Are you feeding the winter birds? Winter is a great time for birding in our area!  So many cool birds migrate south to spend winter here!  Goldfinches, which, sadly aren’t their pretty golden color while they are visiting us, LOVE thistle seed! Our beautiful Northern Cardinals are year-round inhabitants and their favorite is black oil sunflower seeds, like many other birds! Arcola Feed carries thistle and a finch blend specifically for Goldfinches! We also offer black oil sunflower seeds. Come in and get a bag, put it in your feeder, and watch the birds come!

You can make your own bird feeders, too!   All you need is a pine cone, some string, peanut butter, and birdseed.   This is a great project for the entire family!   Take your pine cone, and cover it in peanut butter, making sure to fill in all of the open areas.  Spread a few cups of any wild bird seed mixture on some newspaper, or in an old pie pan, or paper plate.  Roll the peanut butter covered pine cone through the birdseed, making sure its coated well, Tie the string in a knot at the top of the pine cone and hang outside!   You can even reuse the pine cone when they eat all of the seed!