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You might decorate your home for the holidays. So, why not spread the cheer for creatures outside? It’s easy!

1. Decorate a tree outdoors with edible ornaments for birds and other backyard visitors, such as squirrels or deer. (Use pipe cleaners or twine to hold items in place on the tree. Remove these once the food is gone.) For example:

• pine cones stuffed with winter bird mix (see recipe, below)
• scooped-out orange halves, filled with birdseed
• peanut and cranberry garlands
• apple and orange slices
• "carrot-cicles" (whole carrots)
   

You might like how the tree looks. But the animals will like how it tastes!

Note: If you live in a snowy area, you could decorate a snowman for the animals too. Use animal edibles for your snowman’s features.

Winter Bird Mix:

• ½ cup lard or suet
• 1 cup birdseed
• ½ cup peanut butter
• 2-3 cups cornmeal
• ½ cup dried fruit (such as raisins or currants)
   

3. With an adult’s help, melt fat and peanut butter together. Stir in seed, fruit, and enough cornmeal to soak up the melted fat. Let cool. Spread mix under the scales of pine cones or onto cardboard cut-out ornaments. Chill feeders in refrigerator to harden the mixture.

For more fun bird-friendly crafts and ideas, check out This Wreath is for the Birds!.

Illustration by Michael Slack
 

 

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