INSPIRE A KID Make your own smorgasbird Fall is a great time to watch birds. Many species are passing through Wyoming as they migrate further south or to lower elevations. You can help these traveling birds and increase your odds of seeing some cool species by creating a backyard bird buffet. Follow these steps: Gather pinecones: Clean off any dirt or other debris from outside of the cones and between the scales. Tie a string around the widest part of the cone: Use an overhand knot and make sure the loop is at least two rows from the bottom of the cone. Push the string through the scales so it is securely attached to the cone. Smear peanut butter on the cones: Before doing this, microwave the peanut butter until soft and then mix in some grit such as cornmeal, stale bread crumbs, cracker crumbs or finely chopped, stale nuts. IMPORTANT: Peanut butter can stick in a bird's throat so grit is necessary to prevent choking. Use a knife or small spatula to spread the peanut butter mixture on each pinecone. Add food: Roll each cone in birdseed and shake the excess seeds into a container. You also can use various other seeds, fruit or mealworms, but press those items into the peanut butter so they don't fall out. Place the pinecones on waxed paper and allow the mixture to dry for about 30 minutes. Hang it up: Use string to tie the pinecones to a stick and hang outside on a tree branch, shrub or fence. Be sure they are balanced and try placing a few cones with different food options on the same stick. Record what you see: Find a place where you can watch birds visit your feeders. Take pictures, or draw or write descriptions of the birds you see. Include location, date and time of your observations. If you see a rare or unusual species it can be helpful information for biologists. (WGFD photo) For more activities and information for kids and the outdoors go to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Inspire a Kid webpage: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/ Get-Involved/Inspire-a-Kid FIELD EDGE Keep things sharp in the field this fall with the Outdoor Edge Butcher-Lite knife set and keep your blades ready with the Edge-X two-stage knife sharpener. Visit the online Game and Fish store for more. WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPT. ONLINE STORE SHOP ONLINE at wgfd.wyo.gov/store 12 | September 2021https://wgfd.wyo.gov/get-involved/inspire-a-kid https://wgfd.wyo.gov/get-involved/inspire-a-kid http://wgfd.wyo.gov/store