How to Make a Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder

Kids will enjoy making a plastic bottle bird feeder. It's a great craft activity idea for Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, or homeschoolers.

Making a plastic bottle bird feeder is a fun craft for all kids, but it's especially a great Cub Scout activity that can easily be completed during a den meeting.

In other posts, I've share how to make a toilet paper roll bird feeder and a craft stick bird feeder. In this post, we'll cover how to construct a bird feeder from a soda bottle.

Note: Since you'll be using a recycled bottle, you might want to talk to your Cub Scouts about recycling. There's some good information in the recycled Raingutter Regatta post.

Kids can give these as gifts for Mother's Day, Father's Day, or a parent's birthday. What grandparent wouldn't love one of these?

Cub Scout Requirements Involving Birds

Cub Scouts don't have a specific requirement to make a bird feeder, but there are a few that have them pointing out or identifying birds. The bird feeder will attract them so Cub Scouts can watch for and identify the birds to fulfill these requirements.

Tiger Adventure – My Tiger Jungle 3:  Point out two different kinds of birds that live in your area. With your parent/guardian, other caring adult, or den, find out more about one of these birds.

Wolf Adventure – Paws on the Path 6: Name two birds, two insects, and/or two other animals that live in your area. Explain how you identified them.

Webelos & AOL Elective Adventure – Into the Wild 3:  Watch for birds in your yard, neighborhood, or area for one week. Identify the birds you see, and write down where and when you saw them.

Webelos & AOL Elective Adventure – Into the Wild 6:  Identify an insect, reptile, bird, or other wild animal that is found only in your area of the country. Tell why it survives in your area.

Supplies Needed for Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder

• Plastic bottle (can be a water bottle, soda bottle, or sports drink bottle)
• Bird seed
• Wooden spoon
• Small eye screw
• Paper Plate
• String or Twine
• Scissors
• Funnel
• Craft knife
• Sharpie

You can use a 16 or 20-ounce bottle or a one-liter bottle. If you use the smaller bottle, you'll only need to use one spoon.

How to Make a DIY Bird Feeder for Kids

Because this activity uses a craft knife, parents will need to help with it.

Before you begin the project, have the Cub Scouts rinse out the plastic bottle and let it dry.

Using the marker, draw an asterisk on one side of the bottle about an inch from the bottom.

On the opposite side of the bottle, draw a circle about 1 inch in diameter.

Using the craft knife, carefully cut along the lines of the asterisk and cut out the circle.

Screw the eye screw into the bottle cap and set aside.  You may need to use something with a sharp point to make a little indention or hole in the cap to get the eye screw started.

Want to build a wooden bird feeder? Check these out!

Insert the handle of the wooden spoon into the circle, through the bottle and out through the asterisk slits.

Set the bottle on a paper plate. (It's always good to have a supply of inexpensive paper plates in your Cub Scout den supply bucket.)

Carefully pour the bird seed into the bottle. Using a funnel might be a good idea!

Run a piece of string through the eye screw, and tie the ends together.

Screw the lid onto the bottle, and hang it from a tree branch.

If you do this as a den meeting, make sure you have a box for the kids to transport it home. Otherwise, parents will wind up with a car full of bird seed! 🙂

Watch for the birds to perch on your spoon for a little snack!  🙂

No plastic bottles handy? Here are two more diy bird feeders for kids!

Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder
Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder

Yours in Scouting,
Sherry

P.S. If your Cub Scout wants to build one, I have birdhouse plans on here too!