I remember feeding birds as a child and I remember making bird feeding balls at school. Somewhere along the way though, I’ve forgotten about it all, which is a shame. Admittedly, there have been a few times over the last couple of years when I thought it’d be a nice thing to do, but somehow I never seemed to get round to it before Winter.
Until now. I put it down to the fact that it’s been unseasonally warm for so long which in turn gave me enough time to actually put my thoughts into action. So, this isn’t a difficult or particularly new diy, it doesn’t cost much and is quick to make. And it does of course have the added advantage that it will feed some hungry birds. There’s no better incentive, is there?
1 metal (camping) cup
100g hardening fat like lard or vegetable fat
200g bird feed
string
not shown: birds!
And here’s how it’s done…
Over a low heat, slowly warm up the fat until it’s completely melted. Add the seeds and mix well so that they’re all covered.
Transfer the mix into the cup. I’ve kept the cup at an angle, but that’s just optional. Put into the fridge to cool and harden for about an hour.
Now cut a piece of string and tie it around the handle.
Wait for birds to appear… I’m still waiting!