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Birdie Treats

Provide a midwinter treat for the birds by decorating an outdoor tree with edible goodies. No backyard? See if these ideas can be adapted for a balcony, fire-escape, or even windowsill.

String Things: Popcorn, dried figs, fresh cranberries, seedless grapes, or thick slices of a fresh orange can be strung into garlands and hung onto the higher boughs. (Placing food too low on the tree might attract squirrels and other small critters.)

Hang It Up: Dried apple rings can be hung with raffia or lightweight string onto higher boughs, as can pinecones packed with a mixture of peanut butter and cornmeal or seed. Or try packing a pinecone with a mixture of suet, nuts, and raisins and hanging as above. Other things you can hang are tiny fresh crabapples with the stems on them, baby dried corn bundles, large ears of dried corn (keep the husks on), or rice cakes.

Bird Cookies: Birds will love homemade birdseed cookies. Make sure they contain no salt, and hang them high!

Nesting Instincts: Don't forget that birds will soon begin building their nests. Decorate a tree with tiny lengths of natural wool or string to help give them a headstart.

Monitor your decorated tree often to ensure that the food is getting eaten, and not rotting or attracting unwanted animals. If you do want to give the squirrels a treat, place peanuts (in the shell) at the base of the tree. The little things of the world will thank you!

Source: Wild Birds Unlimited, a backyard birdfeeding specialty store, with 260 stores across the country.

Back to All Hail our Fair Feathered Friends: A Backyard Birdfeeder Makes Science Fun!