TNP - December 2021 Special Holiday Edition Newsletter

Simple Ways to Delight and Celebrate Christmas  

while Providing Nutrition for Your Neighborhood Birds

“All things share the same breath – the beast, the tree, the man.” Chief Seattle ( circa 1786 – June 7, 1866) was a Suquamish and Duwamish chief.  The city of Seattle was named for him.

During this season of giving and sharing, don’t forget the wild creatures that search for food and shelter near your home.

Consider decorating a tree on your lawn or land as a festive winter bird feeder.  The following are two easy decorations to make that birds will love and are fun for all ages.

A Cranberry Popcorn Garland

All you need is:

Air popped popcorn (no salt and no oil)
Fresh cranberries
Needle and thread or twine

Method

String your garland as a long continuous strand or in short 1 foot segments.  The short segments can be hung over individual branches of the tree; while the long garland wraps around the tree.  

The red berries attract birds and make festive decorations.

Peanut Butter Bird Seed Pinecones

All you need is:

1 part peanut butter to 2 parts corn meal

Wild Bird Food  (A mixture of general mixed wild bird seeds and black oil sunflower seeds.)   

Natural pinecones

Twine 

Notes:
Use natural peanut butter. Some suggested brands are Crazy Richard’s Natural Peanut Butter, Good and Gather Organic Peanut Butter, 365 Every Day Value Smooth and Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter.

Use plain corn meal - DO NOT use self-raising corn meal.

Method

Brush off the dust and debris from the pinecones.

Secure the twine around one end of the pinecone, making a loop so you can easily hang the ornament.

Mix the peanut butter and corn meal together into a paste and spread onto pinecones.  

Roll each pinecone in the seed mixture.  (Another method for attaching the seeds is to put the buttered pinecone into a bag with 2/3 cup of mixed seeds and shake gently.)

For extra color and to attract birds, add fresh cranberries randomly to the pinecone.

Note that Peanut Butter Bird Seed Pinecone Ornaments can be made with peanut butter and wild bird seed alone. The Audubon Society suggests the corn meal and peanut butter mixture.    

Volunteer for Your Chapter!

The Tennessee Naturalist Program (TNP) is a 501c3 education course designed to introduce the natural history of Tennessee to interested adults. Graduates join a corps of Tennessee Naturalist volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the appreciation, understanding, and beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.

Our mission is to teach Tennesseans about our natural world, inspire the desire to learn more, instill an appreciation of responsible environmental stewardship, and channel volunteer efforts toward education of the general public and conservation of Tennessee's natural resources.

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