Revive Your Christmas Tree: A Haven For Birds

Christmas trees can be recycled to create new habitats for birds, providing them with food and shelter. After removing all the decorations, the tree can be placed outside and decorated with edible ornaments such as popcorn strings, peanut butter-covered pinecones, and fresh fruit. This helps birds during the winter months when food is scarce. Alternatively, the tree can be used to create a brush pile, providing birds with shelter and protection from the weather. Additionally, some communities have tree recycling programs where trees are collected and turned into mulch for community plants, gardens, and parks.

Use edible decorations like birdseed ornaments, peanut butter-covered pinecones, and fruit slices

Using edible decorations is a fun and creative way to help birds using your Christmas tree. You can make your own decorations using birdseed, peanut butter, and fruit slices, which will provide the birds with a tasty treat and some much-needed nutrition during the colder months. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Birdseed Ornaments

Create a mixture of birdseed, flour, syrup, and gelatin, and shape it into ornaments. You can use muffin tins to mould them and add a ribbon loop to hang them on the tree. These ornaments will be a tasty treat for the birds and will also look festive on your tree.

Peanut Butter-Covered Pinecones

Spread peanut butter on pinecones and then roll them in birdseed. This will create a delicious and nutritious treat for the birds, and the pinecones will provide them with some extra texture to grip onto.

Fruit Slices

Slice up some apples, oranges, or other fresh fruits and hang them on the tree using yarn or ornament hooks. Birds will enjoy the sweetness of the fruit, and they can also use the yarn for nesting material. You can also fill a piece of orange peel with black oil sunflower seeds for an extra treat.

Suet Cakes

Suet is a popular treat for backyard birds, and you can make your own suet cakes in various shapes and flavours. Suet will provide the birds with some extra fat and energy to help them through the cold winter months.

Popcorn and Cranberry Garlands

Stringing popcorn and cranberries into garlands is a fun and simple way to decorate your tree, and the birds will love pecking at them. Just be sure to use natural twine or string instead of thin thread or fishing line, which can be dangerous for birds.

Remember to choose a tree with plenty of horizontal branches spaced widely apart, so the birds have enough room to perch and eat. And if you want to attract birds to your tree, placing it in a visible spot from a window can make for some great birdwatching opportunities!

Provide shelter by placing the tree in a bucket of soil or digging a hole for it in your yard

If you're looking to help birds using your Christmas tree, one great option is to provide shelter by placing the tree in a bucket of soil or digging a hole for it in your yard. This is a fantastic way to give birds a place to escape the cold, wind, rain, snow, and harsh weather.

To start, remove all plastic bags, tinsel, and ornaments from your tree. You'll want to ensure that no harmful decorations are left on the tree that could be dangerous to birds. Then, choose a suitable location in your yard. Consider a spot that offers protection from the elements and is easily accessible to birds.

Next, decide whether you want to place the tree in a bucket of soil or dig a hole. If you opt for the bucket method, find a large bucket or container that can accommodate the tree's roots and provide stability. Fill it with soil, securing the tree firmly within the bucket. If you prefer to dig a hole, ensure it is deep and wide enough to accommodate the tree's root system comfortably. Place the tree in the hole and backfill with soil, ensuring it is stable and secure.

Once your tree is in place, you can enhance its sheltering capabilities by adding some natural decorations. Stringing popcorn or cranberries can provide both food and additional cover for birds. You can also create DIY bird feeders to hang on the tree, such as pine cones coated in peanut butter and rolled in birdseed or apple slices hung with yarn.

By repurposing your Christmas tree in this way, you'll be providing birds with a much-needed refuge during the colder months while also adding a unique and natural feature to your yard. It's a wonderful way to support your local bird population and extend the joy your Christmas tree brings.

Create a brush pile with the tree to offer food and protection to wildlife during winter

Brush piles are a great way to offer food and protection to wildlife during winter. They are uncomplicated, no-cost structures that can support a variety of animals, from squirrels to birds. You can create a brush pile with your Christmas tree by following these steps:

Choose a Suitable Location:

Select an area in your backyard or near a wood line, at the edge or corner of your property, away from buildings. Consider a spot with good drainage and partial sunlight. Ensure it is not too close to your home, but visible from a window if you want to enjoy birdwatching. Keep it away from snags (standing dead trees) where raptors may be lurking.

