Page 18 - North Haven Magazine Issue 31 Holiday 2023

by Sally Brockett

Many of us enjoy feeding birds and winter is a prime time for this activity. There is less food available and the cold weather means they need
more protein for good energy and staying warm. Suet is an important source of protein and many birds love it. Making suet available will
entice a greater variety of birds to your yard and feeders. If you make your own suet, you can be sure that it is quite healthy for the birds and
you can create your own variations from time to time. This will keep the birds interested and coming back for more.

The foundation ingredients these ingredients from time to time to keep a sturdy support. Suet feeders with a board
The base ingredients are lard and peanut the birds interested and to attract different extended below the wire cage will encourage
butter. These will hold all the other com- species. the woodpeckers to feed.
ponents together. You can purchase lard in
the dairy section of the grocery store in a Storing the suet cakes Multiple feeders will attract more birds, so be
one-pound box like butter. The ideal peanut While your suet is still warm, pack it into sure to use a few different types of suet feed-
butter is natural, chunky peanut butter containers for storage. There are many ers and feeders for seed. When birds come
with no added salt. Mix equal parts of lard options for containers including ice cube for the seed, they will discover that suet is
and peanut butter in a large pan and gently trays, muffin tins, cat food cans, paper cups, also on your menu!
heat on low, stirring until it is melted and plastic trays from commercial suet cakes
blended. and other types of molds. The warm suet Bark butter
can be spread in a large baking pan, cooled It can be fun to make some softer suet that
in the refrigerator, then cut into appropri- can be spread on the tree bark or used on
ately sized squares. Wrap the individual pinecones to attract the birds and squirrels.
squares and store in the freezer. Be sure your This is a natural way that birds feed and it
containers are clean, so no bacteria are in- may attract some birds that are more hesi-
troduced. Any leftover suet should be stored tant to use your suet feeders.
in the freezer to keep it fresh.
Avoid these ingredients: Our digestive sys-
tem is different from that of birds, so there
are foods we enjoy that are indigestible for
birds.

Melting peanut butter and lard for suet.
Mix in cornmeal, rolled oats and white or
wheat flour until the mixture is slightly stiff.
The amount needed depends on the amount
used for the base ingredients. The ratios are
not important as long as it does not get too
dry and crumbly.
Birds are comfortable with a natural log suet feeder.
Now add special ingredients Attracting the birds
There are many bird-safe ingredients that Choose a visible location for the feeders
will make your suet special and different so you can enjoy the feeding activity from Birds love bark butter simply spread on trees
each time you make it. Try adding unsalt- the warmth of your home. Keep in mind
ed peanuts, seeds such as sunflower, thistle that squirrels and other wildlife will also be Do not add these foods to your suet
and safflower, cranberries, unsweetened rai- attracted to your suet. Hang the feeders on Bread, kitchen scrapes and leftovers, sugars,
sins, dried mealworms and crickets. These a pole with a squirrel baffle rather than on a bacon and bacon fat, meat, salted nuts, vege-
will make your suet a special treat. Change tree branch to help deter these hungry feed- table shortening, Karo syrup.
ers, unless you want to also feed them!
There are suet recipes that do suggest vegeta-
Hang your suet feeder high enough off the ble shortening such as Crisco and Karo syr-
ground to prevent cats from eating the suet up. Vegetable shortenings are hydrogenated
or catching the birds while they feed. in several ways and some may be healthier
than others. But it seems that the jury is still
Woodpeckers are avid suet eaters and you out on these foods, so it may be safer to pro-
can assist them to feed more comfortably vide natural animal fat such as lard rather
by using a suet feeder with a tail board or than taking a chance with the uncertainties
prop. Woodpeckers balance while feeding by of shortening.
Add peanuts and raisins as a special treat. using their stiff tail feathers to press against

18 North Haven Magazine - Holiday Issue 2023