This Thanksgiving Craft is for the Birds

Around Thanksgiving our outdoor friends like the birds and squirrels are looking for seeds, berries and other food. Children are looking for things to do. An easy way to help them both is to allow the children to assemble and provide a pine cone bird feeder for the animals.

This craft is made of all natural materials and after it is used by the animals for food the remaining pieces will biodegrade. I used natural peanut butter and chose the crunchy version which contains small nut pieces.

Materials:

Pine cones

Acorn caps

Sticks

Leaves

Peanut butter

Bird seed

Craft glue

Cotton string or yarn

Assembly:

Using a very small amount of craft glue attach the acorn cap to the narrow end of the pine cone for a head. Set the pine cone and acorn cap aside to allow the glue to dry completely. Trim a piece of stick to the desired size for a perch. Select a few leaves to use for the turkey/bird's tail. Cut a piece of sting approximately 18 inches long.

When the acorn cap is securely fastened to the pine cone use a knife or popsicle stick to smear peanut butter on the pine cone working it into the crevices covering as much of the pine cone as possible with the peanut butter. Roll the pine cone in the birdseed. Stick a few leaves into the pine cone back to form a tail. Tie the string around the middle of the stick and set the pine cone bird/turkey on the stick. Tie the string around the middle of the bird/turkey allowing the string to be drawn into the body of the pine cone. The loose ends of the string may be used to attach the pine cone feeder to a tree branch. The ends of the string may be tied together and the loop then slipped over a tree branch end.

There are many variations of pine cone bird feeders that are suitable crafts for children. This pine cone Thanksgiving turkey feeder seems like a project that children would enjoy both as a craft project and also as an ecologically beneficial and friendly way to feed the birds or squirrels.

You may also enjoy making table decorations with the children for Thanksgiving. Kids love being involved in holiday planning. When they feel they have contributed to the Thanksgiving meal preparations it is even more meaningful for them.