Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Activity Type: Crafting/ Bird Watching

Best suited for: Early, First & Second Level / Age 0-4, 5-7, 8-11

Maths involved: counting, data collection, data handling

Materials needed:

• Pine cone
• Natural twine or string – no plastic please!
• 100% pure peanut butter - no added sugar or salt!
• Spatula
• Bird seed

Note: If there is a nut allergy concern, this also works with lard instead of peanut butter.

Instructions

Part 1: Make the bird feeder

Step 1: Tie the twine around the pine cone.

Step 2: Use the spatula to press peanut butter in to the gaps of the cone. Please make sure to use 100% pure peanut butter, with no added sugar or salt, so that it’s safe for the birds.

Step 3: Sprinkle bird seed all over the pine cone, pressing it in to the peanut butter.

Step 4: Tie a loop in the twine so you can hang the pine cone up in your garden or playground.

Note: You can also make an alternative bird feeder instead if you have ideas for a different kind. Or you can use a store bought bird feeder – the maths comes in the second part of this activity!

Part 2: Bird Count

Once you’ve hung up the bird feeder, wait until it attracts some birds and then you can count how many birds come. Tally up your results and/ or create a bar chart with your findings. You could compare the number of birds that came on different days of the week.

Why not take it one step further and sign up to the RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch (for schools) or their Big Garden Birdwatch (for families)!

Video

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