How to Make a Bird Seed Feeder With Peanut Butter

Making bird seed feeders using pine cones and peanut butter is a popular activity for elementary school students. Aside from teaching children about nature and their environment, peanut butter bird seed feeders will attract a wide variety of songbirds and create a haven for several North American species in almost any outdoor spot. Woodpeckers, chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches, bluebirds, wrens and nuthatches are just a few of the peanut butter-loving birds that are likely to show up at the feeder.

Things You'll Need

  • Large pine cone
  • Picture-hanging wire or fishing line
  • Butter knife
  • 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
  • 1 cup black oil sunflower seeds
  • Pie plate
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean the pine cone, removing any dead bits or moldy areas.

    • 2

      Make a hanging loop for the feeder by piercing a hole in the top of the pine cone and stringing a length of fishing line through it. Or, wrap a length of picture-hanging wire around the stem of the pine cone and bend the wire into a hook.

    • 3

      Spread the peanut butter over the pine cone's surface with a butter knife, tucking the peanut butter into the "pockets" of the pine cone.

    • 4

      Pour the sunflower seeds into the pie plate into a single layer.

    • 5

      Roll the peanut butter-covered pine cone in the seeds so the entire surface is covered. Press gently but firmly to make sure the seeds stick to the peanut butter.

    • 6

      Hang the pine cone feeder in an outdoor area that provides some tree cover to birds. An open spot in your backyard next to a stand of trees or shrubbery is ideal.