The Bloomin' Idiot's
Recipes ... for the Birds
Bird Balls
3 c oatmeal
1 quart water
1 lb lard or suet
1 (12 oz) jar peanut butter
3 cups cornmeal
3 cups cream of wheat
Cook oatmeal in water for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lard or suet and peanut butter until melted. Add cornmeal and cream of wheat. Cool; shape into balls. Hang balls in mesh bags such as an onion bag.
Source: Dianne Koebke, Green Bay, WI
Pinecone Treats
Roll pinecones in peanut butter, then roll in birdseed. You can also add nuts, berries, raisins, etc. Hang cones from trees and fences. Warning - squirrels like these, too!
Source: Diana Vincent, Corbin, KY
"Birdmeal"
1 c shortening
1 c peanut butter
1 c flour
4 c cornmeal
Combine shortening, peanut butter and flour. Add in cornmeal; birdmeal should be the consistency of putty. Press mixture into the bark of trees and onto corners of bird feeders; attracts woodpeckers, cardinals and blue jays.
Source: Harold Weppler, Atlantic, IO
To deter unwanted birds and squirrels, provide pure suet (the fat from around the kidneys of cattle) for birds ... by omitting birdseed and nuts, you attract the at least 40 species of North American birds who love this treat!
Source: Shirley Bragg, Shelburne, Ontario, Canada
If you want to feed the birds, but can't dig a hole in the ground, try using a bird feed atop a pole which has been placed inside a wide-based Christmas tree stand! It's also portable!
Source: Lurane Slaght, Tucson, AZ
Mockingbird Muffins
1 c cornmeal
1 c flour
1 c grated bread crumbs
½ Tbsp baking soda
¾ c currants or raisins
½ c bacon drippings
¼ tsp sand
1 c water
Combine first four ingredients in medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spoon into muffin cups. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Serve on feeder tray or attach to tree branches.
Source: Mildred Unruh, Ambler, PA
Make Your Own Suet!
Pour into a rectangular cake pan lined with waxed paper; when cool, slice into squares for suet feeder.
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