Bird Feeders

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During the springtime, all I want to do with my boys is spend time outside. However, it doesn’t take long before my rascals’ attention ends up elsewhere and they want to move on to the next thing. That’s why I try to help them feel a connection with nature wherever I can, and making DIY bird feeders is the perfect way to get them involved, do an earth-friendly activity together, and, hopefully, teach them a couple things along the way.

The best thing about this project is everything you need is either a staple or is easy to come by! It’s also pretty impossible to mess up and it’s fully natural, so you don’t have to worry about any harm coming to the earth or any animals.

Supplies Needed:

  • Pine cone(s)

  • Peanut butter (the thicker the better)

  • Twine

  • Bird seed (I like this wild bird seed)

Instructions:

  1. The first thing you’ll want to do is go for a walk with your rascal(s) to your favorite local park and collect pine cones! There are pine cones everywhere in the parks near my house, so it’s never hard for my rascals to find a few they like. The best ones for this bird feeder are ones that have dried out and are fully open, with lots of nooks and crannies, perfect for bird seed and peanut butter.

  2. Once you have your pine cones, start by tying twine to the tip of them. Make sure you leave enough leftover twine to be able to tie your DIY Bird Feeder to a tree branch.

  3. Next, cover the pine cone in peanut butter. Thicker peanut butter will hold onto bird seed better than thinner, creamier varieties. You can either smooth it on with a butter knife, or let your kids get messy and use their hands. Make sure it gets in all the hidden spaces so it can feed a ton of birds. 

  4. Once your pine cone is coated, pour some wild bird seed on a paper plate, then roll your peanut-butter coated pine cone around until it’s fully covered in seeds. 

  5. Now, have your rascal(s) find the perfect place to hang them. Good spots are high enough that cats can’t reach, and not too deep into a tree for a bird to easily get to. Hang them up, and enjoy all the new bird friends that will now be visiting. If your kids get really into bird watching after this project, consider getting them a guide local to your state so they can identify and learn about the different birds that come to visit. 

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 10.