So, while we had the woodstove going yesterday, I decided to render some suet in one of my cast iron pans. Now the pan is completely seasoned! Suet/Tallow seems to work way better than even high-heat safflower oil (which left weird sticky spots and wasn't preventing rust). Spending some of my snow day re-seasoning my pans.
Filled up the bird feeders and threw out some goodies for my corvid pals (leftover canned corn, bits of suet, peanuts, dried mealworms, sunflower seeds). Blue Jays (diindiisiwag in Ojibwe) were especially pleased!
Don't forget to feed your feathered friends (especially if they are used to you feeding them)!
5 Foods You Should Feed Birds in the Winter
By Amy Grisak
Updated on Aug. 27, 2024
- #Suet
- #Peanuts and Peanut Butter
- Nyjer #ThistleSeed
- Black-Oil #Sunflower Seed
- #DriedFruit and Berries
Read more:
https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-birds/feeding-birds/foods-birds-winter/
#Robins will keep coming back to your garden with 1 nesting box upgrade in January
These small wooden shelters trap heat with a low entrance, keeping birds warm and safe in winter.
By Grace Piercy, News Reporter
17:24, Wed, Dec 31, 2025 