Decorating a Christmas tree specifically for birds can be a fun and rewarding holiday tradition. Birds appreciate the natural food sources and shelter that a decorated tree can provide during the winter months. With some simple tips and creative ideas, you can easily convert your Christmas tree into a haven for local and migrating birds.
In this article, we will cover the basics of decorating a Christmas tree with birds in mind. We’ll go over recommended types of trees, optimal placement tips, what kinds of ornaments and decor to use, feeders to hang, and other important considerations when putting up a bird-friendly tree.
Follow the guidelines below, and you’ll have a beautiful Christmas tree that not only you can enjoy, but that helps wild birds survive the tough winter season.
Choosing the Right Tree
When it comes to picking out a Christmas tree with birds in mind, opt for these types:
Evergreens
Evergreen trees like spruce, pine, and fir are ideal choices for bird trees. Evergreens offer excellent shelter from wind, snow, rain, and cold temperatures thanks to their dense, year-round foliage. Their branches also give birds ample space to perch and roost. Look for a tree with sturdy branches around 1/2 to 1 inch thick that can support bird feeders and provide stability for perching birds.
Unflocked Trees
Avoid flocking or artificial snow sprayed on trees, as birds may try to eat it and become ill. Stick to natural, unflocked evergreens for safety.
Fragrance-Free Trees
Fragrance-added Christmas trees often use chemicals that could be toxic or irritating to birds. Seek out natural, unsprayed trees to reduce risks.
Native Trees
Using an evergreen tree native to your area is best when possible. Local birds will be most adapted to recognizing and utilizing the native plant. Popular native options include Douglas fir, white spruce, balsam fir, ponderosa pine, Eastern red cedar, and Eastern hemlock. Check with a local nursery to determine native evergreen species for your region.
Potted or Live Trees
Potted or live Christmas trees are preferable for creating a bird-friendly tree, as they can be transplanted outdoors after the holidays. This allows birds to continue benefiting from shelter in the tree year-round. Just be sure to remove all decorations first.
Optimal Placement
Where you set up your Christmas tree in relation to bird feeders, shelters, and baths can make a difference in attracting birds:
Nearby Bird Feeders
Placing your decorated tree within view of bird feeders allows birds to scout for danger before approaching the feeders. The tree essentially acts as a sheltering transition zone between feeders and the open.
Wind Protection
Situate your Christmas tree in a spot that offers protection from strong winds and storms, like along the side of your home or against a fence or hedge. This gives birds refuge. Face the sheltered side of the tree toward prevailing winds.
Partially Sheltered Areas
Avoid fully exposed, open areas of your yard when positioning your bird tree, as too much exposure leaves birds vulnerable to predators and extreme weather. However, also avoid thickly wooded areas where owls or hawks may sneak up on smaller birds. Find a middle ground, like beneath an oak tree or edge of a garden shed.
Southern Exposure
In northern climates, situate your Christmas tree in a location with southern exposure to the sun’s warming rays. This will be most inviting to birds on cold winter days. Just avoid hot afternoon sun in warmer regions. Morning sun is ideal.
Bird-Friendly Decorations
From garlands to ornaments, you can deck your Christmas tree out in bird-friendly decor:
Natural Garlands
Wrap pine garlands, grapevines, curled willow branches, or burlap around your tree in place of tinsel. Avoid metallic tinsel which can get wrapped around birds’ feet and beaks.
Seed Bell Ornaments
Create hollow seed bell ornaments by stringing orange halves, grapefruit shells, bark cubes soaked in suet, and small mesh bags of peanuts or mixed seeds. Hang with ribbons or twine.
Pine Cones
Roll pine cones in peanut butter or suet then coat in birdseed to make edible ornaments. Tie with hemp string or raffia.
Fruit and Berry Garlands
String popcorn, cranberries, rose hips, crabapples, and fresh fruits like grapes to adorn tree branches with edible garlands.
Seed Wreaths
Intertwine wreaths made of mixed seeds and grains onto tree branches. Bonus points for wreaths shaped like bird silhouettes.
Suet Ornaments
Handcraft or purchase suet cage feeders to hang as ornaments. Look for ones with removable bottoms to allow for easy suet replenishment.
Bird Nests
Incorporate empty bird nests from your yard or purchased online into the tree decor. Handle carefully to avoid damaging.
Bird-Friendly Ornament Ideas | Materials Needed |
---|---|
Seed bells | Orange halves, grapefruit shells, mesh bags, twine |
Peanut butter pine cones | Pine cones, peanut butter, birdseed |
Popcorn garland | Popcorn, thread or fishing line |
Bird Feeders and Food
Incorporating bird feeders and food sources into your Christmas tree design provides needed calories for birds during cold months:
Suet Feeders
Hang suet feeders with strong suction cups on tree branches to draw insect-eating birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, and wrens. Refill with suet cakes or insect suet as needed.
Seed Feeders
Hang tubular seed feeders or platform feeders low in the tree branches, filled with black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer thistle, safflower, cracked corn, and millet. Different feeders will attract different birds.
Fruit Feeders
Set mesh fruit feeders filled with chopped raisins, cranberries, apples, and oranges low in the tree to appeal to robins, bluebirds, and orioles.
Nectar Feeders
Include nectar feeders with sugar-water to draw hummingbirds to your Christmas tree. Use a ratio of 1 part sugar boiled in 4 parts water. Refrigerate unused portions.
