 | One of our most treasured family traditions is to decorate our outdoors for visiting winter birds. Little black-capped chickadees share the same feeding stations with breathtakingly beautiful cardinals, blue jays, and Northern mocking birds. Woodpeckers of every size visit our suet-feeders, as does the nuthatch and Carolina wren. Ground birds, like mourning doves and the lovely dark-eyed junco, make certain that not a crumb is wasted or missed.
My backyard has become a delightful illustration of the harmony in Nature, and never is it so evident than during the holiday season. There is no sight as radiant as the blushing pink of the female cardinal's cheek, nor the male cardinal's vibrant red feathers, framed by an evergreen, laden with snow. It is a delight to see the many territorial birds line up and take turns at the feeders, just like an extended family. It's as though they understand that sharing will ensure that no one will go away hungry.
It is simply not Christmas at our house unless there are sufficient treats for every feathered friend who frequents our yard. Here are some easy-to-make treats for the birds who come to visit you:
- Choosing the Tree – It matters not if your tree is an evergreen or a deciduous shrub. Just make sure that it is visible from the house. You will want to see the lovely little birds as they feed. This is particularly delightful on a snowy day.
- Fresh Water – This is so important. Birds can die without fresh water, and in the winter time the water will freeze. There are several solutions. One is to buy a "solar sipper," which is a solar powered watering station that attaches to a deck or porch rail. Remember to set the solar collector in full sun. You may also use a birdbath heater, which you place in the bird bath. You then attach it to a long outdoor extension cord, which needs to be plugged into an outdoor GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) electrical socket. The heater keeps the birdbath at a temperature just above freezing. You can also simply carry warm water out to the birds several times a day.
- Caution: Wherever you have electricity and water, there is always a risk of electrical shock. Be very careful, especially if you have small children and pets.
Preparing the treats is an activity that will delight both young and old. This is an easy task, and it can be a wonderful learning experience for your children.
Delicious Delights:
- String popcorn (unbuttered and unsalted) onto heavy duty thread until you have a long garland. You may also string onto unflavored dental floss. Use a large needle, and make each strand no longer than 6 feet, so that it will be easier to handle. If you have very small children, have an older child or an adult poke the needle through, and let the little ones distribute the popcorn along the string. Make sure there is a large knot at each end. Drape over the tree branches.
- Cranberry or red grape garlands add festive contrast to the popcorn and look lovely against the evergreen and white snow. Cranberries are very sturdy, and I love their bold red color. They also hold up well during freezing and thawing.
- Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit, cut into sections, can also be hung with strong thread or dental floss. Tie pieces firmly onto branches, fruit side up.
- You can also hang apples onto the branches. You just may tempt a Baltimore oriole into your yard.
- Dried, decorative corn-on-the-cob is readily available at this time of the year, and the birds love it. Bind each ear with heavy string or dental floss and tie onto branches.
- Whole shelled or unshelled peanuts are a woodpecker's delight. Place them in baskets and tie the handles to the branches. You might even spy the relatively rare red-headed woodpecker feasting in your suburban yard.
- Pinecones can be spread with a mixture of peanut butter and cornmeal. Hang them from the branches. Or dip them in melted suet fat. This is a favorite treat for the birds. If pinecones are not easily available, spread the same mixture in the crooks and crannies of your chosen tree.
- Bird Cookies are an especially welcome treat. Mix one cup of all-purpose flour with one cup of whole grain rolled oats. Moisten with 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup rendered suet fat. Add a one-cup mixture of raisins, peanuts, and bread crumbs. Squish together (this is particularly fun for children). Place by spoonfuls into a paper lined muffin tin. Flatten, then bake at 350 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes. Cool and cut into sections. Place on a feeder tray or hang in mesh (onion) bags.
Once you begin the holiday celebration for your backyard feathered friends, let your imagination take off. Birds love almost everything edible, including broken-up stale bread, muffins, and donuts. Always make sunflower seeds available, and never let your bird feeders go empty. You will be rewarded with a world of beauty and heavenly grace.
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