Fun with bird feed

December 16, 11:32 PMRecreation ExaminerIris Carter

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Crazy weather and heavy snow across the country remind me of my favorite childhood book in the "Betsy" series.In "Snowbound with Betsy," author Carolyn Haywood describes ways Betsy's family had fun making the best of a storm situation. A couple of ways to feed birds was included in their activities and in the many years since, I've come across other methods, too.

Please remember, if you start feeding birds with regularity in the winter time, continue doing so until spring. A once-in-a-while treat won't do any harm, but putting out food for an extended time will cause the birds to depend on the source.

Water is important and can be hard to find in cold weather. Keep a shallow dish filled with water and refresh it daily. Saucers from plant containers, shallow aluminum pans or other containers work well. Putting a stone in the water creates an island for a bird to stand on without getting its feet wet.

Grit is another nutritional aid. Provide sand or crushed eggshells near the food to aid digestion. Be sure eggshells are bacteria free by boiling them or washing them well and baking them at 250 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven for 20 minutes. Let the kids take shells outside and crush them up where birds will find them.

Does anyone make freshly squeeze orange juice any more? Or perhaps you eat an orange or grapefruit half by spooning out the fruit and leave the skin intact. In either case, use a large needle and yarn to make a handle for the bowl. Be sure to leave the string long enough to use for hanging. Don't worry about cleaning out the skin as any fruit remnants are an added treat for the birds. Fill the bowl with a mixture of peanut butter and birdseed and hang on a branch, nail or plant hanger.

Plain popcorn is another great treat for birds and can be a fun decoration. String unsalted, unflavored popcorn with a needle and thread. For variety, alternate with cereal such as Cheerios. Hang strands on a tree or porch railing.

Kids enjoy making pine cone feeders almost as much as birds enjoy eating from them. Gather pine cones of any size and spread peanut butter over the entire surface. Pour birdseed onto newspaper and roll the cones through the seed so that it sticks to the cone. Use thread to hang the pine cone outside.

Apple and orange slices and raisins can be skewered onto wire or heavy thread for a fruit-kabob. Be sure the wire is sturdy and smooth so birds can't knock it down or hurt themselves on it.

Any remnants of string and yarn on a tree can be left for nesting in the spring.

Generally, wild bird seed from the store is the most convenient and economical to use. If you are interested in attracting certain species or feed a particular visitor in your yard, check out the charts at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.