Make a Pine Cone Bird Feeder
Build a neighborhood fast food stop for your feathered friends
Pine cone bird feeders bring nature right to your door. Most birds eat both seeds and insects, and will see your feeder as a convenient stop for ‘fast food’. Hang it on a tree visible from your window so you can watch all winter long. Make a few of these feeders and hang them at different heights to attract a variety of birds. Now you and your kids can enjoy beautiful birds while they enjoy a welcome treat!
Checklist
- Lifetime Table
- pine cone
- yarn or wire
- scissors
- paper plate
- butter knife
- peanut butter
- margarine or lard
- bird Seed
Steps
- Find a clear workspace. A Lifetime table is easy to clean afterward.
- Tie the yarn or wire to the top of the pine cone, creating a hanger.
Mix an equal amount of peanut butter and margarine (or lard), then spread the mixture over the pine cone.
- In a shallow dish or plate, pour some birdseed about ½” deep.
- Hold the pine cone by its hanger and roll it in the birdseed, until evenly coated.
- Put in the freezer until set (about an hour).
- You’re done! Hang it outside on a tree or by your back door, and enjoy the new friends you’ll attract.
Tips
- You can buy pine cones at any craft store, or prepare ahead of time and pick them up off the ground for free.
- If you can, buy a seed mix with Niger and Safflower. This will attract goldfinches, cardinals, chickadees, and downy woodpeckers, if they are native to your area. Try not to get a mix with red millet; most birds won’t eat it.
- Pine cone feeders work best in the fall and winter, but they can also be used in the summer. Cold weather just helps the peanut butter to keep from going bad.