February At-Home Kit: Feeding & Finding Birds

2/17/2022

We're so glad you've decided to join in the fun! Over the next three months, you'll be exploring 4-H at home projects. 4-H is all about learning by doing and having fun helping others, so get ready to do just that.

If you've signed up for the project, you will have received an email with details on pick up. Email klschaberg2@alaska.edu if you think you signed up but didn't get the details!

Instructions are included in your kit. If you lose your instructions or want to play along with us on your own, a copy can be found here.

Below, we offer some helpful tidbits and resources for you while you work on your project.

First, decide which bird feeder you'd like to make.

You have supplies needed for two complete bird feeders, and directions for a third kind of feeder, but for that one you'll need to provide your own up-cycled water bottle. You likely only have enough bird seed to fill up two of your feeders just once...after that you'll have to get your own! So take a look at the directions, watch the videos, and decide which two you'd like to complete.

Option 1 : Pine Cone Feeder - Easiest

This one is a slam-dunk, guaranteed to feed, easy to make type of bird feeder!! Let's get started!

Option 2: Egg Carton Feeder

This one is a test! It's pretty easy to make, but I'm not POSITIVE the birds will like it. Let's test it out together!

Option 3: Water Bottle Feeder - Hardest

For a challenge, try this one out!!! The directions you got only use one perch, but that should be the only way it's different. Can't wait to see your bird feeders!

Now for the fun part: watching and identifying the birds that visit!

If you lost the copy that came with your kit, or you need another page, click on the photo below to download your copy of the bird feeder observation log.

A great resource for identifying birds at your feeder would be Rich MacIntosh’s guide to feeder birds.

Notice the birds in the photo below aren't necessarily all bird feeder birds, just ones you might see out and about!

Need some hands-on help identifying what birds you're seeing? Katie Wallace, Kodiak birder and elementary school teacher put together a series of amazing videos to show off some of Kodiak's birds! Check out the links below by clicking on the buttons below Katie's photo...they're amazing and Katie's love of birds is contagious!!