As you are busy decking the halls with boughs of holly, take a moment to remember your feathered friends as well with a festive do-it-yourself bird feeder. This can be a fun project for anyone with young children or for those who are young at heart. Adding special embellishments like ribbon, cranberries, or oranges will add some holiday cheer to your feeder.
You have a variety of options for making your feeders, but all of these ideas are fairly simple. Incorporate as many natural elements as possible. Take a little nature walk to pick up some pinecones, holly branches, and pine. Bonus points if you are able to bring your children or grandchildren along to help them appreciate nature and the great outdoors. One easy way to make a feeder uses pine cones. Tie ribbon, string, or twine to a pine cone and spread peanut butter over the sides of the pine cone. You can use creamy or crunchy peanut butter, but certain birds, such as nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers, will enjoy any extra pieces of nuts in crunchy peanut butter. But it is best to choose a natural brand of peanut butter that does not have additives such as salt or sugar. Once you have covered the pine cone in peanut butter, roll it in birdseed, hang it near a window and enjoy the view of grateful birds from inside.
Birdseed wreaths also make a festive way to feed the birds. I found an old wreath ornament made from wood that would be a perfect base for my birdseed. You can also make your own miniature wreath by twisting a flexible twig, boxwood stem, or rosemary into a circle. Tie with floral wire to make your wreath. Then add peanut butter, oats, and birdseed. Add a few cranberries or holly berries to complete the look. Finish it off with a bow and hang for your birds to celebrate the season.
Another way to feed your feathered friends would be to offer them a garland of fruit. You can string pieces of apples, cranberries, slices of oranges, and grapes around your outdoor trees. Add some popcorn in between the fruit for a Christmassy garland that will soon have your birds serenading you with carols.
By using old or thrifted cookie cutters, you can make bird feeders that are unique and personalized. Put your best effort into this simple project, and you can give them away as gifts for your bird-loving friends. Dissolve one packet of unflavored gelatin in half a cup of boiling water. Allow the mixture to cool, and add one to two cups of birdseed. Cover your workspace with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. Choose some fun cookie cutter shapes and fill the cookie cutter with the birdseed mixture, making sure to pack it firmly. Make a hole near the top of the shape with a straw or skewer. This will allow you to hang your finished product with ribbon, twine, or string. After the birdseed hardens for a few hours, gently remove the cookie cutter. Allow the birdseed to completely harden overnight. As it dries, you may want to flip it over carefully to make sure the back dries as well. Once your new birdfeeder is completely dry and hard, you can wrap it in a cellophane bag and tie it with a pretty red ribbon to give away as a thoughtful and personal gift.
A word about squirrels: While you may not mind gifting these birdfeeders to the squirrels, keep in mind that they can take them down in one fell swoop. You may want to place these decorative, homemade feeders on a long string out of reach of the squirrels or under a squirrel baffle. Alternatively, you can use birdseed that is not preferred by squirrels. Safflower seeds would work equally well for all of these projects and are not the seed of choice for squirrels. You can also play the numbers game and make an assortment of feeders to allow all of your backyard friends to have a chance of enjoying your special treats.
We would love to see your birdfeeder projects. Send your pictures, comments, and questions to shorelocalgardener@gmail.com.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
