I’ve seen a lot of posts recently about homemade treats for birdies, and here’s mine. Great activity to do with kids, by the way, and the sheer joy of seeing the birds feasting upon the feeders just makes me all giddy.
Of course, there’s the classic pine cone bird feeder, and it’s a hoot to see the birds dangle upside-down to get to the last of the peanut butter mix from between the ridges. We refilled the pine cones this morning, and the birds are happily at it again. That’s a Redbreasted Nuthatch on the pinecone above.
But if you don’t have pinecones easily available in your area, you can be creative and use other materials. My son found a really cool piece of tree bark (it looked like alligator skin), and I was amazed he agreed to my suggestion to use it as a bird feeder. But he did, and it’s our newest favorite feeder of our many favorite feeders (anything that a bird goes to qualifies for favorite status).
Here’s a Black-Crested Titmouse enjoying the tasty perch.
This is the recipe used on our feeders, tried-true-and-bird-approved.
1 cup peanut butter (chunky is great)
1 cup lard or vegetable shortening or just more peanut butter
2 1/2 cups coarse yellow cornmeal
1 box of raisins, cranberries, cherries, or other dried fruit bits
1 bag of birdseed (black oil sunflowers, safflowers, cracked corn, peanuts, sunflower kernels, striped sunflowers)
Make sure you prep your pine cone or bark ahead of time for how you intend to hang it, be it with wires or ribbons. Simply mix the peanut butter, lard, and cornmeal and smear it on the feeder. Press or roll the seeds and fruits onto the peanut butter mix, then hang up the feeder.
In case you are wondering — the peanut butter mixture is for more than just having something that sticks the seeds on. Birds need fat and protein in the winter, and the mix is perfect for it. Happy birdies!
Great catch on the Red-breasted Nuthatch – very nice! I have yet to see any Nuthatches at my suet feeders (or even in my yard). But I know they are around this area at this time of year. (For some really cool avian acrobatics, turn the birdseed side of the alligator stick upside-down!)
That’s a great idea to turn the bark so it’s upside-down for some extra bird fun — those birds are living the easy life right now! I’ve been loving the nuthatches — this is the first year we’ve had them, and now we’re getting big mixed flocks. It’s fun!
Beautiful bird photos. I wish I could get that close, maybe with your recipe they will appreciate me more and pose for the pictures.LOL.
The images were taken from my kitchen window. The first image (the pinecone) was taken before I cleaned the window, haha. Yes, yes — it was overdue!
Great pictures!! It’s so fun to watch the birds when there’s not as much going on in the garden during the winter. I have tried a recipe similar to this and put it in a suet feeder, but I like the pinecone idea — nothing to clean up come spring time!
What an excellent idea! It looks like a delicious recipe.
Great captures! The bird seem as if it is wearing a cone hat.
Okay, this is probably a dumb question, but where do you get your lard? It’s not something I’m real familiar with, but I’d love to do the pinecone feeder with my daughter. Love your photos and ideas, thanks.
Lard should be available in your grocery section in the same area as the oils and shortening. Vegetable shortening is an alternative, particular ones without trans fats if they are available. And of course, you can always just use peanut butter. Good luck!
Thanks for sharing your recipe. BTW, I love your titmouse. My favorite bird is the Tufted Titmouse.
Jessica
Here in the city we seem to mostly get the Black-Crested Titmouse. I guess the Tufted are country folk!
What a great post – I love making these peanut butter bird feeders. My only issue is that the squirrel always get to them and devour the thing before the birds even get a nibble. do you have any insight as to how to avoid that?
Hi, Kate — I have a couple of suggestions. One is to avoid hanging the feeders from trees, which are easy for squirrels to climb. You can use a shepherd’s hook (the taller, the better) or another type of pole with a baffle. For the most determined squirrels, you might need to use something at the lower part of the pole to further deter the squirrels (I read about one person who put the pole through a Slinky and enjoys watching the squirrels grab hold and get sent right back to the ground). You might also place the feeders behind cattle panel or something that lets small birds through but presents a challenge for squirrels. A few squirrels might still be able to squeeze through, but some will be deterred, at least.
Meredith, as a follow-up, I did find the lard at my grocery store. I made the peanut butter mixture with seeds and dried fruit. I put it on a pinecone on one hook and on a piece of branch from another hook. The Pine Warblers are here now and going crazy for it!! It’s so fun to watch. Sometimes I see the Goldfinches trying it and even the Red Bellied Woodpecker had a taste. Thanks for the idea…
That’s wonderful, Donna! Thanks for sharing your follow-up with me — I’m so happy to hear wonderful bird stories!