A lot of gardeners provide seeds and suet to backyard birds during the winter months, but few make their feeders as attractive as Karen Goss.

She created a tiered cake sure to attract the attentions of humans as well as birds.

Her inspriation grew from the need to create an outdoor design for the annual Christmas Tea put on in early December by the members of the Suburban Garden Club.

Karen said: There are so many talented women in the club and I don't feel like I'm one of them.

She woke up in the middle of the night and thought her outdoor arrangement should be, literally, for the birds.

A big red dish she already owned was perfect for the base, but a slab of wood would be just as good for bird cakes not on display. Goss moved hers to a bird bath after the event and said the birds have already eaten most of the seeds, especially from the top layer. She also scattered lose seeds around the base.

She bought a moss covered wreath at a craft store for the base and then covered a smaller disk with a bird seed mix for the next layer. The seeds were adhered to the layer with hot glue. I'm not sure how that appeals to birds or if it could even be detrimental. Honey or corn syrup might be a sticky alternative but beware: I haven't tried it.

Another moss covered tier came next and then a bell-shaped form already covered with seeds purchased at Wal-Mart.

She added another layer by sticking some fresh cranberries on toothpicks into a foam disk. Then she topped the cake with some feathers.