Bark Butter For Birds

By Myrna Pearman

If you would like to complement your regular seed and suet feeding offerings, I highly recommend trying bark butter! Bark butter is created by melting and mixing together peanut butter and lard (rendered pork fat). The safest way to do it is to dump the two ingredients (I use a large tub of peanut butter to a one-pound block of lard) into a large pot and turn the stove on low heat until both ingredients have melted, stirring occasionally. You might want to use an old pot (or get one from a thrift store) because the procedure can be messy and the pot is left greasy and difficult to clean. Having a designated pot will reduce clean up time!

Another technique is to set the tub of peanut butter into a pot that is about 1/3 full of water. Place a small bowl, upside down, onto the bottom of the bowl and place the tub on top.  Again, on a low burner, watch and stir as the mixture melts. To save time and mess, I use two partly filled peanut butter tubs, so I dump half of the lard into a half-filled tub of peanut butter. I then melt the other halves together. No pouring or cleaning!

This mixture can consist of just these two ingredients or can be upscaled with the addition of mealworm larvae, sunflower chips, finely ground cornmeal and oatmeal, chopped raisins and fruit etc. Be careful not to thicken it too much with other ingredients or it will be difficult to spread.

This bark butter can then be dispensed like other suet mixtures (eg. pressed onto suet logs, smeared onto pine cones etc,) or simply slathered on tree trunks. Be warned that the grease will stain the trunk, so don’t use this method if you aren’t prepared for the stains. If you’d still like to smear it on a tree trunk, try fastening a short section of a tree (a small poplar or birch snag works well) to a post or to another tree in your yard. Then you get the benefit of this unique method of dispensing without staining your main trees and, if you discontinue feeding during the summer, you can simply dispose of the section.

You will be delighted and surprised at how quickly the birds find this delectable delight!  Species that I’ve watched relishing bark butter include Black-capped and Boreal Chickadees, Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers, Blue and Canada Jays, Red- and White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers and Golden-crowned Kinglets. Of course, Red Squirrels and Flying Squirrels love it too.

Not only will the birds eat bark butter directly off the tree trunk, but they will also spend time around the tree bases, picking up fallen morsels. 

January Joy

By Myrna Pearlman

January is a difficult time of year for many people. The bustle of the holiday season has come and gone, the dark and cold of winter still envelopes us, and the return to everyday realities can be challenging.

One of the best ways to cure the January blues is to enjoy nature!  While reading about nature or watching nature documentaries can boost our spirits, getting outside and being immersed in nature is the healthiest option, especially at this time of year. Even short walks around local neighbourhoods and through local parks can refresh and invigorate.

Connecting children to nature is especially important. Many studies confirm that direct exposure to nature is essential to a child’s healthy physical and emotional development. The benefits of taking children outside and letting them creatively play cannot be overstated.

When it is too cold or dark for children to go outside to play, try to reduce screen time by encouraging children to read nature-based books and/or engage in nature-related crafts. A quick online search will yield a plethora of creative, inexpensive and engaging nature-focused craft activities.

One of the most enjoyable and transformative way to enjoy nature—for adults and children alike—is to bring nature into our own yards and gardens by setting out bird feeding stations.  Backyard bird feeding, which is a hobby enjoyed by millions of people across North America, has become even more enthusiastically embraced over the past couple of years as people have been spending more time at home.

Backyard bird feeding stations benefit our avian neighbours by supplying them with a steady supply of food. But having the birds around benefits us too! Birds, which are fascinating to watch, provide their human observers with a strong connection to the natural world.  Watching feeder birds is a great way to introduce children to nature and can kindle in them a sense of wonder and joy.

Setting up a bird feeder is simple, easy and inexpensive. All that is needed is a sturdy feeder and, to start with, a small bag of medium sunflower chips. Once the birds start coming, this basic set up can be complemented with additional feeding stations and offerings, including black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, quality seed blends and suet. Many pleasant hours of nature watching will be the reward for starting this hobby!

The Feeder Birds of Christmas 

As we head into the holiday season, bird watchers will be marking their calendars with an additional yuletide activity – the 127th annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Interestingly, the CBC—now the longest-running and most important bird census in the world—didn’t start out as a wildlife-friendly activity. Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt." They would choose sides and go afield with their guns, killing everything in sight. The group that slaughtered the most wildlife (all animals were fair game) was declared the winner.

