Bird Feeding…
Edible Christmas Tree for Bird Feeding
FEED THE BIRDS: Make Edible Christmas Tree for Bird Feeding
It’s here! Winter. In the True North, we’re seeing shorter winters. Climate Change: along the coastlines, warming oceans are keeping back some of that Arctic air. One result is the slow drifting of more southern species into our land — many of those creatures being suddenly distressed when a real old-fashioned Arctic Low settles in for a few days — snow, ice and freeeezing winds.
Bird Feeding: So we feed our fledgling friends. In our case, that means welcomed bread, etc, for our local crows and ravens. And scattered seeds for the little fellows. With migratory bird populations dropping because of Human stupidity and greed, there’s nothing unnatural in feeding every bird we can. It’s one couple’s small attempt to restore the balance. We can all do it, it’s easy. Feed the Birds!
Here, from Grandma Pearl, is a project we really like, made just for the Season. Listen to her…
Bird Feeding: Create An Edible Christmas Tree for the Birds
It’s easy and fun to include our backyard bird friends in the holiday festivities by creating a tree full of special treats just for them. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does take a small commitment of time. This would be a great family activity. You might even start a new family tradition, while making your winter backyard bird gang very happy!
What you will need:
A tree that is near other shrubs or trees
22 gauge wire (Hobby or Craft store) and needle nose pliers/wire cutters
Small nail for making holes
Small aluminum dishes approx. 4″ diameter
Larger aluminum pie plate for rolling pinecones
Dried cranberries, apples, apricots, raisins or other dried fruit
Oranges and grapefruits cut in half
Whole peanuts in the shell, either salted or unsalted
Shelled peanuts, either salted or unsalted
Dried pinecones (directions follow)
Peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
Spatula
Sunflower bird seed
Popped popcorn
Red yarn for securing dishes, fruit cups and pinecones to branches
Scissors to cut yarn
Waxed paper
To dry pinecones: lay pinecones out in a single layer on several thicknesses of newspaper; let air dry naturally for 3 or 4 days. This should dry the sap, making it easier to work with the pine cones.
Choosing a tree that is near other shrubs or trees will give the birds an escape route, as well as a place to perch while eating their holiday treats. If you decide to use orange and/or grapefruit halves, the weather should be relatively cool (under 40 degrees F) so that the fruit cups will not mold before the contents are eaten.
Begin by using the wire cutters to cut the wire into pieces approx. 10″ long for the pinecones and fruit cups, and 12″ long for the small aluminum pans. With the nail, pierce a small pan on one side below the rim. Then make another hole directly across from the first one. Since it may take several days for your edible tree to be discovered, it is a good idea to make 3 or 4 drainage holes in the bottom of the pan with the small nail. That way any rain or snow will not spoil the contents!
FEED THE BIRDS: Make Edible Christmas Tree for Bird Feeding
Push one end of the 12″ long wire through the hole from the inside to the outside of the dish, leaving enough wire to twist several times in order to secure one side of the handle. Repeat with the other side using the needle nose pliers to bend each wire end downward. This ensures neither the birds nor you will be harmed by the sharp wire end.
Fill each little pan with an assortment of dried fruit, popcorn, peanuts and sunflower seeds. Be careful not to fill it too full or it will tip and spill when it is hung on your tree. Tie yarn to the handle so that it can be secured to a tree branch when you are ready to hang your ornaments.
Next, scoop out the orange and grapefruit halves. It’s okay if you leave some of the fruit inside. Save the scooped out fruit and refrigerate. You can use it for a fruit salad of your own! Use the end of the 10″ wire to pierce the fruit half on either side. Pull the wire through the hole on one side of the fruit half to make a handle, just as you did with the small aluminum dishes. Don’t forget to make 2 or 3 holes in the bottom of the fruit cup for drainage.
Now make a mixture of peanut butter, raisins and birdseed, and fill the fruit halves. Cut a length of red yarn and tie to the handle of the basket. You will use this to secure your treat dishes to the tree branches. Hang these individual fruit baskets on different tree branches for the birds to enjoy. Once the birds find your tree, the dishes and fruit halves will need to be refilled regularly.
I’ve found that by adding another wire handle that crosses the first handle making an extra will give your aluminum dish more stability, and keep it from tipping and spilling when the birds land on the rim. But even if some of the seeds land on the ground, there will be other birds like juncos and doves that will find those seeds. You can tie the yarn around the center for hanging. Or your tree may have larger branches that allow you to slip the handle right over them without tying yarn to them.
Wrap a 10″ piece of wire around and under the top layer of pine cone scales leaving a long enough piece to make a loop for hanging. Twist the wire together and bend the ends over so they will not hurt you or the birds. Then lay out a piece of waxed paper on a flat work surface. Pour birdseed into a shallow aluminum dish and set it on the waxed paper. Spread peanut butter onto a pinecone with a spatula working over the waxed paper to catch any dollops that might fall off.
Next, roll the peanut butter pinecone in the birdseed, gently shaking off the excess. Cut a length of yarn and tie it around the top of the wire handle. You will use this to secure the ornaments to the tree when you are ready to hang them.
FEED THE BIRDS: Make Edible Christmas Tree for Bird Feeding
If you wish, you can add raisins, craisins or dried cranberries to the birdseed mix for the pine cones. Or you can pierce the dried fruit pieces with wire to hang individually, or to make garlands or wreaths.
A tree full of treats like this will attract birds like chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, woodpeckers, blue jays, cardinals and juncos. This is a fun and easy way to get kids involved in learning about feeding and identifying birds. They can note which ones show up at their tree, as well as what they prefer to eat.
Be Patient! Birds are naturally curious, especially chickadees. It may take several days or more, but if you build it, they will come! By the way, if you can choose a tree that is easily seen from within your house, you will have a ringside seat to a holiday show courtesy of You and Mother Nature!
See our The Raven: Thief, Trickster & Black Thunderbolt
— Grandma Pearl (Connie M Smith). Grandma Pearl lives in a beautiful wooded area of New York State. She writes about “backyard birds, wildlife, nature, flowers, herbs, old barn wood and garden decor, among other things. The works of Tolkein and J.K. Rowling, lively Olde English and Irish folk music all speak to me.” Her blog is http://grandmapearlsbackporch.blogspot.ca/
Grandma Pearl on our favourite birds: “I have heard raven and crow used interchangeably to describe any large black bird. In fact there are many ways a common crow and a raven are alike. They both are the same color, all black from beak to legs. They both exhibit boisterous, aggressive behavior if they feel threatened. It is not uncommon for either of them to drive off an owl or a hawk. Both are highly intelligent, playful, and are good at solving puzzles. I witnessed a crow open my suet basket with ease and fly off with its prize! So thievery is on their agenda as well.
Live Free, Mon Ami! – Brian Alan Burhoe
FEED THE BIRDS: Make Edible Christmas Tree for Bird Feeding.
Keywords: animal rights, crows, ravens, what birds eat, wild birds.
