Wild bird seed ornaments are a fun and easy craft to make that also provide a great source of food for wild birds during the winter months. These simple ornaments can be customized in many ways and hung up around your yard or garden to add a touch of nature-inspired holiday cheer.
What are the benefits of wild bird seed ornaments?
Wild bird seed ornaments provide the following benefits:
- Give birds an excellent source of high energy food during cold winter months when natural food sources are scarce
- Attract a variety of wild birds to your yard or garden with the assortment of seeds
- Are easy and inexpensive to make using basic craft supplies
- Allow you to get creative with custom shapes, designs, and embellishments
- Make great edible holiday decorations that are good for the environment
By offering wild birds a reliable food source during winter, you can help supplement their natural diets and give them the energy they need to survive cold temperatures. Birds like cardinals, chickadees, finches, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, and jays will appreciate the bounty of calories from nutrient-rich seeds.
What kind of bird seed should you use?
The best wild bird seed ornaments will contain a variety of seed types to appeal to different species. Look for a bird seed mix that contains:
- Black oil sunflower seeds – Rich in fat and protein, these are a favorite of many birds
- Safflower seeds – Smaller seeds loved by cardinals, grosbeaks, chickadees, finches, and doves
- Nyjer or thistle seed – A very small seed eaten by finches and siskins
- Millet – Appreciated by ground feeding birds like juncos, sparrows, and quail
- Cracked corn – Larger chunks enjoyed by crows, blue jays, grackles, and doves
Avoid mixes with lots of filler like wheat, oats, milo, and flax seeds. Birds tend to prefer the tastier, more nutritious seeds.
What other ingredients will you need?
In addition to bird seed, you’ll need:
- Peanut butter, lard, or animal fat/suet – Binds seeds together and offers extra nutrition
- Craft string, yarn, or twine – For hanging ornaments
- Cookie cutters, fruit, or other shaped molds – To create fun shapes
- Pinecones, dried orange slices, wood cookies – Bases for ornaments
- Raisins, dried fruit – Optional treat additions
- Sprinkles, nuts, coconut flakes – For decorative flair
You may also want decorative embellishments like ribbons, bells, pom poms, glitter, or paints. Avoid any inedible add-ons as birds may try to peck at them.
What tools will be helpful?
These basic tools will make the process easier:
- Cookie sheets or wax paper – For drying ornaments
- Bowls – For mixing and shaping
- Spoons and butter knives – For stirring and spreading
- Measuring cups – For portioning ingredients
- Pot – For heating peanut butter or other binders
Optional handy tools include fun shaped cookie cutters, paint brushes, and needle-nose pliers or awl for making hanging holes.
What are the steps to make basic wild bird seed ornaments?
Follow these simple steps:
- Prep your ornament bases – Gather pinecones, wood slices, dried orange slices or other materials to use as bases. Soak dried slices in water briefly to soften if needed.
- Combine bird seed – Mix together your desired combination of bird seeds in a bowl. Aim for 1-2 cups total.
- Melt binder – Heat 2-4 tablespoons of peanut butter, lard, or suet in a pot or microwave until melted.
- Coat bases – Use a spoon or butter knife to spread a layer of melted binder all over each base.
- Roll in seeds – Before the binder dries, roll each base in the bowl of bird seeds so they adhere. Fully coat.
- Decorate and embellish – Add any additional decorative touches like fruit, nuts, sprinkles or glitter while seed coating is still tacky.
- Add hanger – To make a hanging ornament, tie a loop of craft string or yarn around before drying.
- Dry completely – Place finished ornaments on a cookie sheet or wax paper and let dry 1-2 days until hard.
- Hang outdoors – Once dry, hang seed ornaments around your yard or gardens.
Customize your ornaments by choosing fun shaped bases, unconventional binders like bacon grease or suet, or getting creative with additional edible decorations.
How do you make shaped wild bird seed ornaments?
For shaped ornaments like hearts, stars, or winter scenes, follow these steps:
- Spray your shaped cookie cutter or mold lightly with cooking spray.
- Prepare seed mixture then stir in just enough melted binder to hold together when squeezed.
- Firmly press seed mixture into the cookie cutter shape, filling in evenly.
- Invert and tap out onto wax paper or tray. Gently remove cookie cutter.
- Decorate if desired then insert a loop for hanging.
- Dry completely before hanging outside.
You can find cookie cutters in all sorts of fun shapes like snowmen, trees, flowers, letters, angels, or animals that work great for ornaments. Get creative with your designs!
How long will wild bird seed ornaments last outside?
The longevity of your ornaments will depend on factors like your climate and how many birds visit:
- In mild climates, they may last 1-2 weeks.
- When temperatures are freezing, they could last for a month or more.
- Frequent bird activity and rain/snow will wear them down faster.
- Hard, dry ornaments will generally last longer than soft, “doughy” ones.
- Smaller ornaments and shapes go quicker than larger pinecones.
- High quality seed and binder also improves their durability.
Expect to remake a new batch of ornaments every couple weeks if you want to keep them freshly stocked for visiting birds. You can hang new ones and leave remnants of old ones for birds to keep picking at.
How do you hang wild bird seed ornaments?
There are several options for hanging ornaments:
- Tie craft string, yarn, twine, or ribbon directly around the ornament before drying.
- Attach string loops with staples if making flat wood slice ornaments.
- Glue on hooks, eye screws, or suction cups with birdseed safe adhesive before drying.
- For pinecones, wrap wire around the sides or cap with a hanging hook accessory.
- Slide ornaments onto branches using clothespins, ponytail holders or garden tie rings.
