Now that Christmas has passed, why not recycle your Christmas in a different way. Instead of putting it out at the curb, let it become a bird feeding station. There are a variety of ways to do this.
You can put out the tree, intact, minus any tinsel or other objects that could be problematic for the birds. Just stand up the tree in a snow bank or set it out in a stand. It just needs to be secure enough so it will not topple over. One advantage of using the entire tree is that it provides a source of shelter for the birds. This is particularly useful if you do not have any other evergreens on your property. You can hang suet feeders, either purchased or homemade, from the branches. If you have other bird feeding stations or water sources in you yard, place the tree within 10 feet of these, then the birds do not have to travel so far for food and water.
Another way to reuse that tree is to create a feeder from a portion of the Christmas tree trunk. (Taken from an article by Jill Nicolaus at davesgarden.com) Cut a 16-20 inch section near the base of the trunk. Trim back the branches leaving 2-3 inch stubs that can serve as perches. Using a ½-inch bit, drill 10-15 holes in the trunk approximately ½ inch deep spaced evenly around the trunk. Install a screw eye in the top and attach rope, twine or chain for hanging. Purchase some inexpensive peanut butter and pack this in the drilled holes, mounding it above the holes. You can just use the peanut butter alone, or mix it with bird seed or make suet from one of the recipes below.
NO-MELT, ALL-SEASON PEANUT BUTTER SUET
From Martha Sargent, Trussville, Alabama
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 cups “quick cook” oats
2 cups cornmeal
1 cup lard or other animal fat
1 cup white flour
1/3 cup sugar
Melt the lard & peanut butter. Stir them together. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Pour the mixture into freezer containers or brownie pan about 1-1/2 inches thick. When cool, cut into squares, wrap in wax paper or plastic and store in the freezer. If want a softer mixture, add more peanut butter.
WOODPECKER STICK RECIPE
From U-M Dearborn EIC
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup lard or any animal fat
1 cup flour
3 cups cornmeal
Mix well. Add peanut hearts or other seed to mixture. Form into balls or squares that will fit into your suet feeder.
PINECONE RAISIN MIX
From U-M Dearborn EIC
4-1/2 cups rendered suet (From meat department at grocery store.)
1 cup dried and crumbled whole wheat bread
½ cup shelled sunflower seeds
¼ cup millet
¼ cup raisins or chopped, dried apples
Melt suet in saucepan over low heat. In large bowl mix together rest of ingredients. Allow the melted suet to cool and thicken slightly, then pour into mixture and stir thoroughly. Stuff mixture in between the “petals” of a pinecone. Hang in tree.
FRUIT SUET
From U-M Dearborn EIC
1 pound lard or other animal fat
½-1 cup peanut butter
Approximately ½ loaf of stale bread or bread-like product – make into crumbs
½ cup flour
½ cup cornmeal
1 cup sugar
½ cup pecans, peanuts or other nuts chopped into small pieces
1 cup finely diced apple, raisins or other fruit – can use dried fruit if like
Melt the lard/fat and peanut butter over low heat. Mix the flour, cornmeal, and bread crumbs together. Pour in the peanut butter/lard and mix well. Add fruit and nuts. Pour into a 9 x 5 pan and refrigerate, use as needed or pack directly into suet feeder and hand outside.
BIRDER’S OAT CAKES
From: attractwildbirds.com
1 pound suet
1 cup “quick” rolled oats
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup mixed wild bird seed
1 cup sunflower seed hearts
Put suet in pot and melt on low heat. Stir in remaining ingredients and blend well. Pour into muffin tins, chill until hardened.
WHICH SEEDS ATTRACT SPECIFIC BIRDS:
Cardinals: Sunflower, safflower, raisins, peanuts. (Cardinals prefer to eat from flat surfaces, like trays. They are not perchers.)
Purple Finches: Sunflower, safflower, suet mixes, thistle seed.
Blue Jay: Whole corn, striped sunflower, suet mixes.
Chickadee: Sunflower, safflower, peanut butter, suet mixes.
Nuthatch: Sunflower, safflower, suet mixes, pumpkin seeds.
Woodpeckers: Suet mixes, cracked corn.
Black-oil sunflowers and white millet are the most popular around seeds for the majority of birds species.
A good source for more information is the Minnesota DNR. Information specific to birds and winter feeding includes:
Bird feeding - winter
Winter foods
Seeds and mixes
Suet
Winter feeders
Winter feeder layout
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/birdfeeding/winter/layout.html