Bird Feeders

Now that it is winter, bird feeders are a great way to supplement the diet of our feathered friends. You may even attract some native birds to your backyard.

I have two options: one is peanut butter based, the other is allergen friendly and uses lard or vegetable shortening (sorry, I haven't tried this one yet).

There are two methods: pine cone or putting balls of mixture into a mesh bag.

Materials

Pine cones with open scales. Magnolia tree cones also work too.

String

Plates

Butter knives & spoons

Mesh bag (like fruit or onion bags) (optional)

Bird seed (I used canary food 500g bag from Countdown $3)

Option 1: Peanut butter (try to use the pure peanut butter rather then the cheaper ones with added vegetable oil, salt and sugar)

Option 2: Lard or suet (from a butcher). Alternatively, vegetable shortening such as Kremelta or Chef Ade (in the oils section of the supermarket, about $5.50)

Muffin tin (6 hole) to put the mixture into to harden

Pine cones should ideally have more open scales than this.

On the right is a magnolia tree cone

Method 1 : Pine cone

If you are going to suspend the pine cone from a tree branch, work out how much string you need. Tie the string to the end of the pine cone.
Using a butter knife, spread the peanut butter/lard/vegetable shortening onto the pine cone, getting under the scales.
Put some birdseed on a plate.
Roll the pine cone in the birdseed ensuring it is well covered.
Suspend the pine cone from a tree branch and hopefully some hungry birds will visit soon.

Method 2 : Mesh bag

In a bowl, mix together 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lard/suet or vegetable shortening (you may need to soften it slightly) and 1 C of birdseed in a bowl. You can use 1/4 C of peanut butter too.
Pour the mixture into the muffin tin and allow to set.
Place one portion into a mesh bag and secure with string.
Tie the bird feeder to a tree.
The extra portions can be frozen for later use.

Left: covering the pine cone with peanut butter and, right, covering the pine cones with birdseed

The Forest & Bird website has some useful information for attracting native birds to your garden and how to feed them with fruit and sugar water. Click the button below to have a look...

"Feeding native birds"

The Science

NOTE: suet is the fat from cows kidneys whereas lard is pigs fat. Dripping is cooked fat so should not be used. Margarine should be avoided too.

Birds get a lot of energy from lard/suet or vegetable shortening

There are a few things we should not feed birds. These include:

bread (it is not nutritious for birds)
cooked oats
milk (they cannot digest it)
honey water