The first signs of spring are still a few weeks away, but we are starting to see a few more birds in our neighborhood. So I thought it would be a good time to try one of the fun hands-on nature study activities suggested in NaturExplorers: Beautiful Birds, which is to make a bird nesting bag!
I had no idea that birds could use a little help making nests. I always thought they just used twigs. But birds can use lots of materials to construct their nests, including some of the things we might throw away. This was a great project to share with the kids, because it showed them that we can actually help animals to build their homes.
![Hands-On Nature Study: Make a Fun Bird Nesting Bag](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
See how to make this simple nature craft and try it to see if your kids like it for a spring project!
Hands-On Nature Study: Make a Bird Nesting Bag
Here’s what you’ll need to make a bird nesting bag:
- Mesh bag (I used the one that came with our onions)
- Twigs and grass leaves
- Yarn
- Brown paper bags
- Paper napkins
- Scissors
Just a tip: If you’re going to use an onion bag (like we did), be sure to leave the bottom end sealed. It usually has a metal clip on the end for keeping the bag closed. If you keep that intact, then you’ll only have to close the nesting bag at one end.
![DIY Bird Nesting Bag Supplies](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
I let the kids run out in the backyard to gather the twigs and weeds. (We don’t have grass in our yard, but I don’t think the birds are that picky.)
![Making a Nesting Bag for Birds](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
We used scissors to cut the paper bags into thin strips. We did the same with the paper napkins. Then we just mixed them into a pile with the weeds, twigs, and yarn clippings.
![Making a Bird Nesting Bag](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
After we removed the tag from the mesh onion bag, we just stuffed all of our materials into the bag opening.
![Stuffing a Bird Nesting Bag](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
We cut a long piece of yarn (about two feet in length) and used one end to cinch the mesh bag closed.
![Simple Bird Nesting Bag](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
It’s finished! Now we just need to hang it up.
![Hanging a Bird Nesting Bag](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
We used the yarn to hang it from a low tree branch.
![Easy Bird Nesting Bag Craft](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
And now it’s ready! Since the mesh bag has plenty of holes, birds can just fly up to it and grab some things for constructing their nests.
![Making a Bird Nesting Bag with Kids](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
It’ll be interesting to check in a few weeks to see what’s been used already.
You’ll love all of these easy nature study books.
I loved this project. It was so simple and it was a nice way to get outside with the kids and start thinking about the signs of spring that we’ll see soon. Plus, it was cool to extend a little “invitation” to the birds in our neighborhood to stop by and pick up a few building supplies.
![Hands-On Nature Study: Make a Fun Bird Nesting Bag](https://tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
Try some of these other nature study activities with your children!