If you live in more of a suburban to rural area and have birds a plenty or a regular wildlife visitor to your backyard, building a bird hide is a perfect activity for you and your family.
A bird hide, also called a bird blind in North America, is a structure that’s used to help camouflage you while you watch and/or get great photos of wildlife.
We were giving our yard a general spring clean-up and I was chopping some of the palm branches to keep them away from the fence. Rather than lumping them into the trailer and taking them to the dump, I thought the cut offs could be used to make a nice observation bird hide instead.
This is how I made it.
I cut all the palm fronds off of the palm branches to keep them for later use.
I measured four palm branches and cut them to similar lengths.
I grabbed my left over rope from the spider web obstacle course and tried to remember my trusty knot knowledge from the time I was a scout. I couldn’t (I was never really into knots). Luckily, the internet had exactly what I needed. This video gives a really good tutorial on how bind two poles with a diagonal lashing.
I lashed both sides of the bird hide.
Next, I stood up the two sides (Miss Possum helped) and I placed the pole on top. Miss Possum held it while I did a similar knot to keep the frame sturdy.
Next I used some guylines from our camping tent to ensure it would be safe for the girls. You could also make your own here.
We placed all the palm fronds on top. If you don’t have palms, you could use any sturdy branches and foliage available to you.
Miss Possum and I spent a few mornings sitting in the hide, watching the birds fly on to our fence and then onto the neighbour’s roof.
I must admit that I had a hard time getting close-up photos of birds while in the hide, but that’s only due to our house location and perhaps my lack of patience!
I did score this little one of a little regular visitor to the flowers outside of our window (the reason I set up the bird hide in that location in the first place). I cant be certain but I think it’s a brown honeyeater.
The best thing about this bird hide is that it’s versatile. It can be used to observe animals up-close without them knowing you’re there but it doesn’t need to be used as a bird hide all the time. Instead, it can become whatever your child’s imagination wants it to be – a nature hut, fairy house, bird nest or hide out. They way it can be used seems endless!
What a fantastic adventure and creation Penny! They must had had a ball…and how clever doing the lashing…i’m a bit useless at that, lucky Miss Teen went to girl guides…we might try something similar here!
jode@mummymusingsandmayhem recently posted..Toddler Family Food….Extra Crunchy Wedges!
We do love it. It’s so easy to just go an buy products, Sometimes we forget we have all the resources we need at home and in the garden!
Have you joined the Wildlife Wednesday Google+ Community? https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/116177604265527337364 It’s a homeschool group but your posts would be great for it.
Susan Case recently posted..The Nativity and a Christmas Symbol Story
Thank you so much Susan, You’re always looking out for me. I really appreciate it. I’ve joined now, I just have to try and make some effort to link up regularly.
What a fabulous idea!!! LOVE IT! I can see that the bird hide will get so many more uses out of it as your girls create more adventures and imaginative play ideas. We have tons of birdlife at our place to be explored…..we need a bird hide!!!
We made one out of an old cardboard box. I’ll post that one later down the track though.
I love this! What a fantastic little cubby and obviously the added bonus of being able to see the birds up close is wonderful!
Bek @ Just For Daisy recently posted..Little Peppa’s Birth Story – 6 months old already!
Thanks back. I really enjoyed making it for the girls and I know the loved it too!
My kids would LOve this! Such an awesome cubby/hide idea! I’ve seen ones done with sunflowers all planted in a circle etc… but that would take too long to grow. We could make this much quicker!
Debs recently posted.."Shivery Snow" for Outdoor Sensory Play this Summer
I saw that one too and just adored it. I’d love to make one of those myself! I jus love that we recycled out garden cut offs. I’m so glad I didn’t throw them away!
I want to make this so badly! Have to find out a way to make it work in my yard!
stephanie recently posted..Teacher Mama: Two Christmas Rhymes
Hmm, I guess it depends on what you need to cut adown in your yard and if you can get five poles out of it. Perhaps you could use recycles products too?
What a fun bird hide! And I like that you repurposed your palm branches!
Kelly recently posted..Happy Family Times ~ Christmas tree hunt
I know, we had a great time, so glad I used those palm leaves for something.
Oh wow! What fun. We have to do this one day. Thanks for sharing!
Hannah recently posted..Shadow Box Advent Calendar
You’re welcome Hannah, thanks so much for visiting! It was a lot of fun.
This is so cool!
My little champion would love this hideaway. I am definitly pinning this so we can do it over the hollidays.
thanks for sharing.
Renee @ Adventures at home with Mum recently posted..Child-led Baking & Decorating – Easy Christmas Gingermen recipe
Thank so much for sharing this Renee. We love it to. It was so much fun to make!
This is absolutely fantastic! I am excited to add it to my toddler hideaway roundup- thanks for adding it to the list! We will definitely be making one this spring!
Stephanie recently posted..Gearing Up…
Thanks so much Stephanie! I’m glad you liked it. I just didn’t want to waste the opportunity of using the palm cut offs. This post just shows that I was a cub scout doesn’t it. lol