Feed the Birds

This time of year is tough for everyone, but especially for the birds. Nearly all the berries and seeds have been consumed and insects are still underground or waiting for the warmer weather to reappear. Resources are at their scarcest, not in deep winter, but as we move into spring.

And it is time to mate and raise a family.

Though my garden is designed to be as wildlife friendly as possible (read a little unkempt!) I do try to add something tasty during this period. Unfortunately, I’m not so sure about birdfeeders. I struggle to keep them clean and free from cross-contamination. For a while there, I thought I’d found the perfect solution in the eco-friendly coconut shell filled with fat and seeds. They are great, though they are not cheap when the birds (and squirrels) happily much through one a day. So I needed to think of an alternative.

DIY bird feeders

A long time ago, I remember reading about making fat/seed feeders out of yogurt cartons. Since I don’t have any individual sized yogurt pots (though they would work perfectly here), I decided on using what I had: muffin cases and tins.

So this morning, I decided to give it a go. This method will provide six fat muffin-sized feeders and takes mere moments to make. Here’s how:

Ingredients

Preparation

To make each one ready to hang on the tree, I cut a piece of twine (about 30cm), folded it in half and poked both ends through the back of the case. A large darning needle is perfect for this. On the inside of the case, tie the threads together and leave a loop of twine at the back – something like this:

If using paper cases, I’d recommend putting them in a tin after this stage, as a little leakage is inevitable.

Now for the filling.

Put your lard into a heavy bottomed pan and warm on a very low heat until all the lard is dissolved and clear in colour.

Remove your pan from the heat and add seeds (and any other bird/squirrel treats you like) and stir to combine.

As the lard is very liquid, it will pour out much faster than the seed mix, so I’d advise pouring an equal quantity of the lard first and let the seeds follow. Possibly allow the lard to cool and harden slightly before transferring it to the cases. I might try that next time.

Now all you have to do is wait for the lard to harden and return to a creamy white colour. You may have to put it in the fridge if your house is especially warm.

And that’s it! When firm enough to handle, simply tip the case out of the tin; head to the garden and attach to a tree branch. They add a little colour to the bleak brown.

With a method this simple, I will happily make these on a weekly basis until April when the garden is bountiful. And, at around 10p per cupcake, we can all afford to feed the birds.