Written by Kristina Langan, Colorado Master Gardener Class of 2020

In the quiet winter months, animal visitors bring some life and fun into our still gardens. The little singing birds especially are nice companions: I find that watching and listening to birds outside my window can be a great way to de-stress. Birds amongst the bare tree branches to me are a classic winter view that I definitely look forward to and in fact often choose as a theme when picking out holiday cards or wrapping paper.

Northern Flicker, photo ©Dawn

Here in Pueblo, you can see not only house and song sparrows but also black-capped chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, American goldfinches, nuthatches, and the red-tinted house finches. We have some very enthusiastic vocalizers such as red-winged blackbirds and European starlings, and the cooing of mourning doves is heard all year long. My favorite Colorado backyard bird is the Northern flicker, a member of the woodpecker family that always has the sweetest expression on its face. In the winter, they will eat seeds and fruits, but during warmer seasons, they’ll switch back to their favorite insect meals.

Birds also bring benefits to our gardens, eating insects and weed-seed, and adding a bit of high-nitrogen fertilizer with their droppings. So this year while you decorate for the holidays, why not consider adding some bird-friendly decorations outside? Birds will be grateful for strings of cranberry and popcorn, peanut-butter coated pinecones and suet balls hanging on your trees or bushes. Be patient – it may take a week or so for birds to find this new food source. And if you can afford it, consider adding a heated birdbath to your yard. It’s not just a warm luxury: it can provide much needed liquid water to during stretches of freezing days. To start you off, here’s a great recipe for some hanging treats that you can make in festive shapes of your choosing.

Photo by Melina Hammer

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup water3/4 cup flour (any type: whole wheat, all-purpose, organic, etc.)
2. 3 tablespoons corn syrup (regular or light)
3. 2 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin, such as Knox
4. 4 cups birdseed (Use a birdseed mix straight from the bag or customize it with whatever is preferred by species you know to frequent your area: extra sunflower seeds or millet, crushed peanuts, cracked corn, or dried fruit. Goldfinches especially love nyjer seed. Note: Avoid adding treats with salt.)

Equipment:

1. Medium or large mixing bowl
2. 8 large or 12 medium cookie cutters, 1” thick is highly recommended, in large chunky shapes
3. Nonstick saucepan
4. Skewer to make a hole for string or ribbon (Pencils or pens, plastic straws, screwdrivers, awls, and chopsticks all, work well. Choose a tool slightly larger than the size of your string or ribbon, as the holes can tend to shrink as the seed mixture dries.)
5. Wire cooling rack
6. Wooden spoon or rubber scraper
7. Nonstick cooking spray
8. Wax paper or parchment paper
9. String, yarn, or twine, to hang ornaments, cut into 5- to 8-inch lengths. Materials preferred are: cotton string or natural twine, raffia, brightly colored ribbon or yarn will look festive and also attract birds’ attention. Keep in mind that birds may collect this material to help insulate a roosting area, so avoid harmful materials like tangle hazards such as very thin threads or fishing line, and plastics which can disintegrate in the strong Colorado UV light. If you use natural materials, there is not even a need for clean up as strings or ribbons that remain on the tree until spring can be used to build nests.

Instructions:

1) Spray the inside of each cookie cutter well with nonstick cooking spray, making sure to cover any bends or crevices. This will allow the seed mixture to release easily when dry. Arrange on wax or parchment paper.

2) Add the water and corn syrup to a nonstick saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add gelatin, whisking continually to dissolve the powder thoroughly. Clumps may appear but will gradually vanish as you continue to stir. Heat only until the gelatin has dissolved.

3) Transfer the warm syrup to the mixing bowl and add flour. Stir until well blended and has the consistency of a thick cake batter. If too thick to stir easily, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of additional hot water. If too thin, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time to reach the right consistency.

4) Add the birdseed and thoroughly mix it with the flour batter to coat all the seed. This will be a thick, stiff mixture.

5) To fill the cookie cutters, you may find it useful to spray your hands or any utensils you use with nonstick cooking spray. Fill each cookie cutter to the brim and press into every corner firmly.  Fill each up each cutter completely: extra added at the end will tend not to adhere to the seed mixture that has already begun to dry. The seed mixture can dry out quickly, so work fast, cover the mixture in the bowl with plastic wrap, or enlist the help of others. It can get a little messy, but there’s nothing more like the holidays than a good fun mess in a warm kitchen!

6) Before the seed mixture dries completely, use the skewer you have chosen to make holes for string, ribbon, etc. Make sure to leave enough space from the edge of the ornament, about one inch is advisable. Press the seed mixture firmly around the skewer, wiggling it a little to make sure it is very firmly compacted.

7) Carefully move the filled cookie cutters ornaments onto wire racks and leave to dry for at least six, but preferably twelve hours. After they are fully dry, remove from the cookie cutters and thread with the string or ribbon to make hanging loops.

Note: The above recipe is based on a recipe by Melissa Mayntz published originally on The Spruce at https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-make-birdseed-ornaments-385631

Photo of birdseed decorations is by Melina Hammer.

Find great other tips on helping your feathered friends in winter as well as all kinds of great home and garden improvement tips and projects at https://www.thespruce.com

Check out this site for some Colorado birdwatching tips and recordings of their various songs:

https://birdwatchinghq.com/common-birds-in-colorado/

and this site to learn about any bird you may have an interest in, and also listen to the calls of my favorite Colorado bird, the Northern Flicker:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/sounds