I just realized that I did not add my To Do list to the birdcount message! Right now is migration, and believe it or not, nest building time. So put out some bird food and suet (see recipe below), get the birdhouses out and clean them up. It is also helpful for the birds, if you put out some nesting materials like yarn scraps, string, dryer lint work, fabric scraps, cottonballs; put them in something like a suet feeder and hang close to the feeders. When my wonderful dog, Ginger, was with us, I would take her outside and brush out her winter undercoat. The loose fur would make big poofy reddish brown tumbleweeds. At one point I was gathering them and throwing them away until one day when it was windy and I lost quite a few. About a week or two later I was watching a bird fly back and forth building a nest and when I got a good look at the nest I noticed that it was kind of furry and the same color as Ginger's fur! So after that I stopped throwing away the fur.
Recipe for bird treats that look good enough to eat:
Melt 1 cup shortening and 2 cups chunky peanut butter over low heat, then mix in 5 cups cornmeal. Fill paper cupcakes liners and top with nuts, bird seed, dried berries. Cool in refridgerator.
This recipe is from Birds and Blooms magazine, Jan 2011 issue
My 4h club made these for the backyard birdcount. I will attempt tp post a picture!
That is so interesting...and what a great story about the fur!I admire your baking even for the birds...chirp chirp! Thanks for sharing
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