Pinecone Birdfeeder

To get started, all you need is a pinecone, a piece of string, 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter, and ¼ - ½ cup of birdseed (see picture above).

If you’re doing this as an organized craft for a group of campers or scouts, I’d recommend pre-cutting the string, and measuring out the birdseed and peanut butter in little cups, bowls, or bags. And while making this craft is a simple activity, it always helps to have a few adults or older kids to make things go smoothly.

Here’s what you do next…

• Step 1: Butter-up the pinecone

  
  Take a plastic knife and gently spread the peanut butter from the bottom towards the tip of the pinecone. By doing it this way, you’ll be spreading the peanut butter in the same direction as the pinecone fins…not against them. This makes it easier to spread. The more uniform the peanut butter, the more seed that will stick to your pinecone birdfeeder.

• Step 2: Stick on the birdseed

  
  Next, depending on the size of the pinecone, spread out between ¼ and ½ cup of birdseed on a piece of paper or cardboard. Roll the pinecone over the seed until it is completely covered with birdseed.

• Step 3: Add your string to the birdfeeder

  
  For the next step you’ll need a piece of string that’s 12-18 inches long. The shorter the piece of string, the more frustrating it can be to hang up…don’t skimp on the string! Take the center of the string and gently wedge it up under the fins of the pinecone towards it’s base. Tie a simple knot, so that you still have 2 ends to the sting with the pinecone affixed at the center of the string. Now you’re ready to hang it up!

• Step 4: Find that perfect branch

  
  This step can be more complicated than it sounds. It can be a challenge to find a spot where birds can get to the pinecone and squirrels can not. You also want to hang your pinecone birdfeeder somewhere you can see it, but it’s no so close to you that birds stay away. Now that you found a spot, tie a double-knot over the branch so that the birdfeeder hangs down freely. Let your explorers sit back & watch the feathered visitors!

Making a pinecone birdfeeder is a fun camping activity for all ages. It’s also a great way to attract some of nature’s most colorful inhabitants. This is a great craft for cub scouts, brownies, and kids that like the outdoors. Enjoy!!

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