How to Build a Simple Pinecone Bird Feeder

Learn how to turn a pinecone into a snack station for your neighborhood birds with this simple outdoor craft. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Prepare your hanging string. Cut a piece of twine about 12 inches long. Tie it securely around the top of your pinecone so you have a loop to hang it from a tree branch later.
2. Spread the butter. Using your plastic knife, carefully spread a layer of peanut butter or seed butter all over the pinecone. Make sure to get it deep into the spaces between the scales.
3. Add the seeds. Pour your birdseed onto a flat tray. Roll the sticky pinecone in the seeds until all the butter is covered and the seeds are stuck firmly in place.
4. Hang it up. Take your finished feeder outside. Ask a grown-up to help you find a sturdy branch where you can hang it, preferably somewhere you can see from a window.