Single-use plastic items are a particular environmental problem. They are used once and thrown away, but last forever in our environment. We can all ‘do our bit’ to reduce our impact on the environment by reducing the number of single use items we buy, or by trying to upcycle items! This bottle bird feeder is a great way to help our feathered friends as well as a great way to upcycle an old plastic bottle. This is just one idea – can you think of any other ways of upcycling old plastic?

It’s important to feed birds throughout the year including spring and summer, when seeds, insects and fruits play an important role for birds who are rearing chicks, but avoid offering whole, loose peanuts during nesting time as these may choke baby birds.

Once you have hung up your feeder, check out the garden birds activity to find some birdwatching tips, plus some downloadable bird identification sheets to help you identify your visitors!

What you will need:

• An empty, clean plastic bottle with a lid
• A drawing pin
• A pair of scissors
• Two small sticks approximately 12 – 14cm in length (for example, an ice lolly stick or sticks from the garden)
• A piece of string
• Some bird seed

How to make your bottle bird feeder:

1. Use a drawing pin to make two holes on opposite sides of your bottle at the same height.
2. Using scissors, carefully widen the holes until they are just smaller than the width of your sticks.
3. Push one of your sticks through both holes to form your first perch for the birds.
4. Make two more holes in the same way, but higher up the bottle, so that they are at 90 degrees from your first set of holes.
5. When you insert your second stick, it should form a cross-shape when looked at from below.
6. Use your drawing pin and scissors to make some small drainage holes in the bottom of your bottle.
7. About 4cm above each perch, use your drawing pin to make a hole and widen it using the scissors (these will be the feeding holes).
8. At the neck of the bottle, make two holes opposite each other and thread through your string and tie a knot.
9. Pour your bird seed into the bottle, screw on your lid and hang up your bird feeder!

Share a photo of your bird feeder using #DiscoverLearnPlay