Crafting Homemade Bird Feed: A Wildlife Expert Shares Their Preferred Recipe to Attract Birds to Your Backyard
In the quest to support local bird populations and enhance garden biodiversity, making homemade bird feed has emerged as a popular and cost-effective option. This approach allows for control over the ingredients used, making it possible to cater to the preferences of various bird species.
Purchasing ingredients like lard (50p at Sainsburys), sunflower seeds (£10.60 on Amazon), unsalted peanuts (£14.99 on Amazon), and dried mealworms (£11.99 on Amazon) can form the basis of your homemade bird feed. However, it's essential to avoid using foods like bread, salty foods such as salted peanuts, and foods high in salt, as they can attract rodents or dehydrate birds.
One popular method for creating homemade bird feed is by making fatballs. This involves melting lard and peanut butter together, then adding bird-friendly ingredients like peanuts, dried fruit, rice, rolled oats, mealworms, and sunflower seeds. The mixture can be chilled for a day or overnight, then cut into cubes for the birds.
Another option is creating birdseed ornaments or suet treats using simple ingredients like wild birdseed, gelatin, suet/lard, nuts, oats, and dried fruit. For instance, a birdseed ornament recipe involves mixing wild birdseed (4.5 cups) with powdered gelatin dissolved in hot and cold water, pressing the mixture into molds, letting it harden, and then hanging it outdoors.
Feeding birds with homemade bird feed offers numerous benefits. During colder months when natural food is scarce, homemade bird feed provides a high-energy food source, especially suet which is rich in fat, helping birds maintain body heat and energy for flying and survival. Seeds, nuts, and dried fruits offer protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins.
Moreover, homemade bird feed is often more economical than commercial options and allows you to customise ingredients based on the needs of birds in your area. Crafting feeds with kids can be a fun educational activity and encourages outdoor nature engagement.
James Ewens, a gardening and wildlife expert, has shared his recipe for feeding garden birds. He expresses a preference for making his own bird feed due to it being fun, educational, and similar to cooking. He emphasises the benefits of homemade bird feed, stating that it can help birds thrive during winter and other challenging times, supporting local bird populations and enhancing your garden’s biodiversity.
A current trend in bird feeding is referred to as "Chirp-cuterie," which emphasises the art of creating visually appealing and nutritious bird feed options. Whether you choose to make fatballs, birdseed ornaments, or suet treats, the enjoyment of creating and offering these homemade delights to our feathered friends is sure to bring a sense of satisfaction and connection to nature.
However, it's important to note that fat balls should not be left out in hot weather as they have a tendency to melt. Always ensure to offer fresh and suitable feed to your garden birds, adjusting your offerings based on the seasons and the needs of the local bird populations.
References: [1] Homemade Bird Feed Recipes [2] How to Make Homemade Bird Food [3] DIY Homemade Bird Feed [4] Homemade Bird Feed for Winter
Making fatballs or birdseed ornaments using ingredients like lard, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, and dried mealworms can be a creative way to boost home-and-garden biodiversity, aligning with the lifestyle of supporting local bird populations.
Crafting homemade bird feed, such as fatballs or suet treats, offers an opportunity to personalize the lifestyle of your garden, helping the residential feathered community thrive, especially during challenging seasons.
