Pinecone Bird Feeders

Age: Preschool through elementary
Time: 30 minutes
Type of activity: Nature craft

Materials needed:
· Pinecones (one for each feeder)
· 1/4 cup peanut butter (per pinecone)
· Popsicle sticks
· 2 cups bird seed (mixed variety)
· String or yarn cut into 4-foot strips
· Old newspapers

What to do:

Step One: Take a walk outside with your child to collect an assortment of pinecones. Talk about the different kinds of pinecones you find and the kinds of trees they come from.

Step Two: Place old newspapers on the work surface where you'll be making your bird feeders.

Step Three: Using a popsicle stick, spread peanut butter all over each pinecone. Make sure to cover the surface completely.

Step Four: Spread out birdseed on top of the newspapers. Roll each pinecone in the birdseed until it's completely coated and no peanut butter is visible.

Step Five: Tie a piece of string around the top of each pinecone.

Step Six: You or another adult can now hang the pinecones from tree branches in your yard, or wherever you can watch the birds.

Step Seven: Each day, watch your birdfeeder at the same time. Keep a record of the kinds of birds that visit. Talk with your child about why birds have a hard time finding food for in winter.

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