Suet Log Feeders
Fill hollow suet logs with suet blended with seeds and nuts. Hang flat against the tree trunk for clinging birds.
Peanut Wreaths
Place wreaths made of strung raw peanuts near the tree base for ground-feeding birds like juncos, sparrows, and towhees.
Shelter and Roosting Spots
Adding shelter and roosting spots to your Christmas tree gives birds a place to escape the elements:
Roosting Pockets
Stuff natural fiber sacks or coconut liners with moss, wool, or alpaca/rabbit fur to create enclosed roosting pockets. Hang in secluded tree spots.
Twig Shelves
Weave or tie small twig platforms onto branches to provide flat surfaces for resting and roosting. Place bark side down.
Evergreen Boughs
Tuck extra evergreen boughs like cedar and fir into the tree to create concealed shelter nooks. Overlap boughs like shingles.
Birdhouses
Mount small birdhouses with entrance holes 1 1/8″ to 1 1/4″ diameter for chickadees and titmice. Ensure Drainage holes in floors.
Pinecone Coves
Glue 3-5 pinecones together tip-to-tip to form enclosed coves for roosting birds. Hang open side down.
Water Sources
Providing fresh water helps attract birds to your Christmas tree:
Birdbath Heater
Keep a birdbath or fountain within view of the tree to provide water year-round. Add a birdbath heater to prevent freezing.
Mister
Install a mister that frequently sprays a fine mist of water on the tree to replicate snow and provide drinking moisture.
Drippers
Add a dripper or slow-release water reservoir to tree branches along with a catch basin. Adjust flow for constant droplets.
Water Cups
Hang plastic or tin cups in the tree and keep filled with fresh water daily. Make small holes for drainage. Use corks to reduce freezing.
Fruit Ice
Freeze cranberries, grapes, peaches, or chopped apples into ice blocks. Wire blocks to tree branches to slowly melt.
Night Time Lighting
Lighting your bird Christmas tree at night helps extend activity time for diurnal birds and allows nocturnal visitors to find food sources:
White Lights
StringLEDwhite lights through the tree to extend daylight hours for diurnal birds. Place lights on timers.
Red Lights
Use red LED lights to allow owls, nighthawks and other nocturnal birds to more easily hunt insects attracted to the red light.
Dusk-to-Dawn Sensor Lights
Install LED sensor lights that automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn. They will replicate natural light cycles.
Lanterns
Hang battery-powered lanterns set to dusk-to-dawn settings low in the tree for night viewing. Usewarm LED bulbs.
Avoid Bright Lights
Steer clear of bright, flashy holiday lighting, as this can startle and deter night-time birds. Stick to soft, steady lighting.
Monitoring and Maintenance
Check your Christmas tree regularly and make adjustments to continue attracting wild birds:
Observe Bird Visitors
Watch to see what birds are utilizing the tree, and modify food, shelter, and decor to better attract certain species. Keep binoculars and a bird guide handy for identifying visitors.
Remove Dead Limbs
Prune any dead branches to prevent harm and keep them from breaking off on birds. Check for broken limbs after storms.
Freshen Water Daily
Empty and refresh bird baths and water containers every day to provide clean drinking water. Scrub containers weekly.
Replenish Food
Check feeders often and top off with fresh seeds, suet, sugar water, and fruits as needed. Provide food sources year-round if possible.
Adjust Decor
Modify loose decorations, lights, and shelter items as needed over the season to best benefit birds as conditions and needs change.
Clean Feeders
Clean feeders regularly with a diluted bleach solution to prevent disease transmission. Rinse thoroughly.
Safety Precautions
Take these key precautions to protect birds when putting up your bird-friendly Christmas tree:
Avoid Tinsel
Leave off tinsel and metallic ribbon, which can entangle birds and clog digestive tracts if swallowed. Opt for natural garlands instead.
Skip Flocking
Do not spray flocking or artificial snow on the tree, as it contains chemicals that birds can ingest when they perch on branches.
No Ornament Hooks
Omit traditional ornament hooks, as these can scratch and injure birds landing on branches. Tie decorations directly to the tree instead.
Unbreakable Ornaments
Use only unbreakable plastic, wood, or plant-based ornaments. Broken glass ornaments can critically harm birds.
No Lead
Avoid decor with lead, zinc, or toxic metals since birds may peck or chew items. Stick to natural materials.
No Pesticides
Do not spray the tree with pesticides or chemical flocking products. Seek out organic, chemical-free trees.
Monitor Cats
Keep indoor/outdoor cats away from the tree area, as they may stalk and prey on visiting birds. Supervise pets outdoors.
Night Supervision
Monitor the area at night to shoo away nocturnal predators like racoons and possums that could prey on roosting birds.
Conclusion
Decorating a Christmas tree specifically for wild birds provides needed food and shelter during harsh winter months, while also creating a beautiful and rewarding holiday sight. Follow the tips above for choosing the right natural tree, adorning it with bird-friendly decorations and food sources, positioning it optimally on your property, providing roosting sites and water, using proper lighting, and taking safety precautions.
With a little creativity and care, your Christmas bird tree can help local and migrating birds survive the winter while brightening your holiday season with natural beauty and movement. Monitoring your tree and enjoying bird visitors will quickly become a treasured annual holiday tradition.