Homemade Orange Bird Feeders: Winter Nature Craft

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Winter is a challenging season for birds and wildlife. Food is harder to find, temperatures are cold, and natural resources are limited. This simple homemade orange bird feeder nature craft gives children a meaningful way to care for animals while learning about winter habitats and seasonal needs.

Using just an orange and birdseed, kids can create a feeder that invites birds (and sometimes squirrels) into the yard — and offers a chance to slow down, observe, and connect with nature.

Orange Bird Feeders Are a Great Winter Activity!

This is more than a quick craft. It’s an opportunity to enjoy nature as well! 

Children learn about:

• Animal needs in winter

• Habitats and food sources

• Cause and effect

• Responsibility and care for living things

• Seasonal changes in nature

It also encourages outdoor time during a season when many kids spend less time outside.

Materials Needed to Make Orange Bird Feeder

• Oranges

• Spoon

• Birdseed (a general wild bird mix works well)

• Sticks or skewers

• String, twine, or yarn

• Scissors

Optional:

• Stick or pencil for poking holes

• Tray or plate to catch seeds while filling

How to Make a Homemade Orange Bird Feeder

1. Cut of a small section from the top of an orange.
   
   

2. Carefully scoop out the inside, leaving the peel intact. (The fruit can be eaten or saved for another use.)

3. Poke 2 sticks through the lower edges of the orange going all the way through to the other side. They will cross in the center and create perches for the birds. 
   
   

4. Using four even pieces of string, securely tie the string with knots onto the sticks to create a hanger. Connect each piece of string at the top with one knot. 
   
   

5. Fill the orange peel with birdseed.

6. Hang the feeder on a tree branch or fence outside.

Choose a spot that is visible from a window if possible — this makes observation easy and exciting.

Do Birds and Squirrels Like Oranges?

Yes — many animals are curious about oranges.

• Birds are often attracted to the seeds inside the feeder rather than the orange itself, but some species may peck at the fruit.

• Squirrels may investigate and sometimes nibble on both the seeds and the peel.

The orange peel works well as a natural bowl, and as it dries or decomposes, it safely returns to the earth.

This makes the activity both wildlife-friendly and environmentally conscious.

Learning with the Orange Bird Feeder

Encourage children to observe what happens over time.

Questions to explore:

• Which animals visit first?

• Do birds come more often in the morning or afternoon?

• How long does it take for the seeds to disappear?

• What happens to the orange peel over time?

• Does snow or freezing weather change how animals interact with the feeder?

You can extend the activity by:

• Keeping a simple observation journal

• Drawing the animals that visit

• Counting visits over several days

• Comparing different feeder locations

Winter Science Connections

This homemade bird feeder activity naturally supports learning about:

• Animal survival strategies

• Food chains

• Seasonal ecosystems

• Decomposition

• Human impact on wildlife

It’s an easy way to bring science outdoors during winter months.

Making orange bird feeders is a small way to help wildlife during the cold season. It teaches children that caring for nature doesn’t have to be complicated.

See More Nature Crafts and Activities:

How to Make Leaf Crowns – A Simple Autumn Nature Craft for Kids

Homemade Bird Feeders Without Peanut Butter

How to Make a Homemade Window Bird Feeder

Nature Study Notebooking Journal

Fun Nature Science for Kids: How to Make a Worm Tower

Mix & Match Painted Rock Faces: Creative Nature Craft for Kids