Crazy About Suet!

Birds love suet!  I try to keep the crunchy peanut buttery treat on hand for my back yard friends.  I always use the same basic mix but vary on the extra ingredients like raisins, cranberries, seeds, nuts, etc.  I've tried the store bought stuff, but it usually ends up in the trash because my bird friends won't eat it.  However, they love this homemade recipe.

The basic ingredients for this suet recipe are:

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 cup lard

2 cups yellow corn meal

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats

Put it all together:  

Melt peanut butter and lard together.

Add dry ingredients and stir well.

Add extra ingredients on hand like 

bird seed, sunflower chips, raisins or dried cranberries, peanuts, etc.  

After mixing everything together, let it set for a few minutes. Spoon the mixture out and roll it into 1 to 2 inch balls or spread it into a sheet pan then cut it into squares.  I have also spooned the mixture into miniature muffin pans.  The shape of the mixture doesn't matter to the birds- they love it either way! Extra mixture may be stored in the freezer until ready to use.  

There are many variations on suet recipes so feel free to experiment.  I've tried others but this combination of ingredients has been the most popular with my back yard friends.  

Thank you for dropping in and I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!

Backyard Goldfinches

Good morning everyone!  I had been watching the news about the winter blizzard that crippled parts of the mid-Atlantic- what a mess it left.  I feel for any of you who may be having to cope with that.  I can't imagine having to literally dig out from 2 feet of snow.  We didn't even get a few flakes here. Our weather is crazy- in the mid to upper 60's for a day or two, then dropping to the 30's and 40's, back and forth, from cold to warm.  That means we maintain a mixed wardrobe in our closets because our weather can change considerably fast.  

One of the few things I like about winter is the return of migrating birds, such as the American Goldfinch.  A large number of them are taking advantage of the feeders filled with a variety of seeds. They favor nyger and sunflower seeds, but will eat the finch food as well.  Chipping Sparrows and Pine Siskins have also returned for the winter.  My back yard has become a popular hang out for these groups.  Unfortunately, a local hawk has discovered that as well.  I spotted him (or her) swooping down and trying to snatch one of the little birds yesterday.  I know the hawk has to eat too, but I wish it would go elsewhere.  

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday.  Try to stay warm!  

Pine Siskins

These are my final shots of the Pine Siskins this year (I think).  Most are gone, but a few of them remain.  I believe I would've had more goldfinches this year if the siskins hadn't been so numerous. They literally took over the feeders and were quite noisy and aggressive.  

Enjoying a drink while trying to maintain their balance...

Fighting over their spot at the finch socks (they love thistle!)-

sometimes they get pretty ferocious for their wee size!

In the shot below, the siskin closest to the finch sock grasped the wing 

of the smaller one and pulled it away- they both fell close to the ground.

In this next shot, a siskin is being brutally trampled by another.  

Whatever it takes to defend their food source, some of them will do it...

However, they're not all bullies- some are quite sweet and peaceful...

Enjoy your Wednesday, thank you for visiting!

Linked with Stewart at Wild Bird Wednesday

More Sock Wars

A few more shots of our back yard birdies on their socks...

and some on their dirty socks...

Messy little birds!

I purchased a pair of clean socks yesterday and took the dirty ones down. Now I'll always have a pair of clean socks on hand when they need to be changed out. Who'd ever thought I'd be doing laundry for the birds?  

Sock Wars

Pine Siskins flood our back yard each morning for breakfast.  They're aggressive little birds, particularly at the feeders and thistle socks...

However, by mid-morning the siskins have usually cleared out and others, like the goldfinches and sparrows, can finally feed in peace.  

Wishing you all a wonderful Tuesday :)