Bird House Crafts
Shelter your feathered friends and have fun too
Birds live in nests, but they occasionally need shelter provided by humans when nesting sites aren't readily available. Birds are often kicked out of nesting sites because humans cut down the trees that have hollows. You can help birds by providing houses of their own, and children can get into the act by making their own bird houses. You can make nests, but birds probably won't use the nests that you make. It's always better to provide a space to nest and then let the birds do the nesting themselves.
There are several bird house crafts kids can make, but they will require the help of an adult. These are good family projects to make. Alternatively, you can buy already-made bird houses and let children decorate them with paint and glitter. Just remember to never paint the inside of a bird house, as it can be dangerous for the young hatchlings and adult birds, and to varnish the outside so that the kids' handiwork won't get wrecked by the wind, rain and snow.
Milk Carton Bird House
You will need:
- Half-gallon milk carton
- Masking tape
- Brown shoe polish and rag
- Scissors
- Wire, perhaps from a hanger
Tear open the top of an empty half-gallon milk carton and wash and rinse thoroughly. Let it dry, and then reclose it by stapling it back closed. Take masking tape and tear 1 to 2 inch pieces, applying them to the milk carton so that none of the carton shows. Overlap the masking tape if you have to. With a rag, apply brown shoe polish all over the carton until it resembles bark. Let it dry thoroughly. Once you've decided what bird you want to use the bird house, cut a hole corresponding to the size of the bird. Punch a hole in the top of the carton, thread the wire through it in a loop and then hang it from a tree or building.
For an educational twist, have the children observe the house over a season to see if a bird moves in. If it does, have them watch and record what happens in the house. At the end of the season, have them write a report about the bird and its nesting habits.
If you have any other bird house craft ideas, don't hesitate to e-mail us at editor@birdfeedersdirect.com.
