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Pearl helps the animals by building feeders. What else can we do to help animals?

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Pearl is very clever when she builds things.  Are you clever?  Do you ever build things?

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Do you ever watch birds?  Do you see different kinds of birds when you go outside?

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What things do you see in nature that amazes you?

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How did Pearl's feelings about the squirrel change?

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We hope you enjoyed the book Girls vs Squirrel.  Here were some of our favorite parts:

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This handy link will show you what kinds of bird eat each kind of seed.

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We've put together a list of almost 100 common feeder birds and cross referenced what they like to eat and where they like to eat it. Explore your region to see what you might be able to attract to your feeder this winter!

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Five Rivers MetroParks did a series of videos with think tv to create a virtual winter camp.

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Even when it's cold outside, you can still stay connected with nature! This virtual winter camp experience features learning themes focused on the season of winter. Ava, the enthusiastic camp counselor, leads campers through fun explorations of the wonders of the winter through videos, games and at home activities.

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This can be placed in your classroom near the window.

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Sometimes even when we don't see birds, we can hear their songs. Merlin is a fantastic app that can help you identify birds and their songs.

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Merlin Bird ID - Free, instant bird identification help and guide for thousands of birds

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Bird ID Wizard-Step-by-step

Answer three simple questions about a bird you are trying to identify and Merlin will give you a list of possible matches. Merlin offers quick identification help for all levels of bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to help you learn about the birds in any country in the world.

Identify Bird Songs and Calls

Sound ID listens to the birds around you and shows real-time suggestions for who's singing. Compare your recording to the songs and calls in Merlin to confirm what you heard. Sound ID works completely offline, so you can identify birds you hear no matter where you are.

Available for birds in the US, Canada, Europe, with some common birds of Central and South America, and India. More species and regions coming soon.

Identify Birds in a Photo

Snap a photo of a bird, or pull one in from your camera roll, and Photo ID will offer a short list of possible matches. Photo ID works completely offline, so you can identify birds in the photos you take no matter where you are.

Save Birds to Your Life List

Build a digital scrapbook of your birding memories with Save My Bird. Tap "This is my bird!" each time you identify a bird, and Merlin will add it to your growing life list.

Explore Lists of Birds Near You

Merlin is powered by eBird, allowing you to build custom lists of the birds you're likely to spot wherever you are. Use the filter options to explore birds for different locations or time of year, or switch to show all the species in the Bird Packs you've downloaded. Get more from the app with these Merlin Tips and Tricks.

See How Merlin Can Help You ID Birds

The Best Birding App, Powered By You

Merlin features the best of community contributed photos, songs, and calls, tips from experts around the world to help you ID the birds you see, and range maps from Birds of the World-all powered by billions of bird observations submitted to eBird.

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Bird ID Wizard-Step-by-step Answer three simple questions about a bird you are trying to identify and Merlin will give you a list of possible matches. Merlin offers quick identification help for all levels of bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to help you learn about the birds in any country i

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Fruit and Jelly can be used in the spring time to attract orioles.  Orioles can be difficult to attract and may take longer to find your feeders.

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Orioles don't eat birdseed. Experts give tips on feeding orioles. Learn what foods orioles eat, and find the best oriole feeders to attract these birds.

Among the most sought-after backyard birds, Baltimore orioles, orchard orioles, and Bullock's orioles boast bright orange and black coloration and build interesting gourd-shaped nests at the end of tree branches. Some folks seem to have plenty of luck attracting orioles to their backyard feeders, while others struggle year after year to bring these elusive flyers in. Learn what foods orioles eat and the best tips for feeding orioles.

What Foods Do Orioles Eat?

Orioles don't eat seeds and won't visit a traditional bird feeder. A Baltimore oriole's diet consists of fruit, nectar, and insects. David Musumeche of Backyard Chirper says, "the perfect oriole feeder station should be able to offer fruit, a sugar water solution holder, containers for mealworms, and containers for offering jellies...Your feeding station should be about seven feet off of the ground."

Here's how to build your own DIY oriole feeders.

Feed Grape Jelly to Orioles

Orioles love sweet sugary treats in spring, as they finish their long migrations. Grape jelly and fruit are high-energy foods that give them the boost they need to sustain their travels. When feeding orioles, most backyard birders swear by offering grape jelly.

As a best practice, offer up grape jelly that doesn't contain artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors. You can buy a special jelly feeder, but any shallow container will work. Birds & Blooms reader LuAnn Crim says, "You can feed orioles grape jelly in small tuna-sized cans or Miracle Whip lids. Just fasten the container DOWN, or they'll knock it right to the ground."

EXPERT TIP: You can mix the grape jelly with water to make it stretch a bit farther. Combine one part grape jelly to one part water in your blender and mix until it has the consistency of thick juice.

How Do Orioles Find Feeders?

Courtesy Nancy Schanda

Baltimore orioles came to my feeder (above) within minutes of setting it up. How did they find it so quickly? asks Birds & Blooms reader Nancy Schanda.

Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman write, "We are often surprised at how rapidly birds show up when feeders are put out for the first time. Many kinds of birds seem to have developed an image in their minds of what certain types of feeders look like, and they recognize them even at a distance. In the case of your oriole visitors, they probably were somewhere nearby, even if you hadn't seen them-they can be very inconspicuous among the foliage of trees-so it didn't take them long to notice the feeders. Wild birds in general are highly observant of changes in their surroundings, especially those that involve potential food sources."

How to Choose an Oriole Feeder

Orange halves and slices are a favorite oriole treat. Most oriole feeders include a way to offer oranges to orioles. Some people find that orioles don't feed from them, but most having the color orange on your feeder will help to attract these birds. Reader Diane B. notes, "Make sure your feeder has an orange color on it. I usually make sure the roof is orange so they see it as they fly over."

Cottage Oriole Feeder

Give birds a home-away-from-home feeling as they gobble up jelly while being sheltered. Purchase multiple cottage oriole feeders to re-create this setup.

Birdie Fruit Feeder

Invite a flock of orioles to stop by for a bite when you hang up this multipronged fruit feeder. Learn about the 8 types of orioles in North America.

Oriole Flower Feeder

Orioles can enjoy oranges and jelly on this beautiful feeder. We love the glittery orange heart at the top and the flower petal perches! Check out 8 surprising Baltimore oriole facts.

Clementine Oriole Feeder

Provide two feeding opportunities at once with this circular feeder that holds jelly (or mealworms, if you prefer) and oranges. It even looks like an orange slice! Learn how to identify orchard orioles.

Ultimate Oriole Feeder

Offer the entire menu of orioles' favorite foods in one bird feeder-oranges, jelly and sugar-water! Discover how orioles weave elaborate nests.

Copper Vine Double Orange Feeder

This spiral-shaped copper wire orange holder will attract the birds and look attractive in your yard. When will Baltimore orioles arrive in spring?

Flower Jelly Feeder

This beautiful oriole feeder looks like a big blooming flower. Just spoon some jelly into the glass bowl and watch the orioles flock to the feast. Check out 10 birds that look like orioles.

