Bird Food

For the Birds

This activity gives everyone a chance to be creative while providing food for our birds. Woodpeckers enjoy this treat, but don't be surprised if you find other birds trying to get their share!

The objective is to: become aware of the needs of birds, learn some foods that the birds can eat

Background:	Once the snow is on the ground, some of the birds may find their food in short supply. Birds that rely on seeds, fruits, and insects have to really hunt to find food. Without enough food, some birds may not survive a harsh winter.
Skills:	The children should be able to mix the ingredients. This can be turned into a math lesson for upper elementary and middle school children since the ingredients are in a ratio to each other.
Age:	Grades 1 – adult
Material	Vegetable shortening, peanut butter, corn meal, flour (I use whole wheat or rye), raisons, unshelled peanuts, sunflower seeds, or any other fruit that you have at hand.
Activity:	Mix equal parts of peanut butter and vegetable shortening in a large bowl. Add one part corn meal to the mixture. Stir until all of the cornmeal has been absorbed. Add two to three parts flour to the mixture. Do not add the flour all at once, but a little at a time until all of the flour is absorbed and the mixture does not cling to the sides of the bowl. It should look like firm cookie dough. Add as much fruit and nuts as the mixture will hold. It should mold with your hand without being too dry or mushy. NOTE: If the mixture is mushy, add more flour. If you over do it on the nuts and fruit, you can always add a little more peanut butter until it’s the right consistency. You can feed this to the birds by forming squares and placing it in wire suet holders. As an alternate, you can leave the mixture on the mushy side and give the kids butter knives. Let them "paint" the trees. The woodpeckers and other birds will find the treats no matter how they are served. TIP: To keep it simple use one cup as one part. With this ratio, this recipe will make three 41/2 x 51/2 squares.
Discussion:	How long do you think the food will last? Which birds will come to eat it? Will other animals try to eat this food? Why is it good to feed the birds during winter?
Brownie	Earth and Sky – The Sky’s My Home!
Junior Badge:	Ecology #4

Join now and get our newsletter and a new activity every week.