Craft Time: Cone Bird Feeder
Cone Bird Feeder
If you are a birdwatcher or someone interested in wildlife, this activity is for you! Birdwatching has been traced back to the late 18th century when it was the first time people started to gaze upon a bird for their aesthetic rather than food. While watching these birds, you may learn something more than you expected! In this activity, we will draw them closer by creating a pinecone bird feeder, a classic nature craft.
You will need: Wax Paper, Pine or other Cone, String (about 12 to 24 inches long), Peanut Butter, Butter Knife, Bird Seed
- Start by using a butter knife to spread the peanut butter inside the openings all around the center and bottom of the cone and fill up the spaces. Just go nuts!
- Spread bird seed of your choice on the wax paper in an even layer.
- Take the buttered-up cone and roll it in the bird seed so that the seeds stick to the peanut butter all around the outside. You may also want to sprinkle seeds inside any openings.
- Measure your string to hang down from a branch of a tree or bush so that it is far enough from the branch to keep any squirrels from eating your feeder. Tie your string to the top of the pine cone and then to the tree branch.
- Watch and record who comes to visit your cone feeder.
Birds of Blue Mounds
Birds of all kinds can be found throughout the grounds, in the gardens, along the Interpretive Trails, and even around the edges of the buildings. Red Tail hawks can often be seen and heard soaring on thermals high above, while Northern Flickers (top right) and Red Headed Woodpeckers enjoy the oak savanna. American Woodcocks were observed recently and our hope is that they are returning to the mixed deciduous forest along the Oak Valley Loop. Migratory flyovers are common in the spring and fall when Great Blue Herons, Tundra Swans, and Bald Eagles have all been spotted.
