Got cabin fever? Today I’m making Valentine bird seed feeders—a winter gift to the birds. I worry about birds in winter, especially when the ground is covered in ice and snow. Teaching kids about nature and birding and caring for the creatures of our planet is an important lesson on compassion. Birds need love too. And valentines.
There was a little trial and error on my part, and yes, this project takes a bit of patience. But these heart-shaped bird seed feeders make a fun project for children of all ages (with adult assistance).
Ingredients
- 2 cups birdseed
- 1 tablespoon bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
Notes
You will also need bird-friendly twine for hanging. Cotton and/or shredded newspaper (optional) for nest building material.
Method
Mix everything together. The little kiddos can definitely get in on this part.
Spray the inside of a cookie cutter with cooking oil spray. Fill cookie cutter with birdseed mixture. Pack the seed as tightly as possible using the back of a wooden spoon. When you think it is full, add more and pack again. It’s sticky and messy (like suet you buy at the bird store). Even if you don’t have kids at home, it’s fun to get your hands dirty.
And FYI—different seed attracts different birds. Click HERE for a comprehensive list of birds and their favorite seed.
Slowly, slowly, slowly remove the mixture from cookie cutter. A little may crumble away. That’s okay.
Let dry on wax or parchment paper for 4-6 hours.
Mist additional cooking oil around the inside of the cookie cutter each time before refilling. Depending upon the size and thickness of your cookie cutter, this recipe makes about six feeders. You’ll want to make them as quickly as possible because once the seed begins to dry out in the bowl, it becomes difficult to work with.
For nest building…
When the hearts are dry, wrap twine around each so that the heart is nestled securely inside the string. Then add a loop at the top for hanging. I added a bit of delta cotton from our last harvest in the center. If you don’t have cotton, add a little shredded newspaper. Birds love cotton and twine for nest building.
Confession: My first two attempts were Pinterest fails. Initially, I thought I’d poke a small hole at the top of the heart feeder and thread string for hanging. This caused the birdseed feeders to crumble. I placed the broken ones outside for the birds. They ate it immediately. (Wrapping the feeders with twine turned out to be the way to go.)
The moral of this birdseed project: don’t forget to feed your birds even if you only scatter seed on the snow covered lawn.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
[tweetthis]Don’t forget the birds in winter! @birdsunlimited #nature #howto #wildlife [/tweetthis]
Musical Pairing:
Winter Birds, Ray Lamontagne
Talya, I love this so much. My little grandson and I made one of those pine cone-n-peanut butter feeders last month…now we will try this one! I love that you included nesting material. ♥ Thank you for your sweet message of feed the birds! 🙂 PINNING!
Thank you Joy! I hope you and your grandson enjoy making these:)
This is so sweet and something the kiddos would love as well (to help with…not to eat!).
Yes Patti. Plus a great reminder for them to take care of the birds in winter.
I never knew that birds like cotton for nest building! That’s an ingenius way to help them out twice in one bird feeder (food and home-building essentials). Brilliant!
Thanks Sarah! I met a lady who grows a single stalk of cotton in her Fayetteville, Arkansas yard just so the birds can use the cotton for their nests:)
Very cool idea!! I will have to make one now!
Going right now to the kitchen to make this. AWESOME!!!
MADE!!! Will hang tomorrow. Love it! Thanks for recipe…my birds love you!
Yay Kim! I can’t wait to see it:))
Great project! I must try it. Staying in during this hard winter has brought out the crafter in me, too. I’ve been making a Valentine box (remember those?) and started on an altered book that your instructions on the book inspired.
So funny you mention Valentine Boxes. I’m blogging about that tomorrow:))
You are so sweet to keep the birds in mind!
This looks like a great project to do with the kids and the birds would love it too. We still have plenty of birds flying around our neck of the woods. I just love watching birds. It’s so soothing and peaceful.
I love feeding the birds especially in the winter. We have had so much ice here in N.E. AR that I had to buy bulk. These little heart shaped ones are very cute and I will try this. I always sing “Feed the Birds” from the Mary Poppins movie every time I feed the birds.
Thanks Angie! I hope your birds enjoy this. Love that song:)
Hello,
I hope you and your grandson enjoy making these:)
Now, I know what to do with the cotton from pill bottles saved in a drawe
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