by Le Grand Chef

Created on: February 25, 2009   Last Updated: March 06, 2009

Nothing excites a child more (well, it thrilled me to pieces) than watching a bird enjoying a meal from a feeder they have just made. I remember spending hours in the window watching birds of all sizes and colors flitting between our many feeders and the trees. Living in the north, we were lucky to be visited by cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, juncos and nuthatches all winter long. Our yard was a veritable paradise for the birds; we loved them as much as they appreciated us

I made my first pinecone feeder on a cold winter day while stuck inside, snowbound. In the kitchen there was some newsprint spread on the table. On the paper were a few large pine cones (leftover Christmas ornaments), a jar of peanut butter and a tin of hard bacon fat. There was also a pie pan piled high with a bird seed mix favored by our regular visitors. I learned how to make a bird feeder that day and this is how we did it.

- The first step was to tie a piece of butchers twine to the base of the cone so it can be hung later. Use a long piece of the string so you have lots to play with later when it's time for you tie it to a branch (with mittens on).

- With a butter knife, spread peanut butter, bacon fat or suet deep inside the open cone. In winter don't worry about the fat going bad, it will never happen in the cold. In fact, the fat is an excellent energy source for the birds.

- Push enough fat into the cone so the seeds will stick (about a quarter inch thick) then roll the cones in the bird seed using your fingers or the knife to push the seed into the fat.

- Apply more peanut butter or fat to the cone and build up another layer, then roll it in your seeds and press them into place. Some people add dried fruit and nuts to the mix but it is an expence I don't think the birds care about one way or another.

- Continue layering on the fat and seed until the whole pinecone is full. If it becomes sticky in the warmth of your hands, set it outside in the cold until it firms up. You can put so much seed and fat on a pinecone with this method that it will look like an odd shaped seed ball you might have bought at the store.

- When you have molded the last layer, carefully place the new feeder outside in the cold until it goes hard.

Once your feeder has set up, you can hang them from the tree branches or use Christmas light hangers designed for rain gutters and hang them in front of windows. One final word; it is wonderful to be kind to our feathered friends, but always remember, feeders are the human way to help overwintering bird populations survive the fruitless, bug free winter months. As the weather warms do our friends a favour and remove your feeders. Keeping a feeder full in warmer months when they can fend for themselves only makes the birds' dependant on us and that is not nature's way.

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