Help birds in wintertime

Kids learn to make bird feeders

Last month, some local kids spent a Saturday morning building wooden bird feeders so they can help birds when food is scarce this winter.

The kids brought their own hammers but the Missouri Department of Conservation provided everything else. The kids got pre-cut wooden pieces and nails to put the feeder together. Each feeder also had two plastic windows to view the feed level.

They even got a piece of auto seatbelt webbing to make a hinge so they could open the feeder roof. That way, they could reload the feeder with more bird seeds.

The belt strapping was recovered from car junk yards. It's ideal as a hinge because it is very weatherproof and doesn't crack with repeated bending.

John Schroeder was the volunteer who led the feeder-building session at the MDC's Rockwood Reservation in west St. Louis County.

The kids and their parents met indoors for an introduction to bird feeders. They also watched two short video tapes that told them about bird watching.

Christian, Tommy and Grayson and their mother

Mr. Schoeder said one of the joys of having a backyard bird feeder is the chance to see the different types of birds who come for a meal. The bird watching video mentioned that Missouri has hundreds of different types of birds.

Kyland and Kelsen Miener of Eureka were two of the kids who came with their parents for the feeder building session.

Eight-year-old Kyland and six-year-old Kelsen already had some experience with feeding birds in the winter. They used pine cones that were smeared with sticky material and then rolled in bird seeds.

The pine cones were then hung outdoors so the birds could get at them.

Kyland had had some experience with building with wood. He worked on an old bookcase at home to create a "one-of-a-kind" sculpture. They had sculpture outdoors but Kelsen said someone "stole it."

Kyland said he has a tool kit at home but that's mostly filled with electronic parts and tools. He likes to make miniature electric cars and buzzers.

For bird feeder construction, the brothers brought his dad's hammers.

Kelson said he and his family like to take hikes in the outdoors. On one recent hike they harvested paw-paws and a persimmon.

Another family at the feeder-building session included three brothers, 12-year-old Tommy Henry and brothers, 10-year-old Christian and eight-year-old Grayson.

Kyland and Kelsen Miener and their parents.

Tommy said he'd already built a bird feeder that was hanging in his back yard. He said they also have a bird house and a bird bath for a complete stopping-off place for traveling birds.

He said he had a tool kit with a hammer, a screwdriver, pliers and a wrench. It also includes nails and screws.

The kids said they hadn't done too much bird watching. But, the MDC provided each family with a bird guide printed in color so they could identify any birds that showed up to feed.

Christian said his family likes to camp and fish.

And Grayson said the feeder-building session "totally interested" him to do some more wood construction.

Mr. Schroeder told the kids and their families that Rockwoods has scheduled another bird-feeding class for this month. This one is about a different type of bird feed.

On Sunday, Nov. 16, there will be a session titled, "A Simple Winter Treat for the Birds." The 1-2:30 p.m. session will explain how to make suet cakes to provide food for birds in the winter.

The session is free but you need to make a reservation by calling (636) 458-2236.

Mr. Schroeder also gave the kids some suggestions on what sort of seeds to use in their new bird feeders.

He said the pre-mixed bird feed packages on sale at grocery stores usually have too much millet and corn seeds. "Most wild birds don't like those seeds," he said.

He suggested going to a feed store and buying black thistle or black sunflower seeds in bulk. "Most birds really like those," he said.

He also gave suggestions on how to mount their new bird feeders in the backyard.

"Don't put the feeders on your back porch unless you want cats and squirrels to eat most of the feed," he said.

He suggested mounting the feeder on a pole away from structures and trees. He also said it's good to mount a metal shield on the pole below the feeder to keep the squirrels from climbing the pole.

Also, he said, "Put some Vaseline on the pole. Squirrels don't like to have that sticky stuff on their paws," he said.

Young Saint Louis.com has had earlier articles concerning the building of other types of bird feeders.

For instance, in December, 2000, an article gave detailed instruction on making a bird feeder from a two-gallon plastic milk jug.

Then, in February, 2007, there are plans for a bird feeder made out of a plastic household bleach bottle.

(To read these stories, click on Past Stories at the top of the home page. Then, click on December, 2000, and/or February, 2007.)