Space ornaments every 6-8 feet around trees, shrubs, or eaves of your home. Vary heights for birds big and small. Remake any damaged strings or hooks periodically.
Where should you hang wild bird seed ornaments outside?
Position ornaments where you most want to attract birds for viewing:
- From tree branches and shrubs near windows or seating areas.
- Around deck and patio railings.
- On shepherd hooks, poles, or freestanding bird feeder stands.
- Along your home’s eaves, balconies, or entryways.
- On fences, trellises, pergolas, or arbors.
- Near existing feeders to complement other food sources.
Aim to hang them in clean, sheltered spots that provide birds protection from predators and harsh weather. Position near natural cover like evergreens.
Should ornaments be brought in at night?
You can choose to leave seed ornaments hanging 24/7 or bring them inside overnight:
- Leaving them out at night ensures food is available at first light when birds are hungry.
- But exposure to rain, snow, and freezing temps may deteriorate ornaments faster.
- Brining ornaments in protects them from weather and makes them last longer.
- Just be sure to get them back outside by dawn when birds start foraging.
In areas with extremely cold winters, nighttime storage may help the ornaments hold up better and avoid spoilage. But in milder climates, you can likely leave them hanging with minimal issues.
Do you need to refrigerate leftover wild bird seed ornaments?
Properly stored, leftover ornaments can keep for 2-3 weeks:
- Place dried, uneaten ornaments in a sealed container in the fridge.
- The cold helps prevent mold, spoilage, and seed germination.
- Let come to room temperature before re-hanging outside.
- Discard any that become too moist, dried out, or smell unpleasant.
Refrigeration allows you to make batches of ornaments ahead of time. Just be sure to frequently check leftovers and remake with fresh ingredients when needed.
Can other ingredients be substituted in the ornaments?
Besides bird seed, peanut butter, and suet, you can experiment with:
- Seeds: hulled sunflowers, nut pieces, dried corn, wheat berries
- Bases: cereal, donut holes, bagels, rice cakes, cornbread
- Binder: lard, bacon grease, Nutella, honey, corn syrup
- Coating: flour, cornmeal, coconut, crushed cereal
- Add-ins: dried mealworms, minced nuts, granola, oatmeal
Aim to include at least 50% bird seed by volume and choose human food grade ingredients. Supervise closely if allowing children to handle and taste.
Can you use a liquid binder like light corn syrup?
Using a sticky liquid like light corn syrup or honey as a binder is also an option:
- Mix 1 part liquid to 2 parts bird seed until clumpy.
- Form shapes by hand then roll in extra seeds to coat.
- Liquid binders adhere seeds well but dry more rigid and brittle.
- They may need more frequent reapplication as the ornaments wear down.
- Sticky liquids can be messy for kids – more adult supervision may be needed.
Liquid binders allow you to incorporate more seeds versus fat or peanut butter. But the end result may be more delicate and not last as long.
Should ornaments be made hard or soft?
You can customize the texture based on your goals:
- Harder ornaments: Use minimal binder and press firmly into rigid molds. Lasts longer in elements but takes birds longer to break down.
- Softer ornaments: Use more binder for a “doughier”, flexible texture. Easier for birds to eat but faster to deteriorate.
Hard ornaments are better for ornamental holiday decorating while soft ones provide quicker bird food but require more maintenance. Adjust recipes as desired.
Can you help birds and decorate at the same time?
Absolutely! Here are fun ways to use seed ornaments for both decor and food:
- Make a critter-themed tree with bird, squirrel and woodland animal ornaments
- Shape ornaments using cookie cutters like trees, wreaths, stars, etc
- Incorporate natural elements like dried citrus slices, cinnamon sticks, pinecones
- Weave stems, vines, evergreen clippings into shapes and designs
- Use bright fruits and berries for pops of color
- Paint wood slice ornaments to look like cardinal, chickadee faces
- Tie on festive ribbons, bows, bells, and other embellishments
Let your creativity go wild! The birds will thank you for both the food and festive surroundings.
How can you involve kids in making wild bird seed ornaments?
Making seed ornaments is a fun, educational family activity. Kids can help by:
- Measuring and mixing the seed ingredients
- Shaping dough into balls, logs, and other forms
- Selecting and washing ornament bases like pinecones
- Rolling shaped dough to coat with seeds
- Decorating with sprinkles, nuts, dried fruits
- Stringing yarn or twine for hanging loops
- Brushing on binder mixtures
Supervise closely when young children handle the ornaments and oversee any recipe tasting. Engage their creativity for designing fun shapes and themes.
What safety precautions should be taken?
Follow these tips to make a fun, safe activity:
- Use food-grade ingredients from bird-friendly companies
- Avoid inedible embellishments birds could choke on
- Prevent ingredient allergies by verifying tolerances first
- Watch children closely so they don’t eat excessive amounts
- Exercise caution with hot binder mixtures like melted suet or peanut butter
- Hang delicate ornaments out of reach from squirrels and bigger predators
- Check hanging location is away from roadways or high traffic areas
Making edible ornaments is not recommended for young children who still put random items in their mouth. Use parental discretion for appropriateness.
Conclusion
Wild bird seed ornaments make for a fun, creative project that provides natural food and decoration all winter long. With just a few basic ingredients and simple shaping methods, you can whip up a batch of ornaments in under an hour. Hang them around your outdoor living area to attract beautiful birds for your viewing pleasure. Then sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds of your feathered friends as they feast on the edible treats. The ornament project is highly customizable so you can get as elaborate or simple as you like. Renew the ornaments periodically as they deteriorate to ensure a continuous food source during harsh weather when your wild birds need it most.