Watching the local birds outside our window is one of our favorite late-winter family activities. Offering food to the birds helps us stay connected to the wildlife that is still thriving, even in the quiet stillness of deep winter.

Living in the Rocky Mountains, we’re lucky to see so much life right outside our door—but we also have to be mindful of our wild neighbors. Because bears are very much part of our ecosystem, we only hang these bird feeders in late winter, when we know our bear friends are still hibernating. Otherwise, they’d happily help themselves on the porch!

We hang the feeders just outside a front window, then snuggle up on the sofa to watch the birds arrive. Chickadees, woodpeckers, yellow flickers, and the occasional squirrel usually make up the eager crowd. These homemade feeders also make sweet Valentine’s or winter gifts for bird-loving neighbors.

Ingredients:

1 c. flour
1/2 c. oats
1/2 c. small seeds, i.e. sunflower, pumpkin…
1/2 c. water
2 eggs
1/4 c. peanut butter

Supplies:

Mixing Bowl
Cookie Cutters
Chop Stick (for poking the holes)
Twine or Sturdy String

A Note for Parents

When I’m doing projects with my kids, I try to let them do as much as possible—even if it gets messy or imperfect. This is a wonderful activity for that. It’s very hard to mess up, so let your kids take the lead, get their hands dirty, and have fun with it.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients until evenly incorporated.
Press the mixture firmly into cookie cutters placed on a baking sheet, smoothing the tops.
Use a chopstick to poke a hole near the top of each shape for hanging.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Allow the feeders to cool completely, then thread twine or string through the holes.
Venture outdoors and hang the feeders where you can comfortably watch the birds enjoy their feast.