Kitchen Staples That Birds Love: A Winter Feeding Guide
It's wintertime and you're wanting to feed the birds but are out of bird seed. Look no further than your pantry for alternatives that are actually healthy for birds.
I researched a couple of my favorite sites to see what kitchen pantry staples they recommended and have compiled them here for you.
Keep in mind that not all birds like the same food, so if you offer more than one of these alternatives, keep them separated.
Fruits:
Apples and Oranges: When feeding birds apples, slice them up and remove all the seeds. You can place these on a flat bird feeder under shelter or skewer pieces (or half an apple) on a feeder for them.
Bananas: Remove the peel and slice in half lengthwise. Place on a flat bird feeder under shelter or on a skewer.
Melon, Pumpkin and Squash Seeds: Roast the seeds in the oven first—do not add any additional flavoring or salt. Place in feeders once cooled.
Raisins: It's suggested to soak raisins in warm water first before setting them out, making them easier for birds to eat. This may not be the best choice for cold winter weather, but it's something to keep in mind for spring or summer.
Cheese:
Birds love mild, grated cheddar or other hard cheeses, but soft cheeses such as brie and blue cheese are not suitable. Make sure to grate the cheese as fine as possible. Place on a plate and set out under a sheltered area.
Peanut Butter:
Peanut butter is a wonderful alternative to feed birds, and there are so many ways to serve it. First, make sure you use natural peanut butter with no added sugar, salt, or xylitol. It needs to be 100% peanut butter. It's also best to stay away from low-fat varieties—birds need the nutrients found in 100% natural peanut butter.
For an extra treat, use crunchy peanut butter.
You can mix a small amount of cornmeal, flour, or oats to make the peanut butter less sticky so it will be less likely to clog birds' mouths or feathers.
Peanut butter is best used during cool times of the year. It's not recommended for summer or hotter months.
Peanut Butter and Pine Cones: One of the best ways to serve peanut butter to birds is to apply it to a pine cone. Make sure the pine cone is clean of brush and dirt first. Attach a string or rope to the pine cone so you can hang it from a tree branch or bird feeder. Then apply peanut butter all over the pine cone.
If you want to take it a step further, after the peanut butter is applied, roll the pine cone in bird seed or your own roasted melon, pumpkin, or squash seeds. Then hang.
Peanut Butter and Log Feeder: Another way to offer peanut butter to birds is to use a log feeder. You can purchase one or make one yourself.
To make one yourself, simply drill 1/2" or larger holes into a small log. Clean out the holes and make sure no shavings or dirt is left. Then stuff peanut butter in the holes and hang the log from a tree branch or a hook. For an added treat, mix small seeds or bird seed with the peanut butter before stuffing it into the holes.
If you use a log feeder or make one yourself, remember to clean the holes out before placing more peanut butter in them. If the holes aren't cleaned out, mold can grow, which is harmful to birds.
Eggs:
Chopped, cooked eggs contain many essential nutrients for birds, and even the crushed eggshells will provide calcium for nesting birds. Plus, the grit helps their digestion. Make sure to crush the eggshells into small pieces.
In Closing:
Birds also love quality bird seed, sunflower seeds, suet, live mealworms, and niger seed.
I use Wildwings Buffet as my choice of bird seed. Johnson's Milling and Feed on Hwy 90 between Lenoir and Taylorsville, offers a 20lb and 40lb bag option. This seed mixture offers a wide variety of seeds that attracts woodpeckers, wrens, finches, bluebirds, doves, robins, cardinals, and many more birds.
Feeding the birds will not only provide nutritional meals for them during icy weather but will also bring you enjoyment as you watch all the different varieties of birds that come to enjoy the feast you've made for them!
For this article I referenced: Birds & Blooms and Really Wild Bird Food