Winter can be a hard time for wildlife, especially birds. Resources are limited but the need to stay warm requires a lot of energy.
We can help our feathered friends by feeding them over the winter months. However, it’s important for us to know that we can inadvertently harm birds if we aren’t careful and purposeful with how we feed them.
Making pine cone feeders is a fun activity for kids and provides a safe feeding space for birds.
Why make pine cone bird feeders?
One common problem with having year-round bird feeders is that people don’t clean them. This can lead to the spread of disease and parasites between species that don’t normally interact. By making pine cone bird feeders, you provide a short-lived gathering place for birds and the chances of them spreading disease decreases.
If you like having year-round bird feeders (which we certainly do), just make sure you clean them a few times a year with a 10% non-chlorinated bleach solution.
Make it a learning opportunity!
Start a discussion with your kids as you make your feeders:
- How do birds benefit from these feeders? They have access to a food source. Short-lived feeders reduce the risk of spreading disease.
- How does the environment benefit from these feeders? Pine cones are naturally biodegradable! They’re also a renewable resource that we can get anytime so we are not being wasteful.
- How does it benefit us? It can make us feel good because we are helping others. It can also help us learn birds that are common in our neighborhood.
How to Make a Pine Cone Bird Feeder
Supplies:
- Pine cone
- Yarn or string
- Peanut butter
- Spoon
- Bird seed
- Go outside with your kids and let them pick their own pine cone. Pine trees are common in and outside of the city, so you shouldn’t have any problems finding them.
- Let your child tie a string to the top of the pine cone.
- Give them a spoon and allow them to spread peanut butter all over the pine cone.
- Let your kids dip and roll their cones in bird seed.
One Last Thing:
I realize that many of you have young kids and that you’ll have the urge to make the feeder for them. Please don’t. This activity offers so much more than talking about birds and feeding them. It gives your kids a chance to practice fine and gross motor skills. It also builds their confidence as they learn new skills.
Yes, it will be ugly. Yes, it will be messy. But a messy little kid with an ugly craft makes the best memories! AND Facebook posts!
