What will you do with your Christmas tree when the holidays are over? Before you throw it away, consider transforming it into an adorable bird feeder! Laura from Garden Answer guides us in this fun DIY on how to make your Christmas tree into a bird sanctuary. creative DIY project

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you with your project; this one-of-a-kind idea will help you recycle your Christmas tree and make a bird feeder. Birds need food in the winter, so this project will help them.

What You’ll Need

• Muffin tin
• Cooking spray
• Bowl
• 2 packages of plain gelatin
• 1 cup hot water
• 6 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1.5 cups flour
• 8 cups wild bird seed
• Jute twine or ribbon
• Wax or parchment paper
• Knife
• Peanut butter
• Large needle
• Fishing line
• Cranberries, dried oranges, popcorn, apples

Step 1: Making Bird Seed Ornaments

To begin, spray a muffin tin with a grease and set it aside. Then, in a bowl, mix two packets of plain gelatin into one cup of hot water until fully dissolved. Next, add 6 tablespoons of light corn syrup and 1 and a half cups of flour, mixing until a sticky paste forms.

Following that, mix the paste with eight cups of wild bird seed. Then, fill each muffin cup with the mixture to about halfway. Dipping your fingers in water will help keep the mixture from sticking to your fingers.

After adding the seed mixture into each muffin cup, take a loop of jute twine or ribbon and press it into the seed mixture. Fill the cup to the top with more of the mixture. After you have done this, press down firmly and allow the ornaments to dry for a few hours or overnight.

Step 2: Creating Pine Cone Ornaments

Gather your materials: pine cones, bird seed, peanut butter, a knife, and a sheet of wax or parchment paper.

Spread peanut butter on all sides of the pine cone. It does not have to be perfect. Next, roll the peanut butter pine cone in bird seed until it is fully covered. For pine cone hanging, use hot glue to attach a loop of jute twine or ribbon to the top.

Step 3: Stringing Garland

Making garlands may take a while to finish, but it is surely rewarding. Get some fishing line (6-pound test) and a big needle. Then, you will start to thread some cranberries, slices of dried oranges, and some pieces of popcorn.

Popcorn can be difficult to string, so be patient. Thread each piece through the softest area of the popcorn. Continue layering pieces until you have created a long string of popcorn.

Step 4: Apple and Orange Garland

Cut the apples and oranges into slices that are at least a quarter of an inch thick so they can stay put on the twine. Peanut butter one side of the apple slices and then dip them in the bird seed.

Place the coated slices on wax or parchment paper. Using a large needle and jute twine, alternate threading the orange and apple slices until you reach the desired length. For easier handling, keep garlands under four feet.

Step 5: Putting It All Together

When all the ornaments and garlands are ready, it is time to decorate the tree! Place the tree where you can see birds from the window. Make sure the tree will be sheltered from the wind by shrubs or larger trees. Use a good tree stand so that it will stay straight.

You can hang birdseed ornaments on it, pinecone ornaments, and garlands. For added bulk and varieties, you can use store-bought feeders. Laura suggests finch sock feeders and sunflower seed feeders for bigger birds.

Step 6: Enjoy the Birds

Your bird feeder, Christmas tree, is now set to give birds a winter feast. From the warmth of your home, you can see the birds as you give your tree a second life.

Conclusion

Watching nature is a great way to recycle the Christmas tree. It’s inexpensive, easy, and the whole family will have fun. Most importantly kids will take interest in nature and wildlife conservation.