Here at the zoo we are celebrating National Bird Feeding Month
with bird friendly children’s activities. Follow the instructions listed below
to build a backyard bird “tweeder” with a recycled soda bottle or steal some of
your mom’s favorite ribbon to create a festive bird “tweet”.
Backyard Bird Feeder
Materials
·
Clean 1-liter soda bottle
·
Craft knife
·
2 wooden spoons
·
Small eye screw
·
Length of twine for hanging
Directions
1.
Start by drawing a 1/2-inch asterisk on the side of a
clean 1-liter soda bottle, about 4 inches from the bottom.
2.
Rotate the bottle 90 degrees and draw another asterisk 2 inches from the bottom.
3.
Draw a 1-inch-wide circle opposite each asterisk, as
shown.
4.
Use a craft knife to slit the asterisk lines and cut out
the circles (a parent's job).
5.
Insert a wooden spoon handle first through each hole
and then through the opposite asterisk, as shown.
6.
Remove the bottle cap and twist a small eye screw into
the top of it for hanging.
7.
Finally, fill your feeder with birdseed, recap it, and
use a length of twine to hang it from a tree.
"Tweet" Treats
Materials
- 1/4-ounce package of
unflavored gelatin
- 2 cups of your
favorite wild birdseed
- Three 4-inch mini
bundt or fluted pans
- Colorful ribbon
Directions
1. To
make a batch, bring 6 tablespoons of water to a boil. Empty one 1/4-ounce
package of unflavored gelatin into 2 tablespoons of cold water in a large bowl.
2. Let
the gelatin sit for 1 minute, then add the boiling water and stir for 2 to 3
minutes or until the gelatin has dissolved.
3.
Next, stir 2 cups of your favorite wild birdseed into
the gelatin, mixing thoroughly.
4.
Let the mixture set for a few minutes, then stir again.
Repeat this process a few times, if necessary, allowing the seed to absorb the
liquid.
5.
Spoon the seed mixture into three 4-inch mini bundt or
fluted pans
6.
Place the pans in the refrigerator or a cool room and
let them set for at least 3 hours.
7.
Remove the wreaths from the molds by inverting the pans
and tapping along the bottoms.
8.
Allow the wreaths to air-dry overnight.
9.
Finally, tie colorful ribbon around your wreaths and
hang them outside in a protected spot, such as under an awning or eaves, where
the rain won't melt them.
Send
photos of your completed project to
kwhite@cmzoo.org,
for a chance to be highlighted on Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Facebook page.
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