Attracting birds to your yard is one of the best ways to help your kids feel connected to the natural world. DIY bird feeders are easy to make! 

All birds need a steady supply of food throughout the day to keep warm and fuel their flying. Birds eat different amounts depending on their size: Hunting birds eat less than chickadees, for example, who can eat 35 percent of their weight in seeds!

Build one of these easy bird feeders for Earth Day, and watch your children get excited about helping our feathered friends.

Easter Egg Bird Feeder

After your Easter egg hunt, repurpose those colorful plastic shells filled with candy into molds for bird feeders. You’ll need gelatin, seeds, an egg carton and patience to let them dry overnight but will be rewarded with egg-shaped feeders that are perfect for pecking. Get the Directions

Bagel Bird Feeder

Ordered a dozen bagels for a weekend treat and have some left over? Instead of freezing all of them, save a couple and make several bird feeders. With peanut butter, twine, and a coating of seeds, you’ll attract hungry birds and save some money, too. Get the Directions

Pinecone Bird Feeder 

Whether you collect them from your yard or order crafting pinecones, this classic pinecone feeder is coated in peanut butter and birdseed to attract our feathered friends. The more peanut butter you add, the more birds you can feed! Get the Directions

Ice Cube Bird Feeder

Though they won’t last long in the summer months, this ice-cube bird feeder is a low waste way to attract birds to your yard. Fill an ice cube tray with water, cranberries, and birdseed, or create ice doughnuts using a small bowl and glass. When you hang the feeder outside, the water will melt and scatter the seeds for hungry birds. Get the Directions

Soda Bottle Bird Feeder

Made with two spoons, an empty two-liter soda bottle and a bag of birdseed, this feeder can accommodate a large amount of birdseed, great for areas with lots of birds (or families who like to refill their feeders less often). Get the Directions

Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder

A great reason to start a stash of popsicle sticks after you finish dessert (you can also purchase ones that are pre-colored if you’d rather not color them in yourself), this cheery, rainbow-colored feeder can be hung with twine and filled with seeds for a highly visible perch. Get the Directions

Teacup Bird Feeder

This stylish feeder is a great way to repurpose a thrift store teacup and saucer, or ones you no longer use. By affixing the cup to the saucer with some glue, you can create a Victorian-looking feeder that looks great near a kitchen window or breakfast nook. Get the Directions

Orange Peel Bird Feeder

The next time you make fresh juice, save the orange peels to add a splash of color to your homemade bird feeder. Fill them with peanuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, sesame sticks, and corn kernels for a snack that’s perfect for hungry birds and squirrels. Get the Directions   

Hummingbird Bird Feeder

One of the world’s smallest birds, hummingbirds need to eat every 10-15 minutes to fuel their wing-flapping (which is 90 beats per second!) The next time you finish a bottle of wine, save it and fill it with sugar water for a beautiful DIY hummingbird feeder that can last for several days. Get the Directions