Copper Umbrella Oriole Feeder

You'll feel like Mary Poppins feeding the birds with this adorable umbrella shaped feeder. Fill it with jelly, mealworms, suet nuggets or other treats, and hook orange halves in the spiral hooks. The dome provides shade and protection to keep food fresher. Psst-orioles can't resist this oriole nectar recipe.

Perky-Pet Top-Fill Glass Oriole Feeder

Hummingbirds aren't the only birds that like to drink sugar-water. This feeder is designed just for orioles, with larger perches and orange accents to catch their eye. As a bonus, this oriole feeder also includes a jelly cup and an orange spike. And it's easy to fill and clean. Next, learn how to identify Bullock's orioles.

Do Orioles Use Hummingbird Feeders?

Orioles visit my hummingbird feeders and make a real mess. How can I get them to use the oriole feeder instead? asks Bonnie Ramsburg of Grantsville, Maryland.

Kenn and Kimberly: We've yet to find an oriole feeder that orioles prefer to hummingbird feeders. We didn't want to give up feeding both kinds of birds, so we found another approach. To avoid having all of our precious sugar water dumped on the ground by marauding orioles, we simply bought the type of hummingbird feeder that comes with a large glass bottle for the sugar water. This glass reservoir will hold nearly 4 cups of nectar, and the heft of it-no matter how much you fill it-is enough to keep the feeder hanging evenly under the weight of the hungriest oriole!

How to Keep Ants Away From Oriole Feeders

Set orange halves in a shallow dish of water to discourage ants. Change out your orange halves every day. They dry out quickly and can grow mold, which is harmful to birds.

Here's how to use an ant moat for your hummingbird feeders.

How to Make Oriole Food

Orioles like the same sugar water your hummingbirds do, with the same ratio of sugar to water. Combine four parts hot water to one part sugar, and mix until the sugar is dissolved. Also try this special oriole nectar recipe.

Orioles will visit hummingbird feeders with built-in perches. They can't hover like hummers do, so they need a place to land and drink. They are attracted to the color orange, so specific feeders have been designed to meet their needs.

EXPERT TIP: You can buy nectar feeders made just for orioles, but as long as your hummingbird feeder offers perches around the edge, there's no need for separate feeders unless one species starts chasing off the other.

Feed Orioles Mealworms in Summer

Once nesting season begins, orioles change their food source to insects, which provide more protein and nutritional value. Orioles love caterpillars in the wild. You can begin feeding orioles mealworms as an alternative in your own backyard, presented in an open dish.

EXPERT TIP: Use your oriole feeder's grape jelly dish to offer mealworms once nesting season begins.

Psst-here's how to identify baby orioles and juvenile orioles.

Do Orioles Eat Suet?

Orioles may also visit suet feeders during nesting season. And some backyard birders in southern states report seeing orioles on their suet feeders in winter. Try these orange flavored suet cakes. But generally, you'll have more luck feeding orioles with oranges, sugar water and jelly.

Start Feeding Orioles Early and Don't Give Up

Probably the most important tip for feeding orioles in your yard is timing. Experts and amateurs alike note that it's vital to have your oriole feeders out at least several weeks before you expect orioles in your area. If the birds don't spot the feeders as soon as they arrive in the spring, they're unlikely to start using them later. Birding expert Anne Schmauss notes that if you don't catch orioles when they first begin arriving, you may not attract them at all that year. She also points out that it can take several years for orioles to begin visiting your yard, so patience is also key. Here's the oriole species that birders should look for.

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How to Feed Orioles: What Do Orioles Eat?

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Orioles don't eat birdseed. Experts give tips on feeding orioles. Learn what foods orioles eat, and find the best oriole feeders to attract these birds. Among the most sought-after backyard birds, Baltimore orioles, orchard orioles, and Bullock's orioles boast bright orange and black coloration and build interesting gourd-shaped nests at the end of tree branches.

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Mixed bird seed attracts mourning doves.  Mourning doves like feeding on platforms and the ground.

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It is currently advised against using mixed seeds in the summer.  Mixed seed can be an attracter for the brown headed cow bird.  The brown headed cow bird is traditionally from the west but has recently moved in to the east.  It is a parasitic nester, meaning that they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and trick them into raising their young. Birds in the east have not adapted to recognize their eggs as the birds in the west have.  The young cowbirds will take up all of the resources provided by the parents, leaving the native baby birds to starve.

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Video by Five Rivers MetroParks on Basic Backyard Birding

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Video by Five Rivers MetroParks on Basic Backyard Birding

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Black oil sunflower seeds are very versatile and will be eaten by a wide variety of seed eating birds including cardinals, blue jays, tufted titmice, and mourning doves.  This is the type Five Rivers Metroparks fills our feeders with.

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Green Works. All opinions are 100% mine.

My high school biology teacher was a nature lover, and throughout the year we would tell us how important it was to leave the edges of our property undeveloped to provide habitat for wildlife. As a 16 year old I thought the guy was crazy, and I didn't own any property so I used all of the "habitat talk" to write notes to my friends.

Now as an adult, who owns property which the deer use as a smorgasbord I see his point. We don't have much "habitat" space on our little lot, so the deer chomp on my tulips and anything else they think look good. The deer are unwelcome guests, but I can provide things to attract animals I want to my back yard. Last week the kids and I made butterfly houses and this week we repurposed an empty water bottle into a hummingbird feeder instead of tossing it.

Hummingbird Feeder
To make your own hummingbird feeder you'll need:

Water bottle

Straws

Scissors

Hot Glue Gun

Red and Yellow foam

Green Works Wipes

Bakers twine

Step 1.

Trace and cut flowers out of the foam.

Step 2.

Poke holes into the water bottle. Cut straws and glue with hot glue gun on the holes.

Step 3.

Glue flowers over the straws.

Step 4:

Tie bakers twine around the bottle to hang with.

Step 4:

Make hummingbird nectar by adding 1/2 c. sugar to 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Let cool and then pour into the feeder. Tie feeder in a tree and water as hummingbirds gather around.

Use Green Works wipes to clean up any spills of the sticky nectar. The best part is you can toss them in the compost bin after you're done, because they are compostable! You can find them in the cleaning products aisle and save 20% at Target using Cartwheel.

For more fun kids outdoor crafts see:

Nature Explorer Journal

For more Nature ideas check this out!
Bird Feeders from Eighteen25 Kid Painted Garden Markers

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Green Works. All opinions are 100% mine. My high school biology teacher was a nature lover, and throughout the year we would tell us how important it was to leave the edges of our property undeveloped to provide habitat for wildlife.

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Humming birds like sugar water. You can make sugar water by mixing 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Some people add red dye to this mixture to attract the humming birds, but this can be bad for them. This needs to be put in a special feeder

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Niger is a thistle like seed that will attract gold finches and other seed eating birds with small beaks.  This is traditionally placed in a tube feeder.

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Suet feeders are excellent for attracting wood peckers and other insect eating birds.

