Easy Butterfly Feeder

This butterfly feeder is easy for kids to make and looks great hanging from a tree. All you need is a plastic planter, some string, and butterfly food and you're ready to do some butterfly watching.

A butterfly feeder is easy to make and a great way for kids to learn about nature.

At a recent trip to the zoo, we went into the butterfly garden. The kids were fascinated by the butterfly feeders there.

A butterfly feeder is easy to make and a great way for kids to learn about nature.

I knew they would be easy to make at home. We started with a plastic plant saucer (bigger is better as far as my kids are concerned). We punched some holes in the rim and attached yarn. (We may also punch some holes in the bottom to drain rainwater.)

A butterfly feeder is easy to make and a great way for kids to learn about nature.

To decorate our feeder, we strung some beads onto the yarn. I wrapped a piece of tape around the end to prevent fraying. In hindsight, I would use some wire so it's less likely to tip.

A butterfly feeder is easy to make and a great way for kids to learn about nature.

For our butterfly food, we cut up some fruit that was staring to go bad.

A butterfly feeder is easy to make and a great way for kids to learn about nature.

We hung it in the yard and waited for the butterflies to come.

A butterfly feeder is easy to make and a great way for kids to learn about nature.

Here's what we saw* when we checked a little while later:

A butterfly feeder is easy to make and a great way for kids to learn about nature.
I believe these butterflies are of the species Photo Editus.
 My nephew made a similar bird feeder as a Mother's Day gift. He made his by covering an embroidery hoop with screen material.

A butterfly feeder is easy to make and a great way for kids to learn about nature.

We also checked out A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston from the library to learn more about butterflies. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's a great introduction to butterflies and gives lots of interesting facts about the different varieties. The illustrations are gorgeous too.


*No we didn't.

Any tips for luring butterflies to our feeder? I've heard honey and yeast. Has anything worked well for you?



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18 comments:

  1. So simple, so cute! I will be pinning and doing this with my kiddos. Great idea!

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  2. I love the fine motor work with beading. How cool that they came and ate it all.

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  3. our butterfly bush isn't doing so well this year, I wonder if this would bring in the butterflies. would love if you shared this on our #kidsinthekitchen linky this week http://lookwhatmomfound.com/2013/08/handprint-flower-bouquet-kidsinthekitchen.html

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  5. when we hatched painted lady butterflies in our classroom they fed on sugar water and watermelon before we released them outdoors.

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  6. featuring you this week on the kids co-op! http://www.frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com/2013/08/must-try-outside-activities-for-kids.html

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  7. LOVE this. Such a cute idea!

    I featured it at TGIF Today (http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/08/tgif-linky-party-89.html)! Thanks for sharing your creativity with us & I hope you'll link up again today!

    Have a great weekend,
    Beth =)

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  8. The water I was drinking just about came out of my nose when I saw your butterfly species!!! When I first saw the picture, I was thinking, "Wow! That's really incredible!" Then I saw your species. Too funny! Hopefully, you really will end up with some real butterflies visiting your super cute feeder!

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    1. Not too many people caught that, Kari! :)

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    2. I noticed! That's why I just HAD to reply! :-)

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    3. You mean ours will not look at pretty!! LOL

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  9. Make simple syrup using 4 parts water and 1 part sugar. Boil until sugar dissolves. After it has cooled, soak a sponge it and put it in the feeder. Watermelon is another good idea! And butterflies like overripe or rotten fruit the most!

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  10. Make simple syrup using 4 parts water and 1 part sugar. Boil until sugar dissolves. After it has cooled, soak a sponge it and put it in the feeder. Watermelon is another good idea! And butterflies like overripe or rotten fruit the most!

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  11. I work at an aquarium with a butterfly house. We spray the fruit with blue Gatorade. It's their favorite. Only, blue though.

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  13. I work in a butterfly house and I just came across this while looking for ideas for our kids club. We use coloured pot scourers soaked in 1 part honey to 10 parts water for nectar feeding butterflies and rotting fruit such as bananas, pineapple and orange for fruit feeders.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!