How to Build a Bird House With Kids
With TV, video games, and a wide assortment of gadgets, it can be hard for a parent to find a fun activity to do with their child. Learning how to build a bird house with kids can reconnect a parent to their child, and the child to nature. The simplest bird house to build is made from a dried gourd. These houses can also be decorated just like traditional wooden houses.
- Find a nice-sized gourd. Gourds can be bought in most grocery or home and garden stores. They can also be found growing in gardens and in the wild. Gourds that are elongated tend to be preferred by most birds.
- Drill a hole into the side of the gourd. This hole should be somewhere between 1 ½ inches and 2 inches in diameter. The hole may need to be large, depending on the types of birds that will live in the house. A few holes on bottom for drainage, and two on top for a hook should also be drilled into the gourd.
- Scrap out all the insides of the future bird house. This is a great job for the kids to do. Just like at Halloween when the dig out all the pumpkin seeds, they can use a spoon to dig out all the seeds and meat in the gourd.
- Dry out the gourd for several days. This may take a while depending on how large the gourd is. Once the gourd is dry it will may be slightly more brittle, so avoid dropping or banging it.
- Decorate the outside of the gourd. The children can have a lot of fun with colorful paints doing this. To add a little education to the activity, the parents can look up what colors may attract certain birds. Parents should wash and smooth the outside of the gourd before painting.
- Lace an unbent clothes hanger through the two holes at the top of the gourd, and then bend it into a hook shape. Make sure to push the end all the way through both holes and twist it to itself. This will prevent the birds from injuring themselves by mistake.
- Hang the bird house up in a favorite tree, and enjoy some bird watching with the family.