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How to Make a Suet Bird Feeder - Today’s Homeowner

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When the weather is cold, many birds rely on fat to help them survive freezing temperatures. A bird feeder made of suet or other fat is a great way to help out the birds during the winter, and it’s an easy and fun project to tackle on a cold winter’s day. With supervision, this can be a great projec…

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It is a well known fact among birders that different feed attracts different types of birds. Don't let all of this information overwhelm you though!  Start out with one or two types of seed and feeder.  Black oil sunflower seed is a great choice as it will attract many different types of bird.

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These bird related episodes on think tv have been made in partnership with Five Rivers MetroParks.

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CET/ThinkTV Education | Looking for Birds | Season 9 | PBS

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Learn how to find and watch birds in the wintertime.

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CET/ThinkTV Education
Come learn how to bird-watch during the winter with our Dayton Metroparks crew. They teach us how to stay warm and identify those special birds we can only find during the wintertime.

Aired: 12/12/22

Rating: NR

Problems Playing Video? Report a Problem |

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CET/ThinkTV Education | Bird Watching in Winter | Season 9 | PBS

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CET/ThinkTV Education Come learn how to bird-watch during the winter with our Dayton Metroparks crew. They teach us how to stay warm and identify those special birds we can only find during the wintertime. Aired: 12/12/22 Rating: NR Problems Playing Video? Report a Problem |

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CET/ThinkTV Education | Finding Birds in Winter | Season 9 | PBS

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Where do the birds go when it gets cold? Learn more about migration in this video!

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This episode of nature cat takes us into the forest.  It includes a bird watching trip with Five Rivers MetroParks naturalists Joshua and Erin. Skip to 10:55 for bird hike section.

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Forests are ecosystems that can be found almost everywhere. Today we are going to learn about ecosystems, take a walk in a forest, find a forest in a city, do nature crafts, and go mountain biking! We're so glad you joined us for another fun day at virtual camp!

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Have fun while helping your students make real world observations. You can do this verbally or on paper to make a class nature journal. Notes dates, weather, and what you saw.

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This can be printed and hung near the observation station or window.

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Pretending to be animals is a great way for kids to build empathy for wildlife.  This nest made out of a kiddie pool is a great addition for dramatic play.

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This spring dramatic play idea will surely spark some interest in the kids in your group as they learn about spring and the changes happening in the outdoors this time of year.

With just a few supplies, you can build a nest for your 'little birdies' and save it from year to year for more play.

You may want to consider brightening up the space around the nest by creating these flowers as a great wall decor idea.

If I were bettin' girl, I would say this dramatic play will find a secure place in your rotation of settings you create each season!

Supplies You Will Need: Preparation:

Cover the top and sides of the pool completely with packaging paper. TIP: Don't worry about wrapping in neatly. In fact, the more crinkled and crumpled it looks...the more it will resemble a bird nest!

Add some Easter grass and the other props listed above.

Go Time:

Allow the kids plenty of time to explore their new nest!

Explain that a birdie must get in and out of their nest very carefully as to not break it. This will be the home for their babies.

Plant a few books about birds near by so kids can explore what real birds would do in a nest like theirs.

Have packing tape near by to fix any tears in the packaging paper.

Our crew quickly began talking about what birds need to eat.

Worms?!

Oh dear no.

They opted for a feast of cantaloupe and canned corn.

Ha!

Does your interview process need improvement?

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How To Build a Bird Nest for Kids - The Empowered Provider

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This spring dramatic play idea will surely spark some interest in the kids in your group as they learn about spring and the changes happening in the outdoors this time of year. You may want to consider brightening up the space around the nest by creating these flowers as a great wall decor idea.

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watch the feeders and see what kind of animals you see.  you might see different birds or squirrels or something else entirely.

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Have kids make up, draw, and name a completely new type of bird.

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Nuthatches tend to walk facing downwards.

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The largest nuthatch, this is still a small bird with a large head and almost no neck. The tail is very short, and the long, narrow bill is straight or slightly upturned.

Relative Size

Larger than a Red-breasted Nuthatch; smaller than a Tufted Titmouse.

sparrow-sized or smaller

Measurements

Both Sexes

Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)

Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (18-30 g)

Wingspan: 7.9-10.6 in (20-27 cm)

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White-breasted Nuthatch Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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A common feeder bird with clean black, gray, and white markings, White-breasted Nuthatches are active, agile little birds with an appetite for insects and large, meaty seeds. They get their common name from their habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark, then whacking them with their sharp bill to "hatch" out the seed from the inside.

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This story gives us insight into the life of a squirrel.

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Sayre, April Pulley,Sayre, April Pulley,

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Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep — Dayton Metro Library

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Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep — Sayre, April Pulley, — “Squirrels wrestle. Squirrels leap. Squirrels climb. Squirrels sleep. If you followed a squirrel for a day, what would you see? Climbing branches, storing seeds, making homes in tree holes, and maybe even flying! [The creators of this bo…

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Make these binoculars like the ones Pearl from the story Girl vs Squirrel used for bird watching

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DIY Craft: How to Make Cardboard Binoculars for Kids

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Create a fun pair of paper binoculars using materials from around the house. Now your child is ready for a birding adventure!

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Are you seeing more birds or squirrels? Watching birds can be magical on its own, but a sheet like this can add some direction and help with observation and math skills

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Something like this can be a lot easier for young children than learning to identify specific types of birds.

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Why is it Important for Kids to go Birding?

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Why is it Important for Kids to go Birding?

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From building critical observation skills to connecting with nature, birding is an often overlooked but amazingly rewarding hobby. A year-round activity, birding is an excellent family activity that will bring rewards for years to come. Here are just a few of the many reasons to start your child on birding.
Birding helps kids tune in to nature
To find birds, you have to listen. You have to look, first for sudden movements, and then focus in on the bird to look for distinguishing marks, colors, behavior. In essence, you have to tune in to nature to be a birder. Tuning in to the sights, smells and sounds of nature is beneficial for your child from improving attention and focus abilities to sensory processing function. But it doesn't always come easily. Patience is key to a quality experience of tuning in to nature. And what child couldn't use a little more work at developing patience?
Build powers of observation and develops attention to details
There are about 10,500 species of birds in the world. Some are of course ubiquitous and easy to identify like a robin. But believe us, birding can be as much of a challenge as you make it. Many species look almost identical, perhaps a faint eyering distinguishes the species from other species. Characteristics like color, markings, size, shape, calls, songs, behaviors are all critical to bird ID. Even within a single species of bird, plumage will change depending on the season, sex and stage of development. The key-being a good observer and paying close attention to details, both in the field guide (or ID cards) and in nature.
Birding doesn't require lots of equipment
Forget expensive skis or mountain bikes. To go birding, a simple pair of binoculars and a decent reference book or card is all you need. As your child gets more interested and experienced, they might want to upgrade their binoculars or get a spotting scope.

Bird identification books, or field guides, list birds by region and help you tell ID birds with physical characteristics, calls, songs, maps of seasonal bird territory and preferred habitat. Peterson's Guides are considered the "bible" for many birders, though there are many excellent alternatives.

