Midwinter Tree "for the Birds"

Get a few more backyard visitors during the
winter months and also give our year-round
residents a tasty snack.

Lots of Wisconsin's bird life heads off for the winter. Some species migrate to warmer climates until spring, while others stick out the cold Wisconsin winters. Here's a way to get a few more backyard visitors during the winter months and also give our year-round residents a tasty snack.

You’ll need the following items. A bag of whole cranberries, a bag of peanuts in their shells, a red apple, a green apple, two kiwis, four oranges, heavy cotton thread, a knife, a needle and some raffia or twine.

Make sure you tie a big knot at the end
so all of the goodies don't fall off as you
string them.

The cranberries and peanuts will be turned into garlands that you can hang around a tree. Start out by finding an adult to help you thread your needle with about six feet of heavy cotton thread. Make sure you tie a big knot at the end so all of the goodies don’t fall off as you string them. One-by-one, string the cranberries by pushing the needle through the cranberry. Once you have four or five strung, push them to the end. Continue this process until you have a completed piece of garland. Since cranberries can stain, it's a good idea to wear some old clothes. The cranberries add a nice bit of color to a winter tree.

Follow the same process to make another garland, this time with peanuts. It’s a good idea to push the needle through the middle of the peanut and through the other side. And if you’re having trouble try pushing the peanut onto the needle, but take care not to poke yourself.

Once your garlands are finished, move on to the other pieces of fruit. Take your apples, kiwi and two of your oranges and cut them in slices crosswise…so you get a nice design from the core of the fruit.

It's time to put on your coat and mittens
and go decorate a tree or two for the birds.

Then use a pointed edge to make a hole in the top of the fruit. You may need to find an adult to help you with this. Once you have all of your fruit sliced and the holes made, take a piece of raffia or twine, stick it through the hole and tie the ends together.

When you're finished, it's time to put on your coat and mittens and go decorate a tree or two for the birds. Keep watch for the visitors to your tree and don't be surprised if a squirrel or two comes by.