Happy Holidays for the Birds
By Laurie Rispoli, Tappan Master Gardener
Whatever holiday you
celebrate: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, Winter Solstice, or another one –
it’s a wonderful time of year to put “gifts” outside for all of our creature
friends to enjoy as well.
Is there an evergreen,
holly, or another tree in your yard that you can “decorate”? You can use
the following as your decorations that your feathered friends, as well as those
cute little four-legged friends (squirrels, chipmunks) will love!
1) Suet pine cones – put
florist wire or twine around the fat end of the pine cone by slipping it under
the pine cone scales being careful not to break the scales. Put on a
baking sheet lined with waxed paper for easy clean up. Mix equal parts of
peanut butter and cornmeal until blended. Use a tablespoon to spread the
mixture onto the pine cone, leaving some scales empty so birds can land on them
without getting sticky feet. Use a knife to push the mixture into the
crevices – carefully, to avoid breaking the pine cone scales. Hang in
your tree.
2) String peanuts (in the
shell) and/or cranberries into a garland to string on the tree.
3) Cut an apple, pear,
orange, etc – into quarters. “Sew” a string through a small square piece
of cardboard (as an anchor), then the fruit pieces (thickest areas, best
through the skins of the fruit, so they don’t fall off). Tie
a thick knot under the cardboard end, and use the other end to
tie a loop for hanging. You can put a couple of different fruits on
the string, then hang it in your tree .
4) Cut bagels in
half. Spread each half with peanut butter. Dip in a dish that has
sunflower seeds (whole or shelled, but not salted), or chopped nuts (not
salted). Put a ribbon or twine through the bagel hole to hang on tree.
5) Buy some of the bird
seed “bells” you see at the store for your tree.
Don’t have a tree but
still want to try these? A shepherds hook will work just as
well.
Don’t forget that the
birds and critters still need water. If you have a birdbath, you can buy
a heater for it at a pet store or bird center. If not, just put a dish of
water out during the day in a sunny spot, so they can get a drink.
Happy Wildlife
Gardening!
