Kids Can Make Bird Feeders Out of Sunflower Heads

Sunflowers not only attract pollinating insects while they’re blooming, but at season’s end they become an excellent food source for wild birds

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Sunflowers not only attract pollenate insect while they ’re flower , but at time of year ’s ending they become an excellent food origin for wild birds .

Here ’s what you ’ll want :

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Birds appreciate a little help incur solid food for the cold time of year . Between that and the natural entertaining antics of birds , child are thrilled to be a part of bird feeding by making a instinctive bird feeder out of helianthus come heads . They ’re super sluttish to make , and this mere craft shows kid how nature comes full Mexican valium from the flower seeds that they planted in their yard becoming bird food when the new cum are shape .

Birds that are attracted to sunflower heads include Jay , grosbeaks , goldfinches , juncos , bunting , pine siskins , titmice , bluebird , blackbird , finches , cardinals , and chickadees . They all profit from the high nutritional value helianthus seeds provide — especially head into the winter months . They ’re charge with mineral like potassium , calcium , atomic number 12 , and iron , as well as vitamin B composite . Sunflower seeds are also valuable as a source for protein , vulcanized fiber , and polyunsaturated fat .

The best helianthus kind for the job are the larger 1 like Sunzilla , Giant Gray Stripe , Russian Mammoth . These sunflower type because they ’re easier to ferment with and end up lasting longer as a birdfeeder . If you ’ve uprise sunflowers in your yard , when the sunflowers look well form and the heads start out to dry out , cut the top ¼ off of the sunflower and lease them dry out in a cool and well - ventilate area . They can be hang up upside down or placed in a large empty vase ( without water ) . If you confine them to a bag or container , mold could shape before the heads have the right way dry out .

If you have n’t grow any this year , do n’t give up just yet . Ask friends and neighbors if they have any spent sunflower heads in their yards , or check out your local farmer market . You ’ll know they ’re dry when the fronts of the heads turn a crispy brown and the backs of the heads are yellow .

Cut off the stay on stem from the helianthus when the flower heads are whole ironic . Make a duad of holes near the top of the head with the screwdriver an inch or two apart . The flower store ’s wire can now be threaded through the hole and the close secure together so it can be hung on a fencing or tree subdivision for wild birds to feast on . Of of course , the sunflower can be lead on the drained plants mighty where they grow and the doll will find them , too , but it ’s nice to wreak them nigher to your house or window to love the wild dining .

A mutant of this craftiness is to rest the front of the flower front down and use your penitentiary to make a circle in the middle of the back of the flower oral sex . Then carefully cut the R-2 out with the workmanship knife or sword . ( The knife should only be used by an grownup . ) When you turn it back over , the flower head will now resemble a garland . you could also tie recollective millet atomizer onto the helianthus wreath as an added decoration and bite for the birds . Also , tying earth - color raffia as a raw prow take it extra festive for the winter time of year .

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