If you feed them, they will come!

If you live in an area with cold winters, food sources can be scarce for many species of wild birds.  Taking time to create little wintertime diners for your feathered friends can be incredibly rewarding.  They are easy and fun DIY projects for adults and kids alike!

Supplies you’ll need:

• 1 cup hot water

• 3 packets unflavored gelatin

• 1/2 cup corn syrup

• 1 1/2 cups flour

• 8 cups wild birdseed

• Bundt pan

• nonstick spray

• 8” floral wreath wire

• (canning jar rings, optional)

Instructions: 

• Spray the Bundt pan with nonstick spray.

• Mix the gelatin packets with hot water until gelatin is dissolved.  Stir in the corn syrup and then the flour until mixed with the gelatin mixture, then add the birdseed and combine.

• Pour or scoop half of the mixture into the Bundt pan, pressing down with the back of a spoon.

• Place the floral wreath wire over the birdseed and press down firmly.  Add the remaining birdseed on top of the wire and press with the back of a spoon to pack it.

• (if you want to make some small rings with this mixture, place canning jar rings on waxed paper and firmly press the  mixture in the ring all the way up to the rim; refrigerate for 24 hours and then poke a small hole near the rim and sting some jute twine through it; tie in a knot and hang on tree)

• Place the mold in the refrigerator or somewhere cold to set and firm up for 24 hours.  Unmold the seed wreath by turning it over onto a piece of waxed paper, parchment paper, or cooling rack and pressing on the bottom of the pan until it pops out.  If it doesn’t pop out easily, let it warm up a little bit.

• Tie a piece of rope or burlap ribbon to the wreath to hang

Pinecone and Toilet Paper Feeders

Both pinecones and empty toilet paper tubes make easy winter feeders for birds. This is a simple craft that is easy and for kids of all ages (even adults).  Using a mixture of cornmeal, peanut butter and wild birdseed, you will be whipping up these little feeders in no time!

Peanut butter contains beneficial fat and protein for winter months and cornmeal contains beneficial fat, fiber, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and folate for bird health.

Supplies you’ll need:

• Pinecones or empty toilet paper tubes

• Smooth peanut butter

• Cornmeal (optional)

• Wild birdseed

• Butter knives or popsicle sticks

• Hemp Twine for hanging (optional for toilet paper rolls)

Instructions: 

• Tie some hemp twine around the top portion of the pine cone.

• Pour some birdseed onto a plate.

• *If using cornmeal, scoop out some peanut butter into a bowl and add a little cornmeal to it until it has a gritty texture.  No need to measure.

• Use a popsicle stick or butter knife to spread peanut butter (or peanut butter mixture) on either the pinecone or clean toilet paper tube.

• Roll the pinecone or toilet paper tube on the plate filled with birdseed.

• * If desired, string a loop of hemp twine through the toilet paper tube.

• Hang the feeders on a branch, bush, shepherd’s hook, or other area for the birds to eat from, or if you don’t attach twine to the toilet paper tube,  slide it onto a branch.

• Your bird feeder is complete!  Enjoy watching the birds as they dine!

Thanks for taking time for our feathered friends. 

Comment below if you made any of these and let me know how it went! Follow @mamapinspired on Instagram, take a photo, tag and hashtag it with @mamapinspired. 

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