For the Love of Birds

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Spring has sprung and nature can be seen waking up, stretching wide, and basking in her glory. Where we live in Houston, Texas, this often means tree pollen and allergies (ugh). But, when we can see through our puffy and itchy eyes, there is so much to behold, particularly with our winged friends. In spring, you can hear the birds before you see them, tweeting and singing from different parts of the yard in concert with each other. You can hear the flutter of their wings as they move from one tree to the next. You can even hear their warning calls when a predatory bird enters their turf.

To celebrate and honor the birds this year, my rascals created a DIY bird feeder and a bird perch. Both activities require supplies easily found around the house, only take a few minutes, and can be reused all season long.

SUPPLIES FOR BIRD FEEDER

  • an empty and dry half gallon milk carton (or an empty tissue box)

  • bird seed

  • twine, rope, or ribbon

  • tool to pierce small holes (such as an awl or scissors)

  • cutting tool (scissors or box cutter)

  • paint and paintbrushes (completely optional)

DIRECTIONS FOR BIRD FEEDER

  1. Carefully cut 2 openings in the milk carton (or tissue box) and pierce 2 holes in the top.

  2. Fill the bottom of the bird feeder with bird seed.

  3. Thread the ribbon through the 2 holes in the top.

  4. Hang from a tree. I recommend tying the feeder to the tree as opposed to looping it on a knobby part or branch because the thieving squirrels in my neighborhood pulled the entire bird feeder off the tree and scampered off with it like the nature burglars they are.

SUPPLIES FOR BIRD PERCH

  • narrow box (like a toothpaste box)

  • 2 pencils (or straws, skewers, chopsticks, dowels)

  • twine, rope, or ribbon

  • tool to pierce small holes (such as an awl or scissors)

  • paint and paintbrushes (completely optional)

DIRECTIONS FOR BIRD PERCH

  1. Pierce 4 holes in the lower 1/3 portion of the box. The 2 holes across from each other should roughly be the same distance from the bottom of the box. Stagger the height of the holes so that when the pencils are inserted, they will not hit each other.

  2. Insert the pencils into the holes.

  3. Tape the ribbon to the bottom side of the top flap of the box. Close the flap and tape the flap down so it won’t open up.

  4. Tie the bird perch to a tree.

Happy Springtime! Remember to take a moment each day to smell the flowers, listen to the sweet sounds of nature, and enjoy the feeling of sun on your face.

Written by Brandi Stanton, mother of 2 rascals ages 4 and 6.