Recycled homemade bird feeders, bird seed treats and free printable bird lesson plans

Hello my Omschooligans!  Do plastic milk jugs overflow your recycling bin? They certainly do here at the Omschool Tree fort! So how about we make some simple homemade crafts to repurpose and reuse recycled milk jugs? And value added, our furry and feathered friends will love your recycled milk jug craft projects. But first, here are free printable bird activities and coloring pages to enjoy! 

Free Printable Bird Coloring Pages

• Audubon for Kids: Offers various nature-themed activities, including DIY crafts and art projects like making migration-friendly window decorations.

• Columbia Audubon Society: Provides high-quality, printable bird illustrations, such as the Costa’s Hummingbird, created to combine science with creativity.

• Homemade Gifts Made Easy: Features a gallery of 56 free printable bird coloring pages, ranging from simple outlines for young children to realistic species drawings for older students and adults.

• ABCmouse: Offers a large collection of bird-themed printables, including "color by addition" and "color by sight" worksheets, as well as various bird species.

• Crayola: Provides a variety of free animal-themed coloring pages, including birds.

Bird Lesson Plans & Activities

• Audubon for Kids: An extensive resource for home educators, featuring activities like "What’s That Beak For?" (exploring beak adaptation) and interactive migration games.

• The Homeschool Daily: Provides a comprehensive "Bird Unit Study" that includes printable graphic organizers, emergent readers for early learners, and "Beak & Feet" matching cards to teach anatomy and function.

• BirdNote in the Classroom: Offers adaptable lesson plans for various grade levels, including activities like the "Bird Beak Buffet" (hands-on food exploration) and nature journaling prompts.

• Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance: Includes fun, interactive games such as "Bird BINGO" and "Owl Listening" activities to teach bird calls and sensory biology.

• Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Offers specific lesson plans like "First Flight with Raptors," which introduces biology concepts through birds of prey. 

Homemade Recycled Milk Jug Bird Feeders

I. Project Overview

• Goal: Repurpose and reuse plastic milk jugs into functional bird feeders.

• Benefits:

  • Reduces waste in landfills.

  • Supports wildlife and the local ecosystem.

  • Great craft activity for Earth Day, National Bird Day, or general nature education.

II. Supplies Needed

• Clean, rinsed, and dried plastic milk jugs.

• Permanent markers, stickers, or fabric paint (for decoration).

• Sharp scissors like you use in the kitchen.

• Bird seed (generic bulk seed is inexpensive).

• Optional additives for "special treats": citrus rinds, apple peelings, fruit seeds, stale popcorn, bread, crackers, nuts, and peanut butter. 

  
  
  

• Bright red yarn or ribbon for hanging.

III. Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Jug: Ensure the milk jug is thoroughly washed, rinsed, and dried.

2. Create the Window:

   • Draw a window on the side opposite the handle, approximately 2.5 inches from the bottom.

   • The window should measure about 4 inches on all sides.

   • Carefully cut out the window using scissors.

3. Add Drainage: Poke 5 small holes in the bottom of the jug to allow for drainage and air circulation to keep birdseed dry.

4. Decorate: Use permanent markers, stickers, or fabric paint to create nature patterns.

5. Fill: Add approximately 1.5 inches of bird seed to the bottom of the feeder.

6. Hang:

   • Use bright red yarn or ribbon to hang the feeder in trees or from poles (avoid utility wires).

   • Or, make a clean cut through the handle near the base so it can you can "hook" it over a tree branch.

   • Alternatively, place on a porch rail and secure with a nail through the bottom.

IV. Target Audience & Groups

• School groups, libraries, day cares, and scout troops.

• Homeschool

• Vacation Bible School, summer camps, and nature centers.

• Elderly groups (easy to construct and requires minimal space).

Bird Watching and Feeding Guide

I. Celebrating Bird Day (Jan. 5)

• Bird Day is a time for bird enthusiasts to enjoy bird watching.

• You don't need to wait for January; you can set up feeders anytime.

II. DIY Bird Feeders & Activities

• Pine Cone Seed Holders

  • Use evergreen seed pods or open pine cones.

  • Coat with suet or peanut butter and roll in bird seed.

  • Attach to trees or windows using recycled ribbon or yarn.

• Suet Seed-Cake Recipe

  • Goal: Provides fruit, protein, and fat for energy and warmth during winter.

  • Ingredients: A blend of suet (beef fat), raisins, various seeds (sunflower, millet, sesame, thistle), dried corn, nuts, fruit rinds/cores, and nut butters.

  • Instructions: Mix by hand, form into balls, and store in a cool, dry place to prevent rancidity.

