Bird Feeders
Main Image
Main Image
Created by
University of Ottawa and Carleton University
Activity Language
Grade
Time Needed for Activity
Subjects
Make your own bird feeder!
What You Need
Materials per student
- Bird seed (1/2 cup)
- Straw (small piece)
- String
- Gelatin (one package)
- Spoon
- Cookie cutter
- Bowl
- Plate
- Warm water (1/4 cup)
Guide:
Safety Notes
Ensure you are familiar with Let's Talk Science's precautions with respect to safe virtual delivery.
Many bird seed mixes contain nuts or are made in a facility with nuts.
What To Do
To make the bird feeder, each student will:
- Open the pack of gelatin and pour it into the bowl.
- Add 1/4 cup of warm water.
- Stir the gelatin and water until it has dissolved.
- Add all the bird seed and stir until the bird seed is all coated with the gelatin and water mixture.
- Place the cookie cutter flat on a plate.
- Fill the cookie cutter with the bird seed mixture, pressing down on the birdseed with each spoonful.
- Poke a piece of straw into the bird seed near the middle or a bit closer to the top of the cookie cutter (this will be a hole for the string to go through to hang the bird feeder once it is dry).
- Let the bird seed dry and the gelatin set. Find a safe place to put the plate with your cookie cutter filled with bird seed on it and leave it overnight. In the morning, it should feel firm on top.
- Turn it over so the other side can get firm. Leave it overnight for at least one or two more nights.
- Once it is firm on both sides, they can pull the straw out and then carefully push it out of the cookie cutter.
- Put the string through the hole where the straw was (or through the straw if you can't get the straw out).
- Finally, they can hang their bird feeder outside or on their balcony. Ask students to check their feeder now and again to see how many different birds come to eat.
Discovery
Students can keep an eye out on their bird feeders and create a record of the different types of birds they see. They can collect data such as:
- The number of birds that visit their feeder over a time period.
- The time of day that birds most often visit the feeder.
- The type of birds that visit their feeder. Can they identify the species of birds?
- How long it takes for their feeder to be fully consumed.
Investigate Further
Students can keep an eye out on their bird feeders and create a record of the different types of birds they see. They can collect data such as:
- The number of birds that visit their feeder over a time period.
- The time of day that birds most often visit the feeder.
- The type of birds that visit their feeder. Can they identify the species of birds?
- How long it takes for their feeder to be fully consumed.