Kids create houses, feeders to help Valley birds this winter

YOUNGSTOWN

It’s probably a sure bet that Laurie Clifford’s yard will soon see added visitors, thanks in large part to her two sons’ creativity.

“We have about a half-acre with woods,” Clifford said, referring to her Columbiana home and property.

The added guests to her yard likely will be the winged kind, because of her sons Gabriel, 4, and Mitchell, 5, who added their touches to log-shaped birdfeeders during Saturday’s birdfeeder-making class at Mill Creek MetroParks’ Ford Nature Center.

The two brothers were among those who made and took home feeders from milk cartons, logs and pine cones that were to attract a variety of birds such as titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers and chickadees, noted Marilyn Williams, a park naturalist who conducted the one-hour program at the South Side center at 840 Old Furnace Road.

“[Winter] is a nice time to help your birds in the backyard and provide them with food,” she explained.

Read more about their creations and the class in Sunday's Vindicator ord on Vindy.com.