Make your own bird banquet

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Autumn and winter can be tricky for birds with fewer berries and insects around to snack on during the colder days. To encourage more birds to your garden, why not make some of these tasty treats for them if they're peckish? Remember, always ask a grown-up for permission and help with the chopping.

A robin is about to land on a fat ball made from a pine cone, seeds, cheese and lard, with text that says Bird Banquet, with a photo credit to the RSPB.
A blue tit sat on an apple bird feeder, able to reach the seeds embedded in the apple skin, against a green background, with the words Apple Bird Feeder, with a Bird Banquet stamp, plus a number 1 stamp next to it.

Image: RSPB

The apple bird feeder is super simple; the perfect rainy afternoon project! You'll need a grown-up to help you hang the feast on a tree in the garden once you're finished!

An ingredients picture, showing a bowl of sunflower seeds, an apple, string, sticks and an apple corer with handwritten signs and arrows pointing to each one.

Step 1

Get an adult to core the apple and make a hole through the middle, then thread the string through to the bottom.

Step 2

Make an 'X' with your sticks and tie them securely to the bottom of the string so the apple sits snuggly on top. You don't want the apple to fall!

A pair of hands holds an apple and pushes sunflower seeds into the skin.

Step 3

Here's the fun bit! Push sunflower seeds through the skin on the apple to make a 'hedgehog' pattern. It's now ready to be hung up in the garden!

A blue tit sat on an fruit hoop, against a green background with the words Bird Kebab, with a Bird Banquet stamp, plus a number 2 stamp next to it.

Image: RSPB

These bird kebabs require a bit of creative flare and some fiddly threading, almost like making a necklace! 

An ingredients page, showing some gardening wire, strong, an apple, cheese cubes and raisins for the bird kebab make.

Step 1

Ask a grown-up to cut the apple into bitesized chunks.

Step 2

Now here's the good bit. Watch your fingers and thread a mixture of ingredients onto the wire in any order you like!

A close-up of a fruit kebab on garden wire, with apple, cheese and raisins threaded together.

Step 3

Tie the wire together to make a hoop and now you're ready to hang it up for the birds!

A robin is about to land on a fat ball made from a pine cone, seeds, cheese and lard, with text that says Pine Cone Feeder and a Bird Banquet stamp with a number 3 stamp next to it.

Image: RSPB

Making the pine cone feeder is a bit messy, so make sure you have warm water and soap on hand for afterwards! 

An ingredients page, showing some seeds, string, grated cheese and raisins, lard and pine cones for the bird pine cone feeder make.

Step 1

First, you need to make your bird feed mix. Ask a grown-up to warm the lard up to room temperature so it's nice and mushy.

Step 2

Now the squishy part! Mix grated cheese, raisins, seeds and lard together in a mixing bowl. Squeeze the ingredients so they stick together!

A hand mixes seeds, cheese and lard together in a mixing bowl.

Step 3

Tie a string to the top of a pine cone and cover the pine cone with the mix. Make sure you fill all the holes!

Step 4

Pop it in the fridge and wait until it has set before you hang it outside for the birds!

Top Tip!

Blue tit feasting on a fat ball.

Set your bird feeders on branches in a quiet part of the garden in front of a window. That way you can watch the birds as they feed and you won't disturb them!

Go on and have a go!

There you have it! Follow these steps and you'll have a bird banquet in your back garden in no time! If you liked these activities, the RSPB have more fun activities for you to help your feathered friends on their Kids website. Once you make your bird banquet and you notice some amazing birds in your garden, let us know and comment below!