How to Build a Simple Backyard Bird Feeder

Learn how to turn a clean plastic bottle into a cozy bird feeder to help your feathered neighbors find a snack. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Mark your holes. Use your marker to draw two small circles on opposite sides of the bottle about three inches from the bottom. These are for your perch. Repeat this a few inches higher on the other side for your second perch.
2. Create the perch and feeding hole. Ask a grown-up to carefully cut an 'X' on your marks. Push the handle of your wooden spoon through the first hole and out the second, leaving the bowl of the spoon resting against the bottle so seeds can spill out onto it.
3. Fill and hang. Use a funnel or a rolled-up piece of paper to pour your birdseed into the top of the bottle until it is full. Screw the cap back on tight, tie your string around the neck of the bottle, and find a sturdy tree branch to hang it from.