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Outdoor activity

Toilet Roll Bird Feeder

Help your local garden birds by making a quick and easy eco-friendly bird feeder from a cardboard tube!

Ages 3-12 0-1 hours Education 7/10

Materials

  • Birdseed
  • Cardboard Tubes
  • Peanut Butter
  • Spoon
  • String

Illustrated Steps

1

Prep the Tube

Poke two holes in the top of the cardboard tube and thread a loop of string through them.

2

Spread the 'Glue'

Use a spoon to spread a thick, sticky layer of peanut butter all over the outside of the tube.

3

Roll in the Seeds

Roll the sticky tube in a tray of birdseed until it is completely covered.

4

Hang and Observe

Hang your feeder on a branch and wait quietly to see which birds come to visit!

What You’ll Create

Be a friend to the birds in your garden! 🐦 You will turn an ordinary Cardboard Tube into a tasty feast for local wildlife. By coating the tube in sticky Peanut Butter and rolling it in nutritious Birdseed, you’ll create a simple, effective feeder that you can hang up and watch your feathery friends enjoy.

How to Set It Up

Step 1: Prep the Tube

Take your Cardboard Tube and poke two small holes near the top, opposite each other. Thread a piece of String through the holes and tie it in a loop so you can hang your feeder up later.

Step 2: Spread the ‘Glue’

Using a Spoon or a butter knife, spread a thick layer of Peanut Butter all over the outside of the tube. Try to cover as much of the cardboard as you can — the stickier the better!

Step 3: Roll in the Seeds

Pour a pile of Birdseed onto a flat plate or tray. Place your peanut-butter-covered tube onto the seeds and roll it back and forth until the entire tube is coated in a thick layer of seeds.

Step 4: Hang and Observe

Take your feeder outside and find a sturdy branch or a hook. Hang it up somewhere safe from cats but where you can see it from a window. Now, wait quietly and see who comes to visit for a snack!

Have fun!

  • 📝 Keep a ‘Bird Watcher’s Journal’ and draw pictures of the different birds that visit your feeder.
  • 🌻 Try using different types of seeds to see which ones the birds like best.
  • 🦅 Use a Magnifying Glass or binoculars to get a closer look at the birds as they eat.
  • ❄️ This is a great activity for winter when birds find it harder to find natural food!

Why It’s Amazing

  • Wildlife Awareness: Helps children develop an interest in local nature and understanding the needs of wild animals. 🌳
  • Fine Motor Skills: Spreading the peanut butter and threading the string requires focus and hand control. 🖐️
  • Patience: Encourages quiet observation and waiting for the birds to arrive. 🧘
  • Eco-Friendly: Reuses household recycling to benefit the environment. ♻️

Pro Tips

For ages 3-5: Have them help with the seed rolling — it’s a great tactile experience! If there’s a nut allergy in the house, use lard, honey, or a nut-free spread instead.

For ages 5-8: Challenge them to identify the birds that visit using a bird book or an app.

For ages 8-12: Try making multiple feeders and placing them in different parts of the garden to see if certain locations are more popular than others.