Prepare the Foundation:

The foundation of your brush pile provides spaces for wildlife to den, rest, nest, and move through tunnels. You can create a foundation by placing four logs (6-10 inches in diameter) parallel to each other about one foot apart. Place four more logs on top, perpendicular to the ones on the ground. Alternatively, use large, flat rocks or lean logs against a stump to create a sturdy base. Ensure the foundation has adequate crawl spaces for animals to enter, with openings of 6-12 inches.

Stack the Brush:

Start stacking branches, limbs, and twigs on the foundation. You can use discarded Christmas trees, cut perennials, native grasses, and stems with ripened seed heads. Angle the branches differently to create stability and lock the structure together. Continue stacking until the pile is about 4-8 feet tall and 6-20 feet wide.

Add a Brushy Top:

Cover the top of the brush pile with evergreen branches from your Christmas tree to provide a barrier against snow and ice. This will offer additional shelter and protection for the wildlife seeking refuge in your brush pile.

Enhance the Habitat:

Encourage flowering plants and vines to grow through your brush pile to add density, stability, and a food source for pollinators and songbirds. You can also add stone piles along the edges to create basking sites for animals that enjoy soaking up the sun.

Maintain and Refresh:

Every few years, add new brush to the top to replace decayed material and keep the habitat thriving. Ensure you only use natural materials that are safe for wildlife and will not harm the ecosystem.

By creating a brush pile with your Christmas tree, you are not only giving your tree a second life but also providing much-needed food and protection for birds and other wildlife during the cold winter months.

Help enrich fish habitats and prevent erosion by donating the tree to restoration projects

Christmas trees can be used to help enrich fish habitats and prevent erosion. Donating your tree to restoration projects is a great way to do this.

There are many local projects that take in Christmas trees for restoration work. For example, the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in New Orleans uses recycled Christmas trees to establish a wave break in open ponds. Other projects use trees to provide fish habitats, restore dunes, prevent erosion, provide electricity, and create mulch.

To get involved, you can contact your local wildlife rehab center or state or natural resources department to see if they are collecting trees for donation. You could also check with your local municipality, as some cities and counties recycle real Christmas trees.

Before donating your tree, be sure to remove all decorations, lights, and ornaments, as these can hinder the recycling process.

In addition to helping fish habitats and erosion control, donating your Christmas tree can also benefit birds and other wildlife. You can leave your tree outside and decorate it with edible ornaments, such as peanut butter, fresh fruit, suet, and birdseed, to provide food for birds and squirrels during the winter months when food is scarce.

Turn the tree into a bird feeder by hanging treats like fat balls, fruit, and peanuts

Once the festive season is over, you can turn your Christmas tree into a bird feeder by hanging treats like fat balls, fruit, and peanuts. This will help birds survive the winter by providing them with the energy boost they need. It's also a great way to create a beautiful outdoor centrepiece to brighten up the month of January.

First, choose a spot in your garden for the tree, preferably somewhere you can see it from a window and that birds can easily access. Use a secure base to stop the tree from toppling over, such as a traditional steel Christmas tree base or a homemade wooden 'X'-shaped base.

Next, make some edible ornaments for the birds to enjoy. You can hang treats such as fat balls (shop-bought or homemade), fruit (e.g. citrus fruits, apple or banana slices), and peanuts. You can also hang roast potatoes cut up and hung with jute string. Get creative and make your own decorations, such as mixing bird seed with gelatin, syrup, and flour to form hanging treats.

If you're looking for a fun family activity, you can make pine cone feeders by covering pine cones with peanut butter and rolling them in birdseed. You can also string red and green grapes on a pipe cleaner to form miniature wreaths, or spread peanut butter on saltine crackers and sprinkle with birdseed.

Finally, decorate your tree with the treats, making sure to space them out evenly so there's enough room for all the birds to reach them. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy watching your feathered friends feast!

Frequently asked questions