But even an ID book isn't critical initially as there are a host of websites and online resources such as this excellent online guide from Audubon with you need to know the birds in your area. Also, it's becoming more common for nature-friendly libraries to lend out bird watching kits with binoculars and bird guides so you might want to start there first!
Birds are always around us (& often taken for granted)
From your backyard to parks in Paris or salt flats in Chile, birds live there! Almost any habitat has a variety of birds. Birds are always around us, yet most kids (and adults) never "see" them. Sure, they might know a sparrow or a pigeon. But there are nearly 1000 species of birds in North America , 10,500 species of birds in the world. City dwellers don't get a free "clueless" pass. NYC claims nearly 400 species of birds. Central Park is a birding hotspot as it's a flyover zone for birds.
You can head out to see birds any season of the year
No matter where you are or what season, birds are probably right outside your door. E ven in the dead of winter, look outside and see wintering birds like cardinals, sparrows, starlings, juncos, depending on where you live. Birding is a year-round activity. You can head out to see warblers in the spring, head out to see hawk migration in the fall, owls in the winter, shorebirds in the summer, etc etc etc. A highlight of birding is, of course, Fall Migration and Spring Migration, events that move billions of migrants around North America alone. Experiencing migration with your kids can open up endless inquiries as it is truly fascinating. How do birds navigate to the same spot each year? How do small birds like hummingbirds make it across continents?
Birds are disappearing
These are critical times for birds. Not enough attention is given to the astounding fact that humans are decimating populations of birds due to the way we live on this planet. A new large-scale shows that bird populations in North America are undergoing massive and unsustainable declines. The populations of more than 75 percent of songbirds and other birds that rely on agricultural habitat in North America have significantly declined since 1966. The culprit: the world's most widely used insecticide.
Kids need to know what's in their backyard
When you know the species in your own backyard, or neighborhood park or forest, you're more likely to feel A a connection to nature. Yet, oddly, many American children know the animals of Africa, but not the birds in their neighborhood. study looking at children's attitudes toward local wildlife surveyed 2,759 children across North Carolina. Researchers observed that children thought more favorably of faraway charismatic species, such as pandas and cheetahs than local ones. Interestingly, researchers also looked at whether a child's attitudes regarding nature were influenced by where the child lived and found that all children, regardless of their neighborhood, were equally disconnected from local wildlife.

Birding is not easy but it is incredibly rewarding when you learn more species and know what you're looking at in nature. It's also crucial for the future of our earth. If we raise a generation of birders who care about the fate of birds, who appreciate their innate beauty and their rightful place on our planet, we might move toward being a more caring and careful society. But only if we can "see" the birds around us.

Ready to start? Check out our other birding pieces:

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Why Your Kids Need to Go Birding - Childhood By Nature

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Birding helps kids tune in to nature To find birds, you have to listen. You have to look, first for sudden movements, and then focus in on the bird to look for distinguishing marks, colors, behavior. In essence, you have to tune in to nature to be a birder.

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Chickadee can be recognized by thier distinctive black capped heads.

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Black-capped Chickadee Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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A bird almost universally considered "cute" thanks to its oversized round head, tiny body, and curiosity about everything, including humans. The chickadee's black cap and bib; white cheeks; gray back, wings, and tail; and whitish underside with buffy sides are distinctive.

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This bird has a call with an easy to learn mnemonic- peter peter peter.

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Tufted Titmouse Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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A little gray bird with an echoing voice, the Tufted Titmouse is common in eastern deciduous forests and a frequent visitor to feeders. The large black eyes, small, round bill, and brushy crest gives these birds a quiet but eager expression that matches the way they flit through canopies, hang from…

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This is probably Ohio's cutest wood pecker.  They are the most likely of the woodpeckers to visit a feeder.

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Downy Woodpecker Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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The active little Downy Woodpecker is a familiar sight at backyard feeders and in parks and woodlots, where it joins flocks of chickadees and nuthatches, barely outsizing them. An often acrobatic forager, this black-and-white woodpecker is at home on tiny branches or balancing on slender plant galls, sycamore seed balls, and suet feeders.

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This link has a more comprehensive list of common feeder birds in Ohio.

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Top 33 Backyard Birds In Ohio (Free ID Charts)

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Have you wondered what those birds are that are visiting your backyard in Ohio? Well, this guide will help you to find out how to identify these birds by sight and sound and what time of year you can spot them in Ohio.

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Mourning doves like to dine on flat surfaces. If you have a platform feeder of sprinkle seed straight on the ground, you may attract mourning doves. They have a distinctive call that is often confused for an owl.

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Mourning Dove Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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A graceful, slender-tailed, small-headed dove that's common across the continent. Mourning Doves perch on telephone wires and forage for seeds on the ground; their flight is fast and bullet straight. Their soft, drawn-out calls sound like laments. When taking off, their wings make a sharp whistling or whinnying.

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There are many different kinds of sparrows that live in our area.  They have adapted very well to today's urban environment.

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Song Sparrow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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A rich, russet-and-gray bird with bold streaks down its white chest, the Song Sparrow is one of the most familiar North American sparrows. Don't let the bewildering variety of regional differences this bird shows across North America deter you: it's one of the first species you should suspect if you see a streaky sparrow in an open, shrubby, or wet area.

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Hi all!  Welcome to our Padlet.  These activities are all made to accompany the book Girl vs Squirrel.  Girl Vs Squirrel is a delightful story that can be used to introduce children to squirrels, birdwatching, and empathy for the creatures around us- especially creatures we often see as "pests."

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This picture shows the female cardinal with her more muted colors. The bright red male cardinal is an easy bird for children to recognize because of his vibrant colors.

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Northern Cardinal Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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The male Northern Cardinal is perhaps responsible for getting more people to open up a field guide than any other bird. They're a perfect combination of familiarity, conspicuousness, and style: a shade of red you can't take your eyes off. Even the brown females sport a sharp crest and warm red accents.

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This list is a quick overview of some of the most common feeder birds we  see.  Click on the photos for more information.

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This is site us good if you want to set up multiple feeders to attract different birds.  You can make your own feeders that will attract these birds.  This may give you an idea of what kind of birds will be attracted to the feeders you make.

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What types of bird feeders do birds like? How do you choose a bird feeder that birds will like? What are the different kinds of bird feeders?
There are 7 major different kinds of bird feeders that attract different kinds of birds.

Finches and chickadees like tube feeders

Cardinals and grosbeaks like hopper feeders

Doves and sparrows like platform or tray feeders

Goldfinches and siskins like thistle or Niger feeders

Hummingbirds and orioles like nectar feeders

Orioles and tanagers like fruit feeders

Woodpeckers and nuthatches like suet feeders

Please continue reading to get a more detailed list of birds at each feeder type. Learn also the variations available for each style of bird feeder. Find out which bird feeders are best for the birds you want to attract.

1. Platform bird feeders

The platform or tray bird feeder is the simplest kind of bird feeder. It is basically one step up from spreading seed on the ground.

Platform bird feeders are open from the top allowing birds to choose whatever kind of seed or other bird food they wish to eat from whatever you place upon this feeder.

Any kind of bird will be attracted to a platform bird feeder, depending upon what food you offer. And that's the beauty of a platform feeder--you can put any and all kinds of food in the tray. You can put in seeds, fruits, bread, pasta, rice, nuts, jelly, peanut butter, anything! You can even add a dish of water, if you wish.

