Weekend Project: Decorate a Tree for Winter Birds with Edible Ornaments

Winter birds thrive with a little help. Festoon a tree with tasty treats — a fun, easy family project that becomes an annual ritual. You support survival; they reward with lively presence.

Use an evergreen if possible for shelter + sustenance. Tie ornaments with raffia strands.

Edible Ornament Recipes

Orange Cups

Halve oranges; scoop fruit. Poke holes ½" from rim on opposite sides. Thread 8" ribbon through each hole, knot. Fill with birdseed or suet cakes.

Bread Cookies

Use bread heels or day-old loaves. Press cookie cutter into slice for fun shapes. Make raffia hanger through small hole. Stale donuts, bagels, rice cakes work similarly.

Stuffed Pinecones

Melt 1 part peanut butter + 1 part lard (straight peanut butter is too hard). Roll 2"+ pinecones in "frosting," then birdseed before fat hardens. Dry on cookie sheet. Tie raffia/ribbon hanger to top.