• Mesh Bag Feeders

  • Repurpose mesh bags from produce (or cut circles from plastic mesh).

  • Wrap suet seed-cake balls in the mesh and tie with recycled ribbon or yarn.

• Water Stations

  • Use old Frisbees or pie plates as water dishes.

  • Punch three holes equidistant along the edge, tie with recycled yarn, and hang from trees.

• Milk Jug Feeders

  • Cut a window in a washed milk jug and poke drainage holes in the bottom.

  • Layer the bottom with seeds and hang by the handle.

• Edible Tree Decorations

  • Hang stale bagels or donuts with ribbon.

  • Repurpose your Christmas tree as a backyard bird feeder.

  • String oranges, apples, cranberries, nuts, and raisins on recycled yarn (using a dull darning needle for safety).

• Snowman Bird-Feeders

  • Based on the story "Stranger in the Woods," build a snowman with a carrot nose, apple buttons, walnut eyes, and a raisin smile.

  • Provide a base of bird seed and dried corn in a pie plate or Frisbee for the birds.

III. Benefits & Community

• "Trash crafts" are inexpensive, educational, and great for school lessons, 4H, and scout troops.

• Bird watching stations provide entertainment and joy for everyone, including those who are shut-in or disabled/elderly.

Here is a bibliography of children’s books centered on birds, birding, and bird feeding, including the title you requested.

Featured Title

• Miller, Edna. Mousekin’s Golden House. Simon & Schuster, 1987 (originally published in 1964).

  • Description: This classic picture book follows a white-footed mouse who discovers a discarded Halloween jack-o'-lantern in the woods and repurposes it into a cozy, protective winter home. It is a wonderful story for exploring nature, animal habitats, and the seasons.

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Books About Birds, Birding, and Feeding

No Omschool Tree Fort lesson plan is complete without a recommended reading list! 

• Blough, Glenn, and Jeanne Bendick. Bird Watchers and Bird Feeders. Purple House Press, 2018.

  • This science-nature book covers bird menus, how to build feeders, migration, and the equipment needed for beginning birders.

• Jenkins, Martin, and Richard Jones. Bird Builds a Nest: A First Science Storybook. Candlewick Press, 2017.

  • A blend of story and science that follows a mother bird building a nest, including helpful tips on providing materials like yarn and ribbon for nesting birds.

• Rouse, Dan. The Children’s Book of Birdwatching. DK Children, 2021.

  • A beginner’s guide that includes chapters on bird feeders, nest boxes, and hands-on activities like making your own bird food.

• Wolfson, Elissa, Margaret A. Barker, and the National Audubon Society. Birding Adventures for Kids: Activities and Ideas for Watching, Feeding, and Housing Our Feathered Friends. Chicago Review Press, 2020.

  • An excellent resource for learning about songbird habits, creating bird-friendly environments, and constructing species-appropriate feeders and birdhouses.

• Richmond, Susan Edwards. Bird Count. Peachtree Publishing Company, 2019.

  • Follows a young girl participating in the Christmas Bird Count, introducing children to the world of citizen science.

• Stemple, Heidi E.Y. Counting Birds: The Idea That Helped Save Our Feathered Friends. Cornell Lab Publishing Group, 2018.

  • A beautifully illustrated book that tells the story of Frank Chapman and the founding of the annual Christmas Bird Count.

• Walden, Libby. Birdhouse: A Lift-the-Flap Book of Discovery. Caterpillar Books, 2018.

  • A playful, interactive book that teaches children about different types of birdhouses and how to make their own yards more bird-friendly.

    Bird's Nest Treats (a snack craft for you  to make and enjoy!)

    Ingredients:

    • 1 cup Butterscotch chips

    • 1/2 cup Creamy peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option)

    • 2 cups Chow mein noodles (the crispy, crunchy kind)

    • Small candy eggs (like jelly beans or malted milk eggs) for decoration

    Instructions:

    1. Melt: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butterscotch chips and peanut butter together in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.

    2. Mix: Gently fold in the chow mein noodles until they are thoroughly coated in the mixture.

    3. Shape: Scoop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a sheet of wax paper. Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to create a small indentation in the center, forming a "nest" shape.

    4. Decorate: While still soft, place 2–3 candy eggs into the center of each nest.

    5. Set: Let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes until they are firm and ready to eat.

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    Why this is great for craft time:

    • Thematic: It mirrors the bird nests the kids might be learning about while building their feeders.

    • Low Mess: These are finger foods, so they won't leave sticky residue on your craft supplies.

    • Hands-On: Kids love shaping the "nests" and adding the "eggs" themselves!