Because of their open and inviting style, this feeder attracts the most birds. Platform feeders attract the most kind of birds.

The kinds of birds that especially like platform feeders (depending upon where you live) include sparrows: White-crowned Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Eastern Towhees, California Towhees, Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows.

Platform bird feeders attract ground-feeding birds like Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared-Doves, Common Ground-Doves, White-winged Doves, and Band-tailed Pigeons. Also feeding on larger platform feeders will be California Quails, Gambel's Quails, and Bobwhite.

Of course, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Lazuli Buntings, Varied Buntings, Painted Buntings, Northern Cardinals, and similar birds will eat at platform feeders.

Platform feeders will attract American Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, House Finches, Purple Finches, Cassin's Finches, Evening Grosbeaks, and Common Redpolls.

And platform bird feeders will also attract Black-capped Chickadees, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Mountain Chickadees, Carolina Chickadees, Oak Titmouses, Tufted Titmouses, White-breasted Nuthatches, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pygmy Nuthatches, Brown-headed Nuthatches.

If you offer the right food, you may have Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Gila Woodpeckers.

Did I leave any birds out? Yes, I did.

You see, several more undesirable birds may visit your platform feeders. As single birds they might not be undesirable, but as flocks (or simply because of their large size) they can take over a feeder, chase the other birds away, and quickly eat all the food. Such birds include California Scrub-Jays, Blue Jays, European Starlings, Brown-headed Cowbirds, House Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, American Crows.

And the open-to-all design can attract squirrels, rats, raccoons, opossums, skunks, deer, bears, dogs, and probably other non-birds I haven't imagined. Of course, this is true for all bird feeders. However, the platform feeder will attract the most non-birds and pest birds.

The bottom of the platform feeder is generally a wire mesh. This allows rainwater to drain through so the food doesn't stay wet. That's fine if you live in an area that doesn't get much rain. Or snow to cover it completely.

You could hang a platform feeder under the eaves or carport. But a simple solution to protect the bird food from the weather is to add a roof.

Small platform feeders may hang. Larger platform feeders are often pole mounted. Really large platform bird feeders have four legs and may sit closer to the ground.

A bowl or saucer sitting on the railing of your deck is an example of a simple DIY (do it yourself) homemade platform bird feeder.

Platform bird feeders also can be mounted with suction cups as a window feeder. This can bring birds right up to your living room for your enjoyment!

2. Tube bird feeders

Perhaps you don't want a free-for-all smorgasbord that platform feeders provide. Tube feeders are designed to limit the kinds of birds eating at your feeder. They also eliminate many of the non-bird feeder raiders.

Tube bird feeders are designed to offer seeds specifically to finches. Finches feed in trees, more than on the ground.

So they like these feeders arranged vertically, rather than horizontally.
Tube feeders have several feeding ports at various heights on the side of the feeder.
Tube bird feeders are often filled with black oil sunflower seeds.

What birds eat from tube feeders? Sunflowers in tube feeders attracts House Finches, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, Pine Siskins. Chickadees and nuthatches will also eat sunflower seeds from these tube feeders.

Feeding ports on some tube bird feeders are adjustable to dispense either smaller or larger seeds.

These feeders are best filled with only one kind of seed. Larger seeds if filled with a mixed seed blend may get stuck and block the feeding ports.

Filling with only one type of seed keeps birds from making a mess. They often throw out the seeds they don't like in order to reach the ones they do.

Some tube bird feeders have a small shelf or tray on the bottom.

This catches any spilled seeds. It also allows larger seed eaters like cardinals, grosbeaks, and even Mourning Doves to feed at them. But it also allows squirrels to feed. So you may decide whether this might be a problem in your backyard.

The tube feeder with tray above also has a sloped roof that may help keep some rainwater off the seed. I have a feeder similar to this one that we hung under our bedroom window awning for added weather protection. We fill it with hulled sunflower seeds broken into smaller pieces in a "no mess" feeding station.

Some tube feeders may be enclosed in a cage to keep out squirrels and larger birds.

3. Hopper bird feeders

Hopper bird feeders have a roof to help keep seeds dry.

It fills from the top and dispenses from the bottom as seed is eaten from a lower tray.

In many ways this is a combination between a platform feeder and a tube feeder. Thus, the hopper type bird feeder is often considered the best bird feeder.

Because different sized seeds can be dispensed, this is a good feeder to use for mixed seed. The tray allows larger birds to feed. But there is usually not enough room for a whole flock of birds to land and eat all the food at once as on a platform feeder.

Nearly all birds will eat from a hopper feeder.

Cardinals, grosbeaks, sparrows, and finches will like foods offered in this type of feeder. Mourning Doves and Red-winged Blackbirds are about the largest birds that feed on a medium or small hopper feeder.

Larger hopper bird feeders may be designed with a weight-sensitive perch that closes the feeding ports when something heavy, like a squirrel, climbs on. Some are adjustable so that feeding ports may also close for heavy starlings or flocks of grackles.

4. Thistle bird feeders

Thistle bird feeders are also known as Finch feeders.

They dispense very tiny Niger seeds. You may see this seed sold under the Nyjer trademark by the Wild Bird Feeding Institute.

Niger seed is not thistle seed. But it is very small. In order for it to be used in a bird feeder the feeder uses very small mesh. See my article on thistle feeders and seed.

American Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls, and sometimes House Finches like thistle feeders.

The mesh used to contain the Niger seed may be a metal mesh with a feeder design similar to a tube feeder. Rather than several feeding ports, the seeds can be pulled through the mesh at any point.

Another popular Niger seed bird feeder is a nylon mesh bag, called a Thistle Sock. And, yes, it does look like a white sock hanging on your bird feeder!

5. Nectar bird feeders

Hummingbirds and orioles drink sugar-water, or nectar, from specially designed nectar bird feeders. Sometimes woodpeckers like drinking nectar from these feeders, too!

Hummingbirds in the United States and Canada that are found in towns include Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Anna's Hummingbirds, Rufous Hummingbirds, Costa's Hummingbirds, Allen's Hummingbirds, Black-chinned Hummingbirds, and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.

Woodpeckers that like nectar feeders include Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Gila Woodpeckers.

Baltimore Orioles and Bullock Orioles like oriole nectar feeders.

Make your own nectar with a 4 parts water and 1 part sugar ratio. See my article on how to make hummingbird food.

6. Fruit and Oriole bird feeders

Cut up slices of fruit--grapes, apples, oranges, and any other, may be placed on a platform feeder or impaled on a branch.

Mockingbirds, Brown Thrashers, American Robins, Varied Thrushes, and Hermit Thrushes like fruit.

More ideas of different kinds of fruit you can feed birds, and what birds like fruit are found on my page: fruit to feed wild birds.

Special oriole feeders have spikes to hold orange halves. These feeders also include dishes to hold grape jelly--an oriole favorite!

Many also include a reservoir to fill with nectar.

These special oriole feeders attract Baltimore Orioles, Bullock's Orioles, Hooded Orioles, Western Tanagers, Scarlet Tanagers, and Summer Tanagers.

Other birds like the grape jelly, including Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, House Finches, and woodpeckers.

