The Green Life was developed as a way for Metro GreenScape to share the fun of outdoor living with families in our area. This month we would like to bring you a quick and easy project to do with the kids.
Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Materials you will need for each pinecone feeder:
- A large, open pinecone
- Vegetable shortening and peanut putter
- Birdseed
- A few feet of string, fishing line or twine
- Mixing bowl
- Butter knife
- Spoon
- Scissors
- Pie tin, paper plate or cookie sheet
- ½ cup measuring cup
- Optional: High-energy bird foods such as dried fruit (cut in small pieces), chopped nuts, sunflower seeds or millet
Directions
1. Tie a three to four foot piece of yarn around the top of the pine cone for the hanger.
2. Mix two tablespoons of peanut butter with two tablespoons of shortening.
3. Spread the peanut butter and shortening mixture onto the pine cone.
4. Pour some bird seed onto a plate or shallow dish and roll the pine cone in it.
5. Optional: add dried fruit (chopped up), chopped nuts, seeds (especially sunflower and millet) which are high-energy bird foods.
6. Place the seed-covered pine cones in the freezer for about an hour or until it is firm.
7. Hang it outside in a tree!
Tips:
1. Hang your pine cone at the end of a smaller branch so squirrels don't get it.
2. Work with the bird seed over newspaper to help make clean up time easier.
3. The feeders are best when it is cooler outside. If it is too warm, the shortening will melt and the mixture fall from the cone.
*** please send us your completed feeder pictures! We would love to include them on our blog! (send to: heather@metrogreenscape.com)
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