Introduction: X-Mas for the Birds
Our family, cats included, loves to watch the birds and squirrels in the yard. Keep you little furry and feathered friends happy this Christmas, by making them their own x-mas tree.
Step 1: Make the Tree.
Ours is sort of a Charlie Brown X-mas tree on steroids.
You can definatly get a real X-mas tree and set it up, but we just had a big ice storm and lots of branches fell down in our yard. We figure, why waste them. My husband jammed them into an X-mas tree stand, tied them together and screwed the base to the deck.
Step 2: Bird Cookies
Now to make some treats for the birds.
Make some toast, cut it into shapes with cookie cutters, spread on some cricso, and cover with bird seed. Feel free to use lard, or suet, but we're vegetarians, and I couldn't think of anything grosser than melting down some suet and spreading it on toast.
Poke a hole through your ornament, and put some twine through the hole.
You can also do the same with pinecones, apple, or anything else lying around that you think the birds might like.
DO NOT USE PEANUT BUTTER. I've read that bird can choke from peanut butter because they don't have saliva. I don't know if this is true, but why risk it?
Step 3: Popcorn Garland
Now you can make some garland. Pop some popcorn (plain popcorn in an air popper) and with a needle and thread string the popcorn, some cranberries, some bits of leftover toast, etc.
Step 4: Decorate
I put some LED x-mas light on my "tree", and tied on the ornaments and garland.
Now sit back and enjoy the nature show.
Do this in the AM!
I made the mistake of decorating in the evening, and when I woke in the AM, the tree was bare. I think some racoons enjoyed the treats, which is fine, but I wanted to see the animals. Decorate in the AM, so you can see the bids and squirrels get them.
You can also make more ornaments and enjoy the show again and again.
Note: this is not a project for people with bears in the woods, unless you want bears on your deck.
Participated in the
Homemade Holidays: Holiday Decorations
5 Comments
4 years ago
"DO NOT USE PEANUT BUTTER. I've read that bird can choke from peanut
butter because they don't have saliva. I don't know if this is true, but
why risk it?"
If you are going to make a comment like this you should at least do a little research to find out if it is true..........it's not! If you "don't know" find out. Peanut butter is listed by several birding websites, where I did my research, and as long as you use a clean peanut butter it's actually very nutritious for them. There is some really good information, if you care to search. I also can't imagine that you would think hydrogenated oils would be better.
That being said, the toast was an ingenious idea, although I prefer a whole grain. One hint from experience, spread the toast with the peanut butter while it's still warm. It will "melt" the peanut butter enough for it to adhere to it better. I found out peanut butter sticks to itself and the spoon better than cold toast.
Thank you for your good idea, just "please ma'am, just the facts."
8 years ago on Introduction
amazing i love to watch and to draw birds, i especially love to watch the birds eating the seeds at my treestand when i hunt for deer. (sorry if it disturbs you or makes you sad or anything along those line because i hunt) i will have to hang these around the feeders near the house. what i also love to donis hang yarn from trees so birds may take them for insulating their nests during the winter.
10 years ago on Introduction
X as an abbreviation for Christ is taken from the Greek letter chi and dates back at least 1000 years. There are examples of its usage in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1021. It is not modern, it is not anti-Christian, it is not pagan, and it is not a commercial usage. It is and has always been from its introduction a proper, fitting abbreviation used in correspondence and theological writing by Christians learned in Greek, and features in many pieces of religious art, especially in the Orthodox Church.
Domestic_engineer, I do hope you were not discouraged by the hostility of an apparently uninformed fellow Christian. Your 'ible is lovely.
We have a couple of small pines growing in our front yard. I'll have to dig this out next Christmas season.
11 years ago on Introduction
Yes, XMAS is for the birds, CHRISTMAS is for us humans, it is the real spelling, so use it please!
13 years ago on Introduction
this is so cute! i'd love to make some for party giveaways...how long do they last? how far in advance from the party can i make them?! thank you