By Reba Kocher

Listen to this post here: bird_seed_speech.mp3

Instructor Jodi Shrimplin mixing the suet.

Thank you all for your enthusiasm for our bird seed ornament workshops! We completely filled TWO workshops. For those of you who wanted to attend but couldn’t we have some instructions to feed the birds at home! As you may know, winter is a hard time for non-migrating birds. The cold, harsh winter kills so many of the plants that they rely on for food. We want to make bird seed ornaments to support our local bird populations, so we can continue to see and enjoy all the birds Ohio has to offer. Here are some fun and easy ways to help ease this difficult feeding time. All recipes are family friendly, and can be made with simple, accessible ingredients that most of us have in our pantry (with the help of some birdseed).

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Birdseed ornaments:

What you need: birdseed, unflavored gelatin, mold

How it’s made:

1. 1. Use ½ the water as called for to dissolve the gelatin (this makes the mold more solid)
2. 2. Add 2-3 cups birdseed per 1 cup gelatin (birdseed does not need to be saturated, just coated)
3. 3. Stir and coat all birdseed
4. 4. Scoop seed/gelatin mixture into molds (scooping from bottom of bowl)
5. 5. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours
6. 6. Pull from refrigeration, remove from molds/ flip ornament and let dry overnight
7. 7. Hang your ornament or place in a suet cage and enjoy the birds that will visit!

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Pinecone Birdfeeders:

What you need: pinecones, birdseed, peanut butter, string

How it’s made:

1. 1.Collect pinecones
2. 2.Spoon/ smear peanut butter on pinecones
3. 3.Roll pinecones in birdseed
4. 4.Use string to tie and hang pinecones in a bird accessible area

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Ice Cream Cone Birdfeeder:

What you need: waffle cones, pipe cleaners, peanut butter, wheat o’s, birdseed

How it’s made:

1. Stick pipe cleaner through pointed end of ice cream cone (this is your hanger, do this first to avoid a peanut butter mess!!).
2. Cover cone in peanut butter
3. Press on wheat o’s throughout
4. Roll in bird seed
5. Hang using pipe cleaner in a visible tree/shrub/feeder

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Other Tricks & Tips!

*Pipe cleaners can be strung with wheat o’s and shaped into all different shapes and easily hung for a quick bird snack!

*String popcorn, dried fruit, wheat o’s, etc to drape on trees and shrubs.

*Leave whole peanuts in another area to deter squirrels from raiding your feeders.

**Get a bird identification book to discover all the different types of birds that visit your feeders.