Family fun project: How to make homemade wild bird treats

December 20, 5:19 PMGardening ExaminerRobin Ripley

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In the winter, wild birds can use a little help with
food, treats and fresh water. Photo: Mourning doves
by Robin Wedewer

In the winter as food becomes more scarce, wild birds can use a little help with well-stocked birdfeeders, treats and fresh water.  By providing them with a bird buffet, you'll also ensure yourself hours of pleasure watching the visitors at your feeders.

Because different birds prefer different types of seeds, I have several feeders to attract a wide variety to my yard. Niger seed (or thistle) attracts small goldfinches, siskins and redpolls. Whole or shelled peanuts attract bluejays and woodpeckers. Safflower seeds are a favorite of cardinals, brosbeaks, chickadees, doves and native sparrows. But if you only can give one seed type, make it black oil sunflower seed (BOSS), which is appealing to a huge variety of birds.

Birds also need a fresh--and clean--supply of water. A heated birdbath will keep the water from freezing in the coldest climates. Make sure that you clean the water supply every couple of days to prevent the spread of disease. Bird feeders should be cleaned once or twice a month.

Pests can chew through your bird buffet in no time. To keep squirrels, raccoons and other pests from helping themselves before the birds get a chance to feed, hang your feeders on poles well away from trees. Install baffles on the poles--hollow cylinders that prohibit the pest from climbing up.

Birds also enjoy special treats, including fresh fruit. Suet is particularly helpful in the winter. (NOTE: Never feed birds peanut butter without mixing it with seeds or birds can choke.)

For a special treat for your bird friends, here are three easy homemade wild bird mixes you can make as a bird-friendly, family project.

Easy Peanut Butter Suet
2 cups chunky peanut butter
1 cup lard (usually available in the meat department of your grocery store)
2 cups oats
2 cups cornmeal
1 cup white flour
2 cups mixed birdseed
2 cups mixed fruits, such as fresh cranberries, orange pieces or apples (optional)

Melt the lard and peanut butter together. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Fill muffin tins or another mold with the mixture. In cold weather, you can hang the suet mix outside using garden twine. Store in the freezer until you're ready to use.

Soft Peanut Butter Pinecone Suet
1 cup suet (easiest if purchased as a pre-made cake at pet stores or the grocery)
1 cup peanut butter
3 cups yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
Pine cones

Melt the suet in a saucepan over low heat. Add peanut butter, stirring until melted and well blended. Mix together corn meal and flower in a large bowl. Allow the suet-peanut-butter blend to cool until slightly thickened, then stir it into the mixture in the bowl. Mix thoroughly. Pack the mixture into pine cones. Hand outdoors with twine.

Gourmet Bird Suet
1 pound suet in small pieces
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup chunk-style peanut butter
1 cup mixed wild bird seed
1 cup sunflower seeds (unsalted)

Melt the suet in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in rest of ingredients to blend. Fill muffin tins or another mold with the mixture. In cold weather, you can hang the suet mix outside using garden twine. Store in the freezer until you're ready to use.