How to Make a Birdfeeder Out of Acorns and Peanut Butter

Children need lots of activities and experiences to stretch their creativity and thinking. In an increasingly technological society, craft activities can also be used to help keep children in touch with nature. Children raised on Google and MySpace could use activities like the following one to reconnect with our natural world. Both summer and winter breaks give parents and caregivers more time for these activities along with a greater urge to keep kids busy.

The following project involves using inexpensive items to make an acorn bird feeder. The project is very easy and has the added bonus of attracting beautiful birds to your yard or garden. The project does not require any heating or tools so it is suitable for children to work on without direct adult supervision.

You will need the following implements to make the bird feeder: tray or plate to roll the acorns on and a spoon or butter knife to spread peanut butter on to the acorn.

You will also need the following ingredients to make the bird feeder: one acorn for each feeder you wish to make, sturdy string or yarn, creamy peanut butter and birdseed.

Begin the project by gathering acorns from outside and obtaining the other ingredients. You can purchase basic bird seed in bulk from most grocery stores and discount retailers. The birds will get nutrients from the bird seed along with protein from the peanut butter used.

Once you have all of the necessary items spread a thick layer of bird seed on to the tray or plate you are using. Now set the plate aside until later.

Next cut a 6 to 8 inch length of sturdy string or yarn for each bird feeder that you plan to make. Now you can try to punch a hole through the top of the acorn if you would like but I have found that its much easier to simply tie both ends of the string around the top of the acorn to form a loop.

After you have tied string to each acorn use the spoon or butter knife to thoroughly coat the acorn with a thick layer of the creamy peanut butter. Once you have coated the acorns with the peanut butter hold each one horizontally by its ends and slowly roll the acorns over the birdseed you spread on the plate. The seed should stick to the peanut butter. When you are finished you should see little to no peanut butter and only see birdseed on the acorn.

Hang the birdfeeders on various tree branches and birds will soon flock to your yard or garden for a nutritious meal. This is a great summer activity to help get kids outside but its also fun and very beneficial for birds when it is done in Winter time. Non-migratory birds often do not have enough to eat during the winter. The essential protein found in the peanut butter and the nutrients from the birdseed may well help some birds survive that would not have otherwise.

Creating these bird feeders in any season provides you an opportunity to teach children about birds, particularly about the important role they play in our ecology and their migratory patterns. The resulting rush of birds that come to eat from the feeders will also give children a chance to do some real bird watching.