Why did the bird fly south for the winter? Because it was too far to walk.
As our weather gets chillier, many birds have already started to fly south for the winter. This is called migration. But why do birds fly south?
At the same time some birds who live further north in the summer will fly into to your region to spend their winter. If it is very cold where you live, it is important that birds can still get fresh water and food. I always make sure that I have seeds and other treats for the birds that visit my back yard.
As November is National Peanut Butter Lover's Month, we will give the birds a special treat and use it to make some snacks for them.
One of the birds I see out my window is the blue jay. If you feed them, they will become quite demanding and screech for more if the feeder is empty. One friendly blue jay positions itself on the tree right outside our kitchen window as we sit down for supper and makes a lot of noise. I don't mind because that flash of beautiful blue feathers is a welcome sight during the cold winter months.
Here are three easy bird feeders to make.
Bird Feeder #1
Supplies:
- Aluminium Pie plate
- String
- Hole punch
Directions:
- Punch 4 holes space evenly around the pie plate with the punch or
- any pointy object.
- Tie a piece of string that is about 12 inches or 25 cm. long to each
- hole.
- Pull all four strings up and tie into one big knot.
- Hang in a tree.
Bird Feeder #2
Supplies:
- Pine cone
- String
- Peanut butter and bird seed
Directions:
- Tie a string around the wide end of a pine cone.
- Cover the pine cone with peanut butter and roll in birdseeds.
- Hang in a tree.
Bird Feeder #3
Supplies:
- 2 litre or 1 quart wax milk carton
- Scissors
- String
Directions:
- Cut windows that measure about 2 inches or 5 cm. square with the
- scissors on two sides of the milk carton. Leave a 2 inch or 5 cm. tray in
- the bottom for the bird seed.
- Poke a small hole near the top of the carton and thread a string
- through the hole.
- Fill the bottom with sunflower seeds.
- Hang in a tree
Make sure you hang the birdfeeders on a branch where cats cannot sneak up on the birds while they are eating.
Recipe for a Yummy Bird Sandwich
In a microwavable bowl melt some peanut butter for about 20 seconds. Spread the gooey peanut butter on a slice of stale bread and roll the bread in some bird seeds. Place in the aluminium pie place bird feeder.
[Photograph by Linda Dunbar. Reproduction prohibited]