In 1900, ornithologist and Audubon Society officer, Frank M. Chapman, proposed an alternative to this barbaric holiday tradition—a "Christmas Bird Census" that would count, not kill, birds. The inaugural count, held on Christmas Day, had 27 participants recording 90 species across North America. Today, tens of thousands of volunteers around the globe take part in this annual event. Counts will take place between December 14, 2022 and January 5, 2023. Check out Birds Canada for a complete list of counts and count dates across the province. We encourage all backyard bird feeding enthusiasts to participate. Remember, feeder watching is a great way to connect children and grandchildren to nature!

Myrna Pearman 

As winter weather starts to descend upon us this month, backyard bird feeding enthusiasts focus their attention on our avian neighbours. The birds of summer have long migrated south, and those resident species that live year-round in our northern climates can benefit from the provision of habitat (space within which creatures can find food, water and shelter).

Having access to high-calorie birdseed is critically important to help them survive our harsh prairie winters, and Mother Nature’s Songbird Mix is an excellent mixture to offer them during the dark cold winter months. This carefully crafted blend contains a wide variety of seeds that will appeal to all our winter feeder birds.

Songbird Mix has a 50% base of sunflower seeds, both black oil and striped. Sunflower seeds are the most popular of all feeder fare and will be eagerly devoured by a wide variety of species ranging from the larger jays and grosbeaks to the mid-sized woodpeckers and finches and to the smaller chickadees and nuthatches.

The sunflowers in this blend are complemented by other high-quality seeds: the canola and canary grass will be eaten by finches (including redpolls); the millet will be dined on by many sparrow species as well as doves, blackbirds and finches; and the cracked corn will be relished by grouse and jays as well as some sparrow, finch and blackbird species.

Songbird mix can be served from different styles of feeders. During the spring and fall, when native sparrows and blackbirds are migrating through, small quantities can be spread on the ground. But to reduce waste and protect the seeds from getting wet or snowed on, it is advisable to dispense this blend from tube feeders, hopper feeders and/or covered tray feeders. If possible, place the feeders in a sunny, sheltered location away from harsh prevailing winds.

Complement this excellent mix with some suet, which can be served raw (directly from the butcher), melted and mixed with other ingredients, or in the form of commercial suet cakes. Suet cakes consist of suet blended with small seeds and other ingredients. Choose a brand that has a high protein content. These suet cakes, which fit into small wire dispensers, make offering suet easy and mess-free.

Offering a water source will also help both feeder and non-feeder bird species, especially during the late fall before there is sufficient snowfall. A small pan or water will suffice, or a commercial heated bird bath will keep the water open even during cold temperatures.

How Can We Help Our Feathered Friends?

By Myrna Pearman, Naturalist & Backyard Bird Feeding Expert

 Setting out backyard bird feeding stations is one way that we can help birds in winter. Bringing birds into our yards and gardens can also liven up our cold prairie winters.

 There are two main types of bird food that can be offered in the winter: seeds (including nuts) and suet.

Seeds: Although there are different types of bird seed on the market, the most popular are sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds come in two varieties, black oil and striped, and can be served shelled or unshelled. Although the shelled seeds (often called chips) are more expensive, they are becoming increasingly popular because they leave less waste and the smaller species (e.g., redpolls and siskins) prefer them.

Winter birds will also readily dine on corn (e.g., jays, sparrows and grouse) and nyger seed (e.g., finches). Other seeds include canary grass seed, canola, millet, safflower and vegetable and fruit seeds.  The seeds to avoid are the cheap mixes that contain cereal grains, red milo or other filler seeds, none of which are favored by northern birds.

Nuts: Many birds (e.g, jays, woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches) will eat nuts, with shelled and unshelled peanuts being the most popular. Other nuts, including walnuts, cashews, pecans etc. can also be served. 

Seeds and nuts can be dispensed in a variety of ways, from simply scattering on the ground to being served from tray, hopper and tube feeders. Feeder designs continue to improve, and a wide variety of styles are available at garden, farm and hardware stores. 

Suet: Suet (the fat found around the hearts of cattle and sheep) can be served raw or rendered and mixed with seeds, cornmeal and other ingredients, and is relished by most insect-eating birds (e.g., woodpeckers, kinglets, chickadees and nuthatches). Lard (pig fat) can also be used instead of pure suet. Retailers that carry bird seed also sell packaged suet cakes that can be slipped into special plastic-coated cages, a combination that minimizes fuss and mess.

Water

While all birds require water, even in the winter, resident (year-round) species are adapted to obtaining moisture by eating snow. However, since birds will avail themselves of open water if it is available, a heated bird bath is an easy way to provide water for the birds all winter long. There are many styles of heated bird baths on the market.

Whether you live in the country or in an urban condominium complex, sharing your outdoor living space with the birds is guaranteed to bring hours of entertainment, education and enjoyment.