How To Make - BIRD SEED ORNAMENT RECIPES

I used to think that birds were noisy and messy. I don't feel that way anymore.When I started planting flower beds I noticed different birds coming around. I started watching them. The more I watched the more I liked them. It was kind of like staring at fish in a fishtank. Very calming.

I must admit my favorite is the Hummingbird. If you want a great bird to watch, buy a couple Hummingbird feeders. Hang them and they will come. Hummingbirds are so playful. Once they get used to you being there, they will fly right up to you. We do have a dominant male. He thinks he is the boss of the feeders. He sits on a near by bush and guards the feeders. I know he is a male because the males have a red spot on their neck. The females aren't as colorful.

This is the mixture I use in the feeders. I got it from a hummingbird site

HUMMINGBIRD SYRUP

1- cup sugar to a gallon of water

I heat the water on the stove, add the sugar and simmer it for a few minuets. I find the sugar is better disolved this way. Do not add red food coloring. The feeders are red. That is all you need. Let it cool. Fill your feeders.Place unused syrup in the fridge. It will stay good longer.

If you don't already have Humming birds flying around it may take a couple of weeks for them to come. Put your feeders out in the Spring. Also try planting flowers that attract Humming birds. The Birds and Blooms magazine has alot of information.

FEED BIRDS FOR PENNIES

I don't feed wild birds in the warm months, There is enough for them to find. In the winter though I do buy Birdseed. It can get expensive. I get a big bag for like five dollars at the Dollar General. They also like suet. You can buy that too. There are also feeders made for suet.

We get alot of Blue Jays. I  love to watch them at the feeder. They like to eat bread also. I read in the Bird and Blooms magazine to swipe the bread in your bacon grease and put it out by your feeder. It worked great. They loved it! I also got this recipe, cookie cutter feeders from the magazine. I have made these. They look so nice hanging in my trees.

BIRDSEED COOKIES

I used Christmas cookie cutters because tis the season. Just take left over bead and brush them with egg whites. Then press them in birdseed. I may try peanut butter next time. Bake at 350 degress for about 10 minutes. I took a pencil and poked a hole in the cookie, pushed some colored ribbon through, tied it and hung them in my trees. WOW! sooo cute

Birds need water in the winter too. To keep the water from freezing you can use a small crock pot. Set it at the low setting and it should not freeze. You can add something across the top so the birds have somewhere to sit.

I got these tips from the Birds and Blooms magazine. There are so much more. I love this magazine.

Hummingbird Ornament

Learn how to make a neat hummingbird ornament from a single peanut.

Here's how to make your own hummingbird ornament.

1. Select unsalted peanuts that are not broken and have no visible cracks.
2. Use a white spray primer to help the paint stick and eliminate having to put two coats of paint on the nuts.
3. Spray paint or brush the nuts a light yellow green. I used Krylon Ivy Leaf.
4. When dry, hold the nut and sponge on a slightly darker green acrylic paint on the head and back.
5. Take a round toothpick and cut off 1/2 inch of the pointy end for a beak. I painted mine a metallic gold with acrylic paint since this was a Christmas ornament.
6. Drill or poke with an ice pick or tiny nail a hole in the head portion to glue the beak in with white school or tacky glue. Let set. (Placement of the beak gives the birds different looks.)
7. Paint a patch of red under the beak.
8. I used a glitter glaze to cover the red and the back to make it sparkly for Christmas.
9. Wings are made from a 1 x 2 inch piece of green tulle netting and a six inch piece of gold thread. Tie the thread around the netting to gather it to form a wing. Tie the top of the thread to complete the hanger. Glue the wing on the back.
10. Use black dimensional paint or black acrylic paint to dot on two eyes above the beak.