7. Suet bird feeders

A final type of bird feeder is the suet feeder. These feeders offer suet, rendered fat, to birds. Suet is like a big fat delicious grub for insect eating birds!

Suet can melt or go rancid at higher temperatures. So in many places this is a food offered only during winter.

Birds that like suet are Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Bewick's Wrens, Carolina Wrens, Bushtits, White-breasted Nuthatches, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Townsend's Warblers, Northern Flickers, Black-capped Chickadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and similar birds.

Suet is often made into cakes or blocks and presented in a suet cage. This prevents a larger bird or animal from taking the suet away.

Cages may be hung on longer chains that swing about and keep heavier starlings and blackbirds from getting too much.

Upside-down suet bird feeders also make it harder for starlings and blackbirds to get to the suet.

Read my article on Where to hang a suet feeder for more information.

Suet often has seeds or nuts or fruit mixed in.

Mealworms are often fed in bowls on platform feeders to attract Eastern and Western Bluebirds. Some mealworm and seed cakes are specially made to fit in the suet feeder cages.

Peanut butter is sometimes added to suet or substituted for the suet.

Sometimes hollowed out branches have holes filled with suet plugs for a more rustic or natural suet feeder.

Conclusion
The 7 major types or kinds of bird feeders are platform, tube, hopper, thistle, nectar, oriole, and suet feeders.
Each type of bird feeder has certain kinds of birds that are especially attracted to them. Each type of bird feeder has a special food that attracts birds best. Different birds like different kinds of feeders.

Feeders come with many options. There are window bird feeders and squirrel-proof feeders. There are baffles to prevent squirrels from above or below. There are seed catchers to help reduce waste and spillage.

Some bird feeders have cages to keep larger birds away. Some bird feeders, such as the platform type, are generic as to what foods are offered and what birds come to them. Others, like a hummingbird feeder, is very restrictive to only one kind of food and one kind of bird.

To attract the most different kinds of birds to your yard experiment with several different kinds of foods in different bird feeders. The best type of bird feeder for you depends upon what birds you want to attract. The more variety of foods you offer, the more different kinds of birds you can attract to your backyard!
Related: Bird seeds that birds like best! QUICKLY attract birds to your feeders

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7 kinds of bird feeders and the birds that like them

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What types of bird feeders do birds like? How do you choose a bird feeder that birds will like? What are the different kinds of bird feeders? There are 7 major different kinds of bird feeders that attract different kinds of birds.

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Your kids will love these 5 fun ways to paint with feathers. These process art activities are perfect all year or during a study of birds or Thanksgiving turkeys.
Are you looking for some new process art ideas? How about an art connection to your Thanksgiving unit? Why not try painting with feathers. Kids really enjoy the sensory experience of working with feathers and feathers help create some really interesting feather artwork.

I added several links at the bottom of this post. Use the links and ideas to help you shop for props to add to your center. There will be no additional cost to you when you make a purchase from a link, but a small portion of your purchase will be used towards maintaining this website.

Here are 5 art activities for preschoolers for you to try.

Paint with Feathers

It can't get much simpler than providing a variety of feathers and some paint.

Let your kids experiment. How do the lines change when you use a different feather? Which feather do you prefer to paint with? Why?

You can also add some water to make the paint thinner. Does this make a difference in the feather painting art?

Start with a Drop of Paint

Rather than letting kids dip the feathers into the paint, drop paint directly onto the paper with a dropper or squeeze bottle. Then, kids can spread the paint around with feathers.

Do some feathers spread the paint better than others? What happens when one color spreads into another?

Make Feather Paint Brushes

Use duct tape to attach several feathers to small dowels or pencils to create some unique feathery, DIY paintbrushes.

I love seeing the lines that these fun paintbrushes create. Why are some parts of the line thick and other parts of the line thin?

Does one brush make different lines than the other? How are the lines different? How are they the same?

Feather Prints

My favorite method of painting with feathers is creating feather prints. Instead of painting with feathers, this time kids need to paint the feathers.

As they paint, kids might notice that feathers repel the paint. Why do you think this happens?

After applying paint to the feather, show kids how to press the feather in a folded piece of paper. When they open up the paper and pull off the feather, a gorgeous print is visible on both sides of the paper.

They can try it with multiple types of feathers and multiple colors of paint. The prints are gorgeous!

Make a Painted Feather Collage

A little glue will do.

Combine glue and tempera paint. Kids can paint over feathers with the mixture and the feathers will stick to the paper.

What parts of the feather are easy to stick? What parts are more difficult? I think it's fun to observe how feathers look when you glue them down with different colors of paint.

I hope that these ideas inspired you to try some new ways to use feathers for painting. These methods are great art activities to use during units about birds, turkeys, Thanksgiving, or for any time of year.

Do you use another method to paint with feathers? I would love to hear more ideas.

Below are some items from Amazon that can be used for the activities mentioned in this article. The links below are affiliate links. There is no additional cost to you when you purchase something from a link, but a small commission is paid to me. This commission is used towards the cost of maintaining this website.

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How to Paint with Feathers: 5 Fun & Easy Ideas - Early Learning Ideas

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Your kids will love these 5 fun ways to paint with feathers. These process art activities are perfect all year or during a study of birds or Thanksgiving turkeys. Are you looking for some new process art ideas? How about an art connection to your Thanksgiving unit? Why not try painting with feathers.

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Put out some nest building materials with this and have children try making a bird nest.

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As Spring is in full swing, we have really noticed the birds out and about. They greet us every morning chirping and singing their cheerful songs. We even have a cardinal and sparrow family nesting in our yard! It's so exciting to witness nesting and new life in our own backyard!

Get a full week of bird theme lesson plans for

Affiliate links included.

As we are learning about birds and their nesting habits, I decided to put together a bird nest sensory bin. We began our investigation into nesting by reading the books, The Best Nest and Birds, Nests & Eggs. We learned that birds will gather twigs, grass, leaves, moss, and even small pieces of thread they may find to assemble their nests. They may even make their homes in a birdhouse that are set out for them.

We headed outside and pretended we were birds that were looking for materials for our nest. My little ones loved hearing the birds chirp as we were searching for nesting materials. They rushed to find them with their binoculars. My oldest even spotted the mama sparrow flying into her nesting place.

Once we were done collecting our materials, I asked my preschooler to pretend she was a bird building its nest. She took all of her findings and began to stack and weave them to make a cozy nest. Soon, she found that this was no simple task. It took thoughtful consideration to place sticks and leaves in such a way that would create a strong and sturdy nesting place. After our nest building, I gave her a sensory bin to further explore bird nests.

Materials Needed to Make Your Bird Nest Sensory Bin

Our sensory bin was filled with bird seed, some pretend birds, a wooden birdhouse, a pre-made nest, and a small terracotta pot for scooping and pouring. We also added our natural materials that we collected outside and the girls began to explore.

My preschooler immediately insisted that the birds were hungry, so she had them collect worms and bring them back to their nest. She also thought they might like some bird seed, so she poured a hearty helping for them as well.

We continued the discussion of nesting and laying eggs, adding some eggs to the nest for our birds to keep warm.

