Save your holiday greens to help the birds!

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/46843

From: Alicia Graef, Care2 Published January 1, 2014 09:50 AM

As bitter winter winds blow through the leafless trees and forest birds search for the shelter of an evergreen, we can offer them some help by repurposing our leftover holiday greenery.

With the loss of woodlands, backyard habitats have become increasingly important for birds that stay with us through the winter months. Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology just published a friendly reminder that we can extend the usefulness of our holiday trees, wreaths and other greenery by putting them near feeders and in yards, among other things, to offer birds thermal refuge, instead of just tossing them to the curb.

Arranging evergreen branches near feeders and birdbaths can protect birds from wind and storms and provide hours of bird watching entertainment from the comfort of our homes. They can also be turned into birdhouses, which small birds will use in the winter if they're left up year round. However, if that kind of project isn’t in the cards for you, simply creating a pile of brush outside with leftover trees will also help provide shelter and create a refuge and hiding place for birds and other wildlife.

Roosting in dense conifers in the cold of winter provides body heat for birds and can save them 1.3 hours of feeding the next day, according to the lab.

FULL story at link.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That's a great idea.

I hope some folks will follow up on this.

Our trees tend to be leafed out all year round, so it isn't as necessary here.

It's a different story in places where the trees are mostly deciduous.

[madrchsod]

2. mine is outside by the porch.

the birds will welcome some relief from the wind!

[malaise]

3. Brilliant

Never thought about that.

[Auntie Bush]

4. It works! I put out some evergreen branches cut off the lower brances of our Xmas tree

to make it shorter a few years ago. I noticed the birds hanging out under them...so did the same thing the next year. I don't have a feeder any longer...but I do have some branches from this years tree... so this is a good reminder. I'll put them out so birds and animals can go under even though I don't have a feeder anymore. It's going to be very cold and snowy tomorrow, but I'll go out in the morning and arrange them around our old feeder tree. Thanks for the reminder as I had forgotten.

[Barack_America]

5. We stick our Christmas trees outside. They tend to keep until June or July.

Seriously.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. I don't have a tree anymore, but when I did,

I would tie it upright to a small deciduous tree that had no leaves. I have no evergreens in the area. It was great for a hangout for the birds, as well as a place to hide in a hurry when a hawk or cat was hanging around. I left it out until spring leaves came out.

[ohheckyeah]

7. We didn't have a real tree but

we have two huge cedar trees in the yard that the birds love.

[Omaha Steve]

8. We have a 2 story evergreen in the front yard that birds love

The hedge in back is about 20 feet from the feeders and open (heated) water.