Cornish Food Market

Giving birds a three-course meal

November 10, 2011 in In season | 0 comments

Colder weather is upon us, and as we prepare for the Christmas season let’s not forget that our feathered friends in the garden would like to share in the festivities. Although birds benefit all year from our feeding them, winter is the most difficult time of year for them to find their natural foods. And because different birds thrive on different foods, there is a lot we bird lovers can do to help with minimal effort, for maximum enjoyment.

Seedeaters such as chaffinches and greenfinches enjoy being offered seeds all the year round. And most are familiar with the sight of blue tits performing amazing acrobatics while extracting crushed birdnuts from a feeder or coconut from its shell. But many scraps from the kitchen will also make a delicious meal for many of our garden visitors.

Any solid fat – suet, lard, peanut butter, bacon fat and more – makes a perfect base for homemade bird balls as well as providing the extra energy the birds need during the winter months. Pied wagtails, wrens and robins will be on the lookout and miraculously appear when grated or crumbled cheese is on offer. Stale bread (particularly wholemeal), cakes and biscuits, all crumbled up and moistened with a little water, are a treat for many birds. Out-of-date fruits (or even the cores from eaten fruit), especially apples and pears, are adored by blackbirds and thrushes. Raisins, currants and really any dried fruit - as long as it is chopped and soaked - make a welcome addition to a bird’s winter diet. Even leftover cooked pasta, rice or potatoes will be appreciated by your new dinner guests.

Remember that once you begin feeding the birds they will begin to rely on you so regular feeding is a must. Putting food out first thing in the morning means there is something there for hungry birds after a long and cold night. Because different birds like finding their food at different levels, be sure to scatter some food on the ground, some in feeders / bird tables, and some hanging from trees. And always supply a source of clean and fresh water!

cornishfoodmarket.co.uk now supply both bird nuts and bird seed (as well as coconuts and other goodies for birds), and if you haven’t already done so, try making your own bird cakes. This makes a great activity for all the family, and you can see how the number of feathered visitors to your garden multiplies!

A Recipe for Bird Cake:
First make a mould from something suitable. A half-coconut shell with string or wire threaded through a small hole in the base makes a good one. Alternatively, an old yoghurt pot can be used.

Ingredients:
500g fat (suet is best, but you can use bacon fat, lard or solid vegetable fat as well)
500g mixed bird seed (not too many large seeds)
750g (up to this but no more) crushed bird nuts and /or scraps e.g. cake & biscuit crumbs, grated cheese, sultanas, brown bread etc. (all soaked)

Method:
1. Carefully melt the fat in a large saucepan - don't make it too hot.
2. Stir all the rest of the ingredients into the fat.
3. Pour the mixture into the mould and leave to cool and set. If using a yoghurt pot, push a length of wire into the mixture while it is still soft.
4. When the cake is set, hang the coconut mould upside down in the garden. Cake made in a yoghurt pot can be carefully scooped out using a knife, and hung up by the wire.

(recipe adapted from www.ypte.org.uk).