Summertime means fun gardening activities for you and your family. Try making a homemade bird feeder like an Ice Cream Cone Bird Feeder. This easy bird feeder craft is a great way to provide essential bird seed to our Texas birds. Plus, learn more about the benefits of bird watching and enjoy some time relaxing in nature.
3 IMPORTANT REASONS TO FEED BIRDS
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Connect with Nature
A bird feeder full of nutritious snacks like, Calloway’s Premium Bird Seed, attracts birds to your garden or patio. This allows you the opportunity to watch and witness the wonders of nature. You can start to take notice of the different species, colors, and sizes of our Texas birds.
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Educational Self-Care
Bird hobbies like bird watching are a great way to make you “stop and smell the roses”. Taking a break from your busy schedule to enjoy nature is rewarding, relaxing, and can help revitalize your mind and spirit. Through these activities, you and your family can learn the importance of caring for nature, animals, and your own well-being.
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Bird Feeders Provide a Guaranteed Meal
If you feed it, they will come. Providing an uninterrupted source of nourishment for birds is important. When natural resources become scarce, especially during the summer heat, birds know they can always come home to a good meal! The more you feed the birds, the greater the opportunity of witnessing many different species of birds in your garden. Birds need energy to migrate and stay healthy. Bird feeders provide necessary bird seed and nutrients needed to migrate successfully.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO FEED BIRDS?
We have all heard the expression, “the early bird gets the worm”. That is exactly right! Birds tend to venture out early in the morning to start feeding for the day. This is their way of restoring lost energy from the night before.
When you set out your Ice Cream Cone Bird Feeder, try to plan for the morning from 7 am – 11 am. You are more likely to get a stronger showing of birds to watch and temperatures are usually cooler to keep your homemade bird feeder intact. The morning is especially important to our urbanites, as birds tend to be more active during quieter parts of the day.
HOW-TO MAKE ICE CREAM CONE BIRD FEEDERS
INGREDIENTS
For this bird feeder craft, you will need the following supplies:
- Calloway’s Premium Bird Seed
- Sugar Cones
- Cheerios®
- Peanut Butter or Nut-Free Peanut Butter*
- String or Yarn
- Scissors
*Lard or Suet can be substituted for the peanut butter.
STEP 1: Prepare the Ice Cream Cones
Carefully remove the ice cream cones from their packaging. Grab as many as you want to make.
With scissors, cut the tips off each ice cream cone for the string to go through. Do not cut too much or the string will not hold. Remember, always use adult supervision when using scissors!
Next, cut pieces of string. Make sure each piece is at least 10 inches long.
Pull the string through the tip of each ice cream cone and a tie a knot to secure it. The string should hold the cone and not pull through the hole.
STEP 2: Add the Cheerios®
Thread the Cheerios onto each string. Add as many as you would like, but make sure to leave at least 4 inches of string left for hanging.
When finished, tie another knot to secure the Cheerios to the string.
STEP 3: Add the Bird Seed
It is time to add the good stuff! First, cover the outside of each ice cream cone with peanut butter or nut-free peanut butter. Remember, you can always substitute lard or suet if needed. This provides a sticky surface for the bird seed to adhere to.
Lay out your Calloway’s Premium Bird Seed onto a plate or large dish so you can apply it to the ice cream cone.
Roll the peanut butter covered ice cream cone into the bird seed until it is completely covered. Use your hands to fill in any empty spots.
Your homemade bird feeders are ready to hang!
STEP 4: Hang Your Bird Feeder
Display your hanging bird feeder on a shady tree or near a window for easy viewing. Remember that birds have the largest appetite in the mornings when the temperatures are cooler.
Sit back and enjoy the beauty of nature. Take notes on the different species of birds you observe in your garden and take in a moment of appreciation.
SHOP FOR YOUR GARDEN WITH EASE
To better serve you, at Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have convenient ways to shop for your bird supplies! Shop our local open-air stores or shop online for Curbside Pickup or Delivery!
Stop by today and explore our beautiful selection now! Have questions? Ask our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals; they are here to help!
