Since it's springtime, the birds are chirping and flying around in search of food. Maybe you can create some bird feeders with your residents to encourage them to come visit your community! 

This activity is both eco-friendly and fun, as residents can turn old milk cartons into functional bird feeders. The residents can decorate the cartons with colorful paints, stickers, and other materials to make them their own unique creations.

Materials:

• Several empty cartons of milk or juice (1L or 2L cartons). Make sure the cartons are rinsed well in warm water and dried.
• A sharp pair of scissors or a knife
• Poster paint or kindergarten paint (check that it’s a non-toxic paint)
• A black marker and strong string
• Plastic primer
• Block sander to sand carton
• 2 lengths of dowel rod 40cm each (15 inches each). You can also use straight sticks if you can’t find these! 
• Bird seeds

Instructions:

• Give each participant a recycled carton.
• Demonstrate how to apply the primer and then distribute brushes and supervise the process. Let cartons dry for about 30 mins to 1 hour. 
• Use a black marker to outline a small door on one side of each carton. 
• Cut out the 'door' on 3 sides leaving the top attached. 
• Cover masking tape around the door edges to make it smooth.
• Apply primer over the masking tape. Leave to dry for about 30 minutes. 
• Paint or decorate as you please! 
• Make two small holes close to the bottom of the cartons just big enough to insert dowels.
• With a skewer or a pair of scissors, make two holes at the top of the cartons to insert string.
• Fill with seeds and hang high on a tree.

Note: It can take birds a couple weeks to find the seeds, so don’t be disappointed if they don’t come right away.