Construction-Free Patio Table Birdfeeder Centerpiece

Here's a project for a patio table birdfeeder centerpiece with a country-style flair. Make it for your own fun and bird watching enjoyment alone, or make it a family project the kids can easily participate in.

Supplies
To make your patio table birdfeeder centerpiece, you will need:

-Metal or glass pie plate
-Approximately 6 inch round wood block or foam craft form covered with aluminum foil
-Peanut Butter
-Bird seed
-1 slice bread
-Cranberries (or another colorful bird berry)
-Toothpicks
-Heart shaped cookie cutter

Instructions
Before you begin assembling your patio table birdfeeder centerpiece, use a large heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut a heart shape from a piece of bread. Leave the bread slice out to dry for a few hours. You want the bread for the birdfeeder to be crusty and stale. If the weather is humid or you are in a rush, toast the bread cutout in the oven at 250 degrees for ten minutes. The bread could also be toasted in a kitchen toaster first, then cut with the cookie cutter.

To begin your patio table birdfeeder centerpiece, cover the top and sides of the round craft form with peanut butter.

Pour a good amount of bird seed onto a separate plate, and press the top of the form into the seed. Cover the sides of the peanut butter covered form by rolling the birdfeeder form in the loose bird seed. Place the covered birdfeeder form in the middle of the pie plate or tin. A dab of peanut butter on the bottom of the birdfeeder form will help hold the form in place.

Gently but firmly press the heart shaped cutout into the peanut butter and seed covered birdfeeder form.

Insert toothpicks into the birdfeeder form (if using foam) at even intervals around the outside of the form. Skewer one cranberry onto each toothpick. The birdfeeder form should somewhat resemble a wreath when you are done. If you used wood as the base for your birdfeeder, simply press the berries into the peanut butter to secure them.

Wild berries, such as bittersweet or winterberry, can be used in place of the cranberries. As wild berries are much smaller, you will find skewering the berries difficult. Instead, break apart small sprigs of berries still on their twiggy stems and insert the stems into the form. Wild berries are quite attractive, and are a natural winter food for birds.

Fill the space around the completed birdfeeder form with loose bird seed.

Finished
With that, your patio table bird feeder is complete.

Place your patio table birdfeeder centerpiece out and enjoy watching the variety of birds that visit your yard. This easy activity is fun to do as a family, then purchase a bird guide and try to identify as many birdfeeder visitors as you can together. The project could even be extended as a science project for home schooled children and others. Graph the number, variety, and frequency of the birds visiting your birdfeeder. Note the times of year certain kinds of birds come around. Scout troops, preschool classrooms, and 4-H groups will appreciate this birdfeeder activity, too.

Remember that drawing birds to your yard with fun and creative birdfeeders is a benefit to the health of your property, too. Birds are more likely to build their homes near reliable sources of food, and will aide in keeping your yard and garden insect free without the need for harmful pesticides.

For more edible birdfeeder projects and wreathes for the birds, read on at AC.