This winter bird feeder is perfect to put outdoors when the cold temperatures arrive. They blend in perfectly with nature and are completely biodegradable! These frozen bird feeders are so fun to make and hang around the yard!
I had this fun idea to make icy bird feeders, but wanted to make sure it was safe for birds to land on and eat from in cold temperatures.
So I did a little research and came across this fun fact! According to Bird Note, “Birds have a miraculous adaptation that keeps their feet from freezing. They have a netlike pattern of arteries that interweaves blood from a bird’s heart with the veins carrying cold blood from its feet and legs. The system cools the blood so the little blood that goes down to the feet is already cold, so the birds don’t lose much heat. The small amount that goes to the feet is likely just enough to keep the feet from freezing.” Pretty cool, right?!
Ready to make a winter bird feeder or two?! Here’s what you’ll need–
Supplies:
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- Tin cans- 2 sizes. I used tin cans that are smaller than the typical soup size because I wanted to make sure the bird feeder was light enough to hang from our trees. If you can’t find small tin cans, you can always just set the bird feeders on the ground! I also suggest finding tin cans that don’t have the pull tab openings. They leave a lip at the top of the can, making it difficult to wiggle to frozen bird feeder from the mold.
- Water
- Stones
- Tape
- Biodegradable twine
- Cranberries, oranges, or juniper berries- Birds can peck at the fruit as well!
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Related: Check out How to Make Ice Lanterns
Here’s How We Made this Winter Bird Feeder:
Step 1:
Fill up your larger can, a little less than half way with water. If you add too much, just pour some out!
Step 2:
Fill the smaller can with stones and place it in the center of the larger can. Tape the cans to anchor the smaller can in the center of the larger can. Make sure the smaller can isn’t tipping to one side or your lantern will have one very thin side.
Step 3:
Place your fruity pieces of bird food in the section filled with water. Try orange slices, cranberries, or juniper berries! At this point, place the piece of twine in the water filled section as well. Make sure the twine extends to at least half way down the tin can so it doesn’t become loose when you remove the frozen bird feeder from the tin cans.
Step 4:
Place your bird feeders in the freezer or outside if it’s cold enough.
Step 5:
Once your ice bird feeders are frozen, peel the tape off and take the stones out of the smaller can. Gently run warm water around the larger can and fill the smaller can with warm water as well. Melt just enough of the ice to wiggle the cans free from the bird feeder. Don’t let the warm water sit too long or it might melt too much of the bird feeder.
Place some bird seed in the middle and you are all finished!
We enjoyed walking around our yard and finding different spots to hang our bird feeders. We hung them in different trees and placed a couple on a table near our window so we could watch the birds from indoors!
The looked beautiful everywhere that we put them!
Pin it and save it for later!
I hope you try making a winter bird feeder! I promise, your little nature lovers will love it as much as my boys.
∼Tara
Need more simple nature ideas?! Check out:
DIY Pebble Art for Kids
DIY Bowls Made of Beeswax
