Peanut Butter Bird Feeder ~ A Super Simple Snow Day Activity

Winter has generously gifted us with her beauty this year.  She has provided for sledding  and snow cream, hot cocoa and s'mores, snuggling in front of a warm fire and staying in our pajamas on snow days.  Spring will be here to take Winter's place in 13 days. As if to say, "I won't see you again for nine more months, I will leave you with one last blessing until we meet again," enormous and beautiful snow flakes fell this March morning, covering this Southern Virginia yard in a blanket of white for probably hopefully the last time this season.  As much as I could groan about another snow day, when I look out of the window, I can only be in awe of these enormous white flakes falling from the sky. No matter how long it snows or how much we get, it is still beautiful. While it's here and I have no control over it, I might as well enjoy it.

Thinking that the birds must be confused about this late snow fall, I remembered a very simple activity that our Girl Scout troop did a few years ago. This simple bird feeder project is perfect for a snowy day.  The children and I made this fun, easy, and practical project with materials that we happened to already have here at home.  Here's how you can make one, too:

1.      Gather your materials.

·        Newspaper or Wax Paper (not necessary, but helpful)

·        Empty Toilet Paper Rolls or Paper Towel Rolls (We get these out of the recycling bin. Since we keep our compost, recycling, and garbage in separate containers, it’s not yucky. I promise.)  We have used bagels for this project in the past, but let’s be real. It’s a snow day in the South, and we aren’t parting with our bread. If you have bagels you are willing to part with, use them. The squirrels love them!

·        String, Twine, Ribbon, or Yarn and Scissors

·        Peanut butter, a bowl for the peanut butter, and something to spread it with (a spreader, spoon, or butter knife)

·        Bird Seed and Tray to pour it in

·        A tree, bush, or hook to hang the bird feeder on

·        Lovely birds and hungry squirrels

2.      Clear off a surface. I taped down newspaper, because cleaning peanut butter off of a wooden surface is a chore.

3.      Cut the string into strips, thread through the toilet paper rolls, and tie in a double knot. Make sure to thread and tie the string before spreading the peanut butter and bird seed to avoid a big mess.

4.      Put enough peanut butter in a bowl to cover the number of rolls that you are working with. It dirties another dish, but avoids dipping and re-dipping the spreaders into peanut butter jar. Use your spreader to spread peanut butter all over the roll, covering the entire surface.

5.      Pour bird seed into a flat bottom pan. Dip and roll the peanut butter covered rolls in the bird seed. Pat it down if you wish.

6.      Your bird feeder is complete. Put on your snow boots and take a walk, looking for just the right tree limb upon which to hang your bird feeder. Have the children guess how long it will be before the bird seed is all gone, or guess which one feeder will be eaten first.  If you can, hang it in front of a window where you can check its progress and bird watch throughout the day. 

Do you have other ideas for simple projects that you would like to share? I would love to hear your ideas!

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