Make a pinecone bird feeder

A pinecone bird feeder is one of the simplest things you can make for the yard: a pinecone, something sticky, some seed and a piece of string. It takes about an evening including the cold part outside, and it gives you something to watch from the window. This guide covers what to spread on it, where to hang it and how to keep it safe for the birds.

When and where

Make it in the daylight if you can, so you can hang it somewhere well lit and see how it looks from your window. Winter is a good time to put out food, because natural food is harder to find. Once you start, try to keep it stocked, since birds learn where to find it.

Choose a branch you can see from inside. Near a tree or bush is best, because birds like somewhere to perch and shelter nearby. Keep it a few feet off the ground and away from places cats can reach, and not too close to a window if birds could strike the glass. If you can’t hang it, a balcony hook works.

What to bring, beyond the list

• A butter knife or spoon for spreading.
• A shallow tray for rolling the cone in seed.
• Gloves, because it is cold and sticky.
• Soap and water for your hands afterwards.

If you gather pinecones outside, shake them out and dry them before you use them. You can also buy them at a craft store.

How to make a pinecone bird feeder

1. Tie the string first. Wrap a length of string around the top of the pinecone, between the scales, and tie it in a loop. Leave enough to hang from a branch.
2. Spread the fat. Use peanut butter or vegetable shortening, pushing it into the gaps between the scales. Use a smooth, plain kind with no added salt or sugar, and no xylitol. If someone near you has a nut allergy, use shortening.
3. Roll it in seed. Pour a birdseed mix onto a tray and roll the cone until it is coated. Press the seed into the gaps.
4. Chill it for a short while if you can, so the spread firms up and the seed sticks.
5. Hang it. Tie it to a branch that is sturdy and a few feet off the ground, within view of your window.
6. Wait and watch. It can take days before the first visitor.

What goes wrong

• The seed falls off. The spread was too thin or too warm. Add more, press harder, or chill it first.
• Nothing is coming. Give it time and check the location. Move it near some cover if it is too exposed.
• Squirrels get it. Hang it from the thinnest end of a branch, or accept that they may take some. A smooth pole or hook is harder for them to climb.
• It looks damp or mouldy. Take it down and throw it away. Make a fresh one.
• Cats can reach it. Move it somewhere they can’t, or keep it higher.

Never use bread or leftover cooked food, and never salty or flavoured nuts. Plain, unsalted ones are fine.

Keeping it going

A pinecone feeder doesn’t last forever, so replace it every couple of weeks, or sooner if it gets wet. Clean off the branch, and wash your hands after handling. If you start a regular feeder, empty and wash it often, because dirty feeders can spread disease between birds. It helps to know who is visiting, and a notebook by the window is enough to jot down what you see.

Staying safe in the cold

Dress warmly for hanging it, and wear gloves, since peanut butter is hard to scrape off cold fingers. Hang it while it’s light, watch for ice on steps and paths, and keep it away from roads. If you share a yard or building, check that a feeder is allowed there, and think about neighbours who might not want the visitors.

Make it a winter morning

Make the feeder in the evening and hang it first thing in the morning, when birds are looking for food. Then keep an eye out from the window with a hot drink, or turn it into a proper bird count when you can. If you want a longer outing, a winter hike is a good place to find more pinecones.