The imaginative fun continued as the girls explored the different types of nests and materials within the sensory bin.

I have to tell you- with all the bird seed, it did get quite messy. We took our play outside to the grass where we would literally be sharing our mess with the birds. It was an eco-friendly clean up!

We are looking forward to exploring nesting with our bird nest sensory bin and can't wait for our newfound nesting friends to welcome their babies!

Continue the bird theme fun with bird nest play dough and a bird tally scavenger hunt.

Get a Full Week of Bird Theme Learning and Play

Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we've provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.

This set includes active hands-on learning ideas and the following printables:
1) B and N Sound Sort
2) b and d Sorting Cards
3) Bird List (for phonemic awareness and other activities)
4) Bird Color Sorting Mats
5) Bird and Not Bird Sorting Cards and Activity Mats
6) 0-35 Bird Number Cards
7) Dot Counting Egg Cards
8) Bird Emergent Readers
9) Feed the Bird Math Game
10) Bird Ordering and Patterning Cards
11) A to Z Uppercase Bird Cards
12) a to z Lowercase Nest Cards

Get Your Lesson Plans
Home Preschool Bird Theme Lesson Plans Preschool Classroom Bird Theme Lesson Plans

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Bird Nest Sensory Bin - Fantastic Fun & Learning

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As Spring is in full swing, we have really noticed the birds out and about. They greet us every morning chirping and singing their cheerful songs. We even have a cardinal and sparrow family nesting in our yard! It's so exciting to witness nesting and new life in our own backyard!

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If you are able to, have the children go on walks with you to look for the acorns.

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Preschoolers are so inquisitive. They notice the smallest of details. They are interested, eager to learn and they LOVE hands on activities that allow them to explore.

Sensory Bins are always a fun way to introduce new topics and to develop interests. They are a great talking point. You can really learn a lot about your children by taking a step back and watching the way they use the materials and how they interact and play with their peers.

We have created a handful of them now and look forward to making lots more over the coming year.

Today we are sharing a Squirrel Themed Sensory Bin.

We have the lovely Cindy O'Brien joining us again today. We love the activities she gets up to in her home run daycare centre and it is always a pleasure to have her here at Learning and Exploring Through Play!

We have really been enjoying using Sensory Bins in our playroom as of late! I create them based on the season/topic we are working on aswel as the children's individual interests.

The theme for this week has been squirrels!

The base for our bin was acorns. What I really liked about using them for our base was that the children had been out enjoying collecting them in our backyard. It was a talking point actually as they recalled their input in collecting them all!

I also added tree stumps and logs. There were cute felt leaves and pumpkins. Metal cans to collect the acorns up along with burlap bags. Small rakes and of course not forgetting squirrels!

The children have loved sitting and arranging the squirrels.

They have been busy filling and emptying the bucket of acorns.

It has been great fun for mean listening as 'the squirrels interact and talk'!

Some children have also enjoyed simply running their hands through the acorn covered bottom.

I have found the squirrels all gathered on one wood piece, hiding under the acorns or off in a toy wagon going for a ride together to the shops!

I love the imagination and creativity that these sensory bins create each week.

Each child reacts different to them. Some play alone.

Some dialogue with other children and role play.

It is delightful to watch and listen to!

A big thank you to Cindy for sharing her super cute Squirrel Sensory Bin with us! We look forward to having you back to share another activity very soon!

You may also want to check out:

You may also like:

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Preschoolers are so inquisitive. They notice the smallest of details. They are interested, eager to learn and they LOVE hands on activities that allow them to explore. Sensory Bins are always a fun way to introduce new topics and to develop interests. They are a great talking point.

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Inspiration for Activities to Bring the Themes of Birds and Squirrels into the Rest of Your Classroom

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Inspiration for Activities to Bring the Themes of Birds and Squirrels into the Rest of Your Classroom

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This song is packed with facts about squirrels

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Reading this book is a great opportunity to practice dialogic reading skills.

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Dialogic Reading: An Effective Way to Read Aloud with Young Children

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Dialogic reading works. Children who have been read to dialogically are substantially ahead of children who have been read to traditionally on tests of language development. Children can jump ahead by several months in just a few weeks of dialogic reading.

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If you like to do movement songs, Grey Squirrel is an excellent choice.  Children can sing this song and pretend to be squirrels.  There are many recordings of this song.   This video of the song teaches us the movements that go along with the song.

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Miss Nina - Music & Movement for Preschool

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Children's Song: Grey Squirrel - Autumn Song for Preschool Kids - Move Along!

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This page answers some frequently asked questions about squirrels.

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This bird feeder is a great class shared project. Each child can coat their own pine cone with seeds. The instructions say to coat with peanut butter, but you can also use lard if there are peanut allergies in your class.

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Did you know we have flying squirrels in Ohio? They are nocturnal and live out in the woods, so not a lot of people get to see them.

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Many of these feeders can be turned in to feeders that can be attatched to your window by hanging them with hooks or suction cups.

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Or you can always buy an inexpensive window feeder.

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What if I Don't Have Somewhere to Put Bird Feeders?

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What if I Don't Have Somewhere to Put Bird Feeders?

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If you want to watch birds but do not have the ability to set up a bird feeder, you can watch someone else's feeder.  Cornell University has a live stream of bird feeders that you can watch

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Don't miss a thing!

Keep up-to-date on all the nesting news.

Video Highlights
YouTube Terms of Service

Species Info Site Info About Cams

About the Site

This FeederWatch cam, located in the Treman Bird Feeding Garden at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is dedicated to Joseph H. Williams, a lifetime friend of the Cornell Lab and Administrative Board member from 1990 to 2018. Perched on the edge of both Sapsucker Woods and its 10-acre pond, these feeders attract both forest species like chickadees and woodpeckers as well as some species that prefer open environments near water like Red-winged Blackbirds. The cam hardware includes an Axis P1448-LE camera with an an ETS ML1-WPW microphone.

About the Hosts

The Wild Birds Unlimited store at Sapsucker Woods has been a part of the visitor experience in the Cornell Lab's Visitor Center ever since the new building opened in 2003. They are the preferred vendor of official Cornell Lab merchandise and offer a dizzying number of feeders, binoculars, and birdwatching-related gear and gifts to make any bird enthusiast happy. WBU has also pledged support for many of the Cornell Lab's local efforts, including providing the bird feeders and food for this FeederWatch Cam.

About Cams

The Cornell Lab Bird Cams connects viewers worldwide to the diverse and intimate world of birds. We work to make watching an active experience, sparking awareness and inspiration that can lead to conservation, education, and engagement with birds.

Our viewers tell us that watching the cams is a life changing experience: an unprecedented learning experience that they liken to virtual field trips or field biology in their living room. We're excited to continue sharing and learning with the community as we watch the world of birds together.

Bird Cams is a free resource

providing a virtual window into the natural world
of birds and funded by donors like you

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Watch the birds of Sapsucker Woods visit the feeders outside the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY.

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Red squirrels are the smallest squirrels. They have a reddish hue and tufted ears.

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Fox squirrels are the biggest squirrels in Ohio. They have a greyer back and a reddish under belly.

