Creative Crafts

Creative Crafts: Helping Birds This Spring

As the days slowly grow longer and the mornings begin to feel lighter, birds across the UK are quietly preparing for one of the busiest times of year.

Spring is nesting season. Birds are pairing up, looking for safe places to raise their young, and gathering materials to build cosy nests ready for eggs. It’s a wonderful time to slow down, look a little closer, and find small ways to help.

Nest Boxes and Nesting Season

Many garden birds will start exploring potential nesting sites from late winter onwards. By early spring, some are already settled and preparing to lay eggs.

Nest boxes can provide much-needed shelter, especially in gardens and built-up areas where natural tree holes are harder to find.

Where to position a nest box:

Place boxes 2–4 metres above the ground if possible
Face them north or east to avoid strong sun and heavy rain
Choose a quiet spot, away from busy paths and feeding areas
Fix them securely to a wall, tree, or fence so they don’t sway

Once a nest box is in place, it’s best to leave it alone. Watching from a distance is fine, but birds need peace and quiet while nesting.

Even if a box isn’t used straight away, don’t be discouraged. Sometimes it can take a season or two for birds to move in.

A Simple Spring Craft: Make a Bird Feeder

Alongside nest boxes, providing food can really help birds as they use extra energy building nests and laying eggs.

This is a lovely, simple craft to do with children and can be made using items you may already have at home.

You’ll need:

A pine cone or cardboard tube
Smooth peanut butter or vegetable suet
Bird seed
String or twine

How to make it:

Tie a piece of string securely around the pine cone or tube
Spread peanut butter or suet all over the surface
Roll it in bird seed until well coated
Hang it on a tree branch or fence, somewhere birds can easily spot it

Try to place feeders away from nest boxes so nesting birds aren’t disturbed.

Make It a Moment

This doesn’t have to be rushed. Take time to talk about why birds need help in spring. Watch which birds visit. Notice how different species feed and move. You could even keep a small notebook nearby to jot down what you see, or encourage children to draw their favourite visitor.