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Tea cup bird feeders
Living on the West Coast has its advantages. For example it’s spring here while I know the majority of Canadians are still suffering winter’s fury.
And there are certain disadvantages. Like it hardly stops raining.
This year I wanted to welcome the season by making a bird feeder. I know, not so glamorous. But with all the rain I thought having little birds visiting me through the window would make me feel better about being stuck indoors.
As a kid I used to make pine cone bird feeders by spreading peanut butter on the cones and then rolling them through birdseed. I would then hang them on branches throughout my parents’ yard and then investigate every other day to see which mixtures and locations were popular.
But now I don’t have the luxury of trees. I have a covered balcony.
A quick browse through Pinterest showed me that teacup feeders are popular this year. I’ve never seen these before but I do happen to have quite the collection of tea cups. If you haven’t got a stash of tea cups on hand, you can find inexpensive vintage and gently used ones through your local Used.ca site.
I thought about going all out and setting up a tea party for my bird friends but reason won out and I decided to do some testers before committing to the bit.
Here’s the recipe I used:
- Warm 1/3 cup of peanut butter and 1/3 cup of natural honey in a saucepan
- Mix in 2/3 cup of birdseed, sesame seeds, or other seeds, 1/3 cup of sunflower seeds, and 1/4 cup of flax seeds
- Press the mixture into desired dish
- Cool and serve
Although it was a bit messy the actual project only took about 15 minutes from start to finish. And if I wasn’t doing a test run of the stuff I would have thought ahead to make a bit for me…it is so tasty!
The birds in my neighbourhood will have to be crazy not to come by my deck for tea.
Unfortunately it was evening when I set out my project and although I could hear the birds in the bushes below I probably won’t see any until daylight.
I’m eager to see how this works and I’m in the market for bigger and better birdseed recipes so if you have one please pass it along!
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Robyn Roste
Working full time as a writer, editor and audio broadcast producer should be enough. But instead of resting after a long work day Robyn sets to creating havoc in her space by attempting more DIY, upcycle and knitting projects than she has room for. Her husband is a patient man.
Sally Jones
Birds can be surprisingly fussy in me experience, so don’t get too disheartened if they don’t like your concoction.
I do wonder a little how safe having china is for the birds?
Wouldn’t they chip their little beaks or something?
Robyn
Thanks for the heads up Sally. Apart from some bird poo on my barbecue (an unwanted and unexpected side effect) I have not seen any sign of birds visiting! I didn’t think about the beak-china thing… perhaps I should adjust the feeders just in case. Thank you!
Pam @writewrds
I’m going to try it. Thanks!
larry
hmm but do squierls like it? I have evil black squirels that try and eat all the bird feed