This bird feeder is easy to put together — it may not last more than a season, but those birds visiting from the Arctic will appreciate the vittles. (That’s “food” in old school talk. Real old school.)

“Some of the birds that breed in the Arctic come to southern Canada during the winter and may visit our bird feeders,” says Chris Earley at The Arboretum at the University of Guelph in Ontario. So build them a bird feeder!

Earley says that some birds you might see are common redpolls and American tree sparrows. Other birds that may be shy or only found in dense forests in the summer may show themselves at bird feeders in the winter, too. These include dark-eyed juncos, pine siskins, and red-breasted nuthatches.

• Clean milk or juice carton

• Scissors (if working with an adult, you can use an Exacto knife, it’s easier)

• Nail

• 2 sticks about 20 cm long (Note: we used wooden skewers from the grocery store; we cut off the sharp ends with scissors after we pushed them through the holes.)

• String or twine

• Black oil sunflower seeds

1. Cut squares in all four sides of the carton, about halfway down. Each square should be about 8 cm x 8 cm.

2. Use the nail to punch a small hole below each square. One set of facing holes should be slightly lower than the other.

3. Push sticks through the holes to form a cross inside the carton. The ends should stick out to serve as perches for the birds.

4. Punch two holes at the top of the carton and loop the string through. Use the string to tie the feeder to a branch.

5. Punch holes in the bottom of the feeder. (To allow for water drainage so the seeds won’t spoil.)

6. Fill the bottom of your feeder with seeds. What birds come to feed and when? Are they in groups or alone?

Simply put, you’re connecting with nature! “By watching birds,” Chris Earley says, “we can learn about how they feed, how they avoid predators, and how they attract mates.” The bonus is that, by watching all kinds of birds visit your neighborhood, you can learn about biodiversity right in your own backyard.