How to Make a Pincecone Bird Feeder

A pinecone bird feeder is a great "go green" craft project. Adults or children of any age can make them, and they are a good way to recycle fallen pinecones, and help feed the wild birds. These feeders will attract birds and maybe even a squirrel or two to your yard, and look beautiful hanging on your trees.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old newspaper or plastic
• String or yarn
• Pinecone
• Butter knife
• Peanut butter
• Wild bird seed
• Ribbon (optional)

1. Lay out the old newspaper or plastic on the top of a table or other flat surface. This craft can get a little messy, and it is best to protect the surface you are working on.

2. Tie a piece of yarn or string around the little knob that is on top of the pinecone. If you can't locate the knob, you can tie the yarn or string to any area near the top of the pinecone. Tie it securely, and make the string long enough so the finished bird feeder can hang down a bit from the tree branch.

3. Use the butter knife to apply the peanut butter to all parts of the pinecone. If using a large pinecone that has already opened up, use the knife to insert the peanut butter deep into the crevices of each "petal" of the pinecone.

4. Pour birdseed slowly down over the peanut butter covered pinecone. Try to get a little bit of birdseed on each part of the peanut butter. You can even roll the pinecone in the excess birdseed that has fallen onto your work surface.

5. Let the pinecone bird feeder dry. If it looks a little bare, you can try repeating the steps again until it fills in more.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate the pinecone with pieces of spare ribbon if you like. Birds like colorful soft objects to make their nests with. Also consider bits of pillow stuffing.
• Do not use glue or glitter on the bird feeder, as those objects could be harmful to the birds if eaten.

[diggitydogg]

on 12/3/2008 Well laid-out steps and easy to follow. Thanks!