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Grey squirrels are the most common squirrels in Ohio. They have greyish brown fur with a white belly.

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This guy is a kind of squirrel called a ground squirrel.  Ground squirrels hang out on the ground and dig holes for their homes.

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Check out the squirrel section in this field guide to learn more about the 4 types of squirrels you can find in Ohio.  You may also see other animals from this guide hanging around your feeder such as chipmunks or raccoons.  This can be downloaded or educators can request the Ohio Division of Natural Resources to send a free copy.

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This free field guide can help you identify some of the most common birds you may see.  This can be downloaded or educators can request the Ohio Division of Natural Resources to send a free copy.

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It is a well known fact among birders that different birds like different kinds of feeders.  You might want to try making two feeders and see if you see different kinds of animals.  Have the children predict which feeder they think the birds will like better. See link in resources section for more information about preferred types of feeders for birds.

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The girl in Girl vs Squirrel set up several types of bird feeders.  There are so many different kinds of bird feeders you can buy or make.  Many of these you may already have the material for.  Check out this website with ideas for different bird feeders your class can make.

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Making homemade bird feeders for your backyard is a fun way for you and your kids to get to know which birds are native to your area, and a great way to help out your feathered friends when their food sources are scarce in winter-time.
Every winter, here in my daycare, we make homemade bird feeders to scatter among our trees and gardens. We like to keep things on the simple side here, so we always use common household materials to make our feeders.

You may also like 50+ Nature Crafts for Kids.

The hooligans always love the process, and they get so excited when they discover birds and squirrels nibbling away at the feeders they made with their very own hands.

Here are 32 easy and beautiful bird feeder crafts to inspire you and your kids. Some of these bird feeders are our own, and others, I've gathered from around the internet.

If you're looking to make a bird feeder for your backyard, I hope you'll find an idea or two that you like here!

32 Homemade Bird Feeders To Make For Your Backyard:

Pine cone bird feeders are so easy to make. Bonus: collecting the pinecones is an activity in itself! - Red Ted Art

Look no further than your pantry cupboard to make this edible cone bird feeder. - Dereila Nature Inn

Bread bird feeders are great for using up stale end of a loaf or crusts that no-one eats. - CBC Parents

I love the natural look of these hanging gourd feeders by Kitchen Counter Chronicles.

You can turn a paper plate into a bird feeder in a jiffy! This one is great for fine motor skills, and doesn't require any special tools to make it!

Tea party for the birds! This thrift shop cup and saucer feede r looks so whimsical on a stake in the garden. - Dear Lizzy

Second-hand bowls and vases work too! A glass bird feeder would look beautiful sparkling in the sun. - Day 2 Day Super Mom

Angle it just right, and you can hang this teacup bird feeder from a branch in your yard. - Budget Savvy Diva

Use mesh produce bags to make simple suet feeders for your neighbourhood birds. - David Suzuki

Our Cheerio bird feeders are so easy to make and help little ones develop their fine-motor skills too. - Happy Hooligans

Bagel bird feeders are simple enough for even the youngest tots to make. - Mama Papa Bubba

Lego-maniacs and bird-lovers unite! Check out this amazing Lego feeder over at Fun Crafts Kids.

When we make fresh-squeezed juice, we use our leftovers to make orange cup bird feeders to stake in the garden.

With a little paint and ribbon, you can transform your recyclables into a colourful set of tin-can bird feeders. - Plum Adorable (website no longer available)

A fruit and grain bird feeder is a great way to use up fruit that's past its prime. The birds devoured this one quickly! - CBC Parents

These fruit and cheerio bird feeders are a great way to use up stale cereal and fruit that's past its best. Making these feeders helps little ones strengthen their fine-motor skills and they can practice counting and patterning as well.

For this cardboard bird feeder, you need look no further than your recycle bin. Grab a cardboard box and some paint and this simple colourful feeder with your kids today.

These easy rainbow ice bird feeders are stunning! Check out all the colours that Twig and Toadstool made!

Use up the last of your pantry scraps to make a gorgeous ice wreath bird feeder. - Hands On: As We Grow

The hooligans loved threading these simple cheerio and blueberry feeders!

Put your recyclables to good use! This juice carton "owl" bird feeder is too darn cute! - Red Ted Art

This simple plastic jug bird feeder kept our birds and squirrels happy all through the winter last year.

Make this adorable upcycled bird feeder with a couple of containers and some fabric scraps. - Embracing Life's Journey (website no longer available)

Here's another super way to use up your orange rinds! Hang citrus bird feeders around the yard. - Mama Papa Bubba

These little paint tin feeders look so pretty and inviting hanging all together. - Mom Endeavours

Feed a whole flock of birds with this twig and toilet roll bird feeder. It's like a birdy buffet! - Summer Project Ideas

For the well-travelled bird: these road map bird houses are more for decorative purposes, but they're so cute, I couldn't resist sharing. - Crafts by Amanda

We used snow as a base for our corn kernel and chestnut feeder. The blue jays and squirrels LOVED it!

Here's another simple cardboard roll bird feeder. I love the splash of colour that the ribbon lends to the project. - Momtastic

"Messy Fingers Science" says it took less than two minutes for the cardinals to find her spoons and soda bottle bird feeder!

Cookie cutters!! What a fun way for the family to make a bunch of shaped bird feeders for the yard. - Juggling with Kids

I'm in love with this bundt pan bird seed wreath by Infarrantly Creative. The rustic bow is rustic and classy at the same time.

Make a bird or butterfly feeder out of a glass jar. These would look lovely suspended at different heights around the garden or patio. - Melissa Camera Wilkins

Here's a simple way to turn an inexpensive grapevine ornament into a bird feeder. Judging by the photos, this suet recipe is a big hit with woodpeckers and other small birds. - The Garden Roof Coop

And last but definitely not least: Get a close-up view of your neighbourhood birds with a simple and inexpensive suction cup bird feeder!

Happy building and happy birding!

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32 Easy Homemade Bird Feeders - Happy Hooligans

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Wowza! Check out all these easy homemade bird feeders! Terffic for all ages! Great projects for the kids to help with at home, daycare or in the classroom!

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There are five types of squirrels found in Ohio.  You will most likely see grey squirrels. Click on the photos to enlarge.

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Be a scientist!  On this website you can report the squirrels you see to help scientist understand what kind of squirrels live in our area.

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Become a Citizen Scientist. Click the link above to read about Project Squirrel and to tell us about squirrels near you. Project Squirrel has been operating since 1997. During this time, over 1000 people have offered their knowledge, provided observations, and filled out the forms. We have been able…

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This is a great book for children to to start familiarizing themselves with some of the most common birds they might see.  If you want to go bird watching with children, this can be a good book to read beforehand.

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VanDerwater, Amy Ludwig,VanDerwater, Amy Ludwig,

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Every Day Birds — VanDerwater, Amy Ludwig, — “Young readers are fascinated with birds in their world. Every Day Birds helps children identify and learn about common birds. After reading Every Day Birds, families can look out their windows with curiosity--recognizing birds and nests and celebrating t…

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Watch this real life example of squirrels going through an obstacle course like in the book!