How to make a winter bird treat – Great Holiday gift for the kids to make.

November 20, 3:35 PMSeattle Garden & Kitchen ExaminerJerry & Kristy

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As the temperatures continue to drop, our feathered friends may begin to run out of food. This is a great time to make a quick and easy bird feeder that is sure to be a hit with the local birds!

This is a great project for kids to make for Grandparents, other relatives and even their teacher. They can take pride in making it themselves and the knowing it will help the birds through the winter. 

   Pinecone feeders are easy gifts for kids to make.

 Items Needed:

·         Pine cones

·         Peanut butter

·         Bird seed – pour into a pie pan

·         Fishing line or dental floss

Instructions:

If you live in a wooded area you can just take a nice walk outside. If not, simply head for a wooded park for the morning. Let the kids know their mission is to locate pinecones: larger ones are easiest to work with but younger kids may do better with smaller ones.

When you get home place the unopened ones in a 200-250 degree oven for a few minutes, and they’ll open right up.

Tie the fishing line tightly around the wider end of the pine cone, leaving enough line to hang some of them down from branches. The rest of them will need less line as you will tie them into evergreen branches.

Lay down paper before starting. Take the pine cone and cover it in peanut butter. Kids can do this with plastic knives.

Once the pine cone is covered, roll in the bird seeds (in the pie pan) so that the seeds stick to the peanut butter. Roll it a few times, until well coated.  

That’s it – now hang from small branches and/or tie them into some evergreen branches and sit back and wait for the birds to find them. Don’t forget to make more once they are eaten as they will have become dependent on that food source through the winter.

Note:
Do NOT use craft store pinecones as they are often treated and can end up being harmful to the birds.