Even before my children were born, I have tried to encourage wildlife to visit our property.
This has been either through a bird bath, planting butterfly or bee friendly plants, or adding birdseed to either a store bought or upcycled bird feeder.
After doing a little research at the Humane Society of America website, I read that it is perfectly acceptable to motivate birds to visit your yard.
They suggest in the cooler weather months to offer millet, peanuts, peanut butter, and suet cakes. This idea of course helped inspire a craft with my family, and we created a Birdseed Wreath.
If you would like to recreate this activity with your family, you will need the following:
Sturdy Paper Plate (We used a red one)
Red Yarn
Hole Punch
Safety Scissors
Spoon
Birdseed
Peanut Butter
Directions:
To get started, first have your child fold the paper plate in half and cut out the middle section to form a wreath shape.
Then take a hole punch and create about 20 holes along the center of the ring.
Next, cut enough yarn to weave through the holes and tie it off at the end so the wreath can be hung.
Then, have your child spread peanut butter over the white side of the plate with a spoon.
Once covered with a thin layer, spread birdseed over the top and pat into the peanut butter with the back of the spoon.
This Birdseed Wreath is then ready to hang up, and I suggest finding a bush or tree with lots of limbs where you typically see birds.
Use the yarn to support the weight of it and also place the center of the wreath over a branch to help prop it up.
If there is any doubt in whether or not the birds have found it, you will know because they will consume the seed rather quickly. Since this is so simple to put together, you can easily create another one to replace it.
After my family finished this activity, my oldest son told me that this has been one of his favorite crafts thus far. Personally I think this opinion was formed due to the kids licking the peanut butter off their hands as they made the wreaths. Tip: Consider heading outside enjoy the cooler weather as well as making cleanup easier for this craft.
I hope your family will get just as much enjoyment from making this Birdseed Wreath as mine did!
Carlee @FLL
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