How To Make a Bird Feeder for The Big Garden Birdwatch.

This weekend – 25th to 26th January – sees a huge survey of birds with the Big Garden Birdwatch organised by the RSPB and we have decided to take part. It is the worlds largest wildlife survey and we joined up a couple of weeks ago when I saw A Family Day Out post some great things to do with your kids in January.

In order to take part, all you need to do is spend an hour of your choice over this weekend watching birds in your garden. Simples! Plus you can record any other wildlife you see as well.  Because we signed up in time we were sent a chart through the post in order to record our findings but you can put your results online (although I know that the RSPB website crashed today through sheer volume of traffic!).

So, there is still time to make yourself a feeder, get your bird food sorted and out in the garden in order to attract a couple of flocks! This is what you need for the feeder:

• Empty plastic bottle such as a milk carton
• Pair of scissors
• Old ribbon or piece of string

Firstly, we unscrewed the lid and pierced a hole then threaded the ribbon through and tied a couple of knots. We put the lid back on and carefully cut a panel out of the bottom part of the bottle to allow access to the food.

This is what you need for the food:

• Packets of seeds, nuts, mixed fruit and nuts (we had some left from Christmas in our cupboard
• Lard

Simply melt the lard in a pan and stir in all the mixed nuts, then spoon the mixture into the feeder through the whole you have cut out. Put the bottle on its side in a bowl (to prevent any mess) and then place it in the fridge for the lard to set for around an hour. Once set then hang the bottle in the garden ready for the birds to enjoy!

We are looking forward to carrying out our survey tomorrow. The RSPB site gives plenty of advice but we have had a look through and understand that the following birds like the hanging feeders:

• Blue Tit
• Long Tailed Tit
• Great Tit

Whilst these birds like food scattered on the ground:

• Collared Dove
• Blackbird
• Dunnock
• Wren

And the following are feed anywhere birds

• Blackcap
• House Sparrow
• Bullfinch
• Goldfinch
• Greenfinch
• Starling
• Robin
• Siskin

We are looking forward to seeing at least some of these in the morning!

Are you taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch? What did you see?

Please note that this is not a sponsored post, nor did I receive any money to write it! It just interests me 🙂