice so please check ahead before going out.
Safety note: be careful feeding geese. Some geese can become aggressive, and may bite small hands who aren’t quick enough to get out of the way. Always throw the food away from you, and don’t try to feed birds out of your hand.
Activity: Bird Waddle Racing
Here’s a fun game to play where your kids can pretend to walk like birds. You’ll need a small to medium size ball or balloon to play.
How to play:
Create a start and finish line for your race. Have each person racing place a balloon or bird between their knees. Then move as fast as they can without dropping the ball, or holding it there with their hands. The first person to the finish line without dropping the ball wins! But if they drop the ball, they’ll have to go back to the start to start over.
Be prepared for giggles! Younger children might need smaller sizes to play, or to not have to go back to the start, to avoid frustration.
Bird Jokes to entertain your kids
Check out some of these silly jokes.
What is black and white and black and white and black and white?
A penguin falling down the stairs!What kind of bird works at a construction site?
A crane!Why does a flamingo lift up one leg?
Because if it lifted both legs it would fall over!Why do birds fly south in the winter?
Because it’s too far to walk!
What does an eagle like to write with?
A bald-point pen.Where does a peacock go when it loses its tail?
A re-tail store!What books did the owl like?
Hoot-dunits!What do you give a sick bird?
Tweetment!Which animal grows down?
A duck.What does a duck like to eat with soup?
Quackers
End of the day: read aloud time.
Reading aloud to your kids is proven to not only improve their literacy skills (and prevent summer learning loss!), but also builds your relationship with them. And there’s nothing like a good story to help settle kids down for bed.
Here’s our recommended list of bird books, for your read aloud. Read a chapter or two every night this week.
Tomorrow will be another great day full of bird fun and feathers. And don’t forget to subscribe so you get every day of the DIY Summer Camp at Home right in your inbox.
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