Peanut Butter Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Making Peanut Butter Pine Cone Feeders At Our Local Library

I recently read the book Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft and Richard G. Van Gelder to preschoolers at our local library.

One of the things the book talked about was ways to help animals in winter and one of the ways mentioned was putting up different kinds of bird feeders at home. I decided that helping the preschoolers and their families make peanut butter pine cone bird feeders would be a great activity to end the program with.

Bird watching is fun for the whole family and making a winter bird feeding station in your back yard is a great way to entice our fine feathered friends into your yard for up-close viewing.

Making peanut butter pine cone feeders is simple and it doesn't require a lot of supplies. For each one you will need:

- a pipe cleaner or chenille stem
- pine cone (large or small...it doesn't matter)
- peanut butter (creamy or chunky...your choice...either one will work just fine)
- a table knife, plastic knife, tongue depresser, or craft stick for spreading the peanut butter
- a small amount of mixed birdseed

To make:

1. Wrap the pipe cleaner or chenille stem around the upper edge of the pine cone, twisting it to secure and create a loop for hanging.
2. Holding the upper edge of the pine cone, pointy end down and working from the bottom up, using the knife or craft stick spread peanut butter upwards into the open bracts of the pine cone. (The cone can be filled as full or as sparse as you like with the peanut butter. It's totally up to you.)
3. After peanut butter has been spread into the bracts of the pine cone, roll the pine cone in birdseed until the outside is coated.
4. Hang in a prominent area where the cone can easily be observed from a window.
5. Enjoy watching to see who comes to visit your feeder. (Note that it might take a day or two for the birds to discover their tasty, new treat, so don't be disappointed if they don't flock to it right away. They'll find it soon enough.)

Peanut Butter Pine Cone Bird Feeders Hanging In A Tree In The Backyard

As an added extension to this activity, this might be the perfect time for you and your family to invest in a good bird identification book and start a lifelong bird list or nature journal.

Have fun and, whatever you do, enjoy the time that you have with your little ones!

Making Each Day An Adventure
~Rebecca

Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft and Richard G. Van Gelder

Welcome!

Hello! And welcome to Preschool, Homeschool, and Early Education!

My name is Rebecca. I am a 26-year veteran, homeschooling mom of six and grandmother to fourteen. I am a year-round seasonal naturalist at Prairie State Park in southwest Missouri and am in charge of the homeschool and preschool programs at the park. I take preschool programs into the local library once a month, as well.

Over the past, nearly three, decades I have done a multitude of projects working with children of all ages. I've decided that it's time to share some of those projects and educational ideas with others, so...here I am!

I hope you enjoy the things that I have to share and can use some of them in your own educational endeavors in the days ahead!

Until Next Time...
~Rebecca