Feathered
Friends
Few hobbies are more delightful than
caring for our feathered friends!
Truly a safe activity the entire
family can enjoy - no travel, special
equipment,
no special training
required! Just fun! Watching as they
raise their young and teach
them to fly, admiring the complex
construction of their nests, the
hilarious antics of some little
flying scamps~there is rarely a dull
moment.While birds are naturally
able to
care for themselves, with ever diminishing habitats (and because
we want
to have them as close to watch as possible), they can
certainly use
our help. They are easily satisfied and attracted. Their
needs are very
basic and simple to provide. Birds need food, shelter
and water.Food can be in the form of seeds we
provide in feeders
as well as plants which produce seeds attractive to
the birds. Special
treats of nuts, fruit, suet treats and sweets are
bonuses which make
your area more attractive.
Shelter can be provided with
birdhouses,
trees and shrubs. Small short pieces (3" is a good
size) of string,
yarn-even lint from your clothes dryer is great nesting
material
for birds. This can be placed in a a suet feeder or wire tube,
hung
a tree limb and they will take what they want.
Shrubs located near
feeding
areas
provide safe escape from cats, etc. Water is vital.
Bird baths are
wonderful for placing water where bathing and drinking
antics can be
observed easily. These should be kept clean and free
of algae with fresh
water daily. Moving water, such as a stream,
small waterfall, mister, or
pond will attract even more friends.
Children love providing treats for
the birds. Ice cream cones
filled with seed or suet, pinecones with
peanut butter rolled
in seed are simple feeders which almost any age
child will enjoy
making.
Let the kids cut shapes with cookie cutters in
a piece of
toast, spread with peanut butter and top with seed, nuts or
chopped dried fruit. A piece of yarn can be used to hang the treat
or
let the kids place the treats on tree branches or shrubs
and watch the
fun!
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Suet Treats
The
following is the base for a very good suet treat. Where you take
it from
here is up to you. If you have noticed that your birds enjoy a
particular fruit, nut or seed-add it to the mix. I like to peel and
chop
2 oranges (not too many or too much juice or it may make the mix
thin)
to add in. I’m usually on the lookout for chopped dates, any kind
of
dried fruit or dried fruit mix which is on sale (watch coupons too).
The
fruit/nut mix snacks work well too. This
can be messy so allow about
two hours to prepare the cakes. The cost is
reasonable depending on
the amount/variety of
dried fruit and nuts you add to the mix.
Remember-birds won’t
read the labels, so brand name is not important.
The
mix can be in any shape you choose. Flat cakes are made by
pouring/pressing the mix into a rectangular cake pan which has
been
lined with waxed paper; when mix has become solid, cut to desired
size
and wrap for freezing. Bagel halves make great wreaths to hang
in the
trees; ice cream cones filled with mix delight children; dessert
cups
topped with mixed are perfect on a window ledge. Adding fresh
oranges to
the mix? Cut the oranges in half, scoop out the fruit and
the fill the
hollow orange shells with mix. The possibilities are endless.
It
may seem like a lot of work, but the first time you watch your
feathered
friends dancing with delight over your gourmet treats, you will
find
extra room in the freezer to store an extra batch!
Have
fun!
Gourmet Suet Treats
1
block lard
1
18 oz jar crunch peanut butter
2
lb black oil sunflower seeds
2-3
lb mixed birdseed
1
lb chopped cranberries (fresh, dried or frozen)
1
lb raisins
1
lb chopped nuts (any kind-UNSALTED)
1/4c.
Sugar
1c.
Cornmeal
In
a large stockpot, slowly melt the lard. Add the peanut butter and
stir
over low heat until melted and well blended. Stir in sugar and cornmeal.
Add fruit and nuts. Add black sunflower seeds. Add mixed seed last.
Mixture will be getting pretty thick and stiff. As long as the seeds,
etc.
are coated with the melted lard blend, it will hold together. Add
as much
or as little of the mixed seed as you like. Mixing
may be a little tough.
When all ingredients are well mixed and coated,
shape as desired.
The cakes will harden best in the freezer. Individual shapes can
be
wrapped then placed in the freezer to harden. A large cake to be
cut
can be partially hardened, then cut and wrapped. Store treats
in the
freezer until ready to place outside for feeding.
Beware- once your birds become hooked on these, they will not be
happy with other suet cakes!
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