Peanut Butter Pine Cones For Birds

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Our feathered friends need our help finding food during the cold months.  Insects are scarce and most berries are gone.  One way that I feed the birds is to make peanut butter pine cones. 

This is an activity that is fun to make with your children or grandchildren.  You will need the following ingredients:

• Medium - large pine cone(s) with a strong top  (Take a walk with your children and let them pick the pine cones) 
• Peanut Butter (Store Brand or whatever you have on hand)
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 birdseed
• string/twine
• newspaper
• Paper Plate or cutting board 
• Freezer bags 

Step 1 - Spread newspaper to work on if children are assisting. 

Step 2 - Wrap a piece of string or twine around the top of the pine cone.  You will be using the string to tie around a tree branch, so make sure the ends are long enough to tie around the branch. 

Step 3 - Use a knife, plastic if your children are assisting, to spread the peanut butter over the pine cone.  I actually use store brand peanut butter, it's cheaper.  I was out, so I used my Jiff for this demonstration.   I spoon the peanut butter onto the paper plate to avoid dipping the knife that I'm using on the pine cone back into the peanut butter. 

Step 4 - Spread the peanut butter over the pine cone.   (Do not put peanut butter at the top of the pine cone near the string).   You don't want the birds peaking at the string. 

Step 5 - Cover the peanut butter with the bird and/or sunflower seeds by spreading the seed on paper plate.  Spread it evenly on the paper plate and roll the pine cone until covered.  You can also use a spoon to help fill in the gaps by spooning the seed over the pine cone.  Use your hands to push seeds into the peanut butter if needed.  (Can get messy with children, beware). 

Step 5 - Place the pine cone(s) in freezer bags for 1 hour before hanging outside.  If you've made more than 1 pine cone, leave the additional pine cones in the freezer until ready to use. 

Step 6 - Hang pine cone in a place where you can watch our feathered friends enjoy your treat.