Make Upcycled Hummingbird Feeders

While recycling reduces a product, such as paper or plastic, and then rebuilds it, upcycling takes something that you would throw out and finds a way to make it into something else, something of greater use and value.

1.  Plastic Bottle Hummer Feeder  (photo above)

Materials
Plastic beverage bottle
Plastic straw
Tool to make hole
Waterproof glue
Red cardboard or plastic
Wire for hanging,

Directions
1. In a clean plastic bottle, make a hole about halfway from the bottom. 2. Push a plastic straw through the hole.
3. Cut the straw so about 1/2-inch sticks out of the bottle.
4. Fill the bottle with water and adjust the straw until water fills it up without spilling out.
5. Empty the bottle and glue the straw in place with waterproof glue.
6. Tie a string or wire around the bottleneck to hang it.
7. Add a circle of red cardboard or plastic around the straw. You can also paint a pattern on the bottle if you like.
8. Add Hummingbird Nectar (recipe below)

2.  Baby Food Jar Hummer Feeder

Materials
Baby food jar
Nail
Hammer
Red paint or tape
Wire for hanging

Directions
1. Use a nail to poke a 1/8-inch (3-mm) hole in the lid of a clean baby food jar.
2. Fill the jar with Hummingbird Nectar (recipe below) and screw on the lid.
3. Add red paint or tape around the hole to attract the birds' attention. 4. Attach wire around the lid to hang the feeder.

Or, click here for a slightly more elaborate version of this particular feeder with photos and a "how to" video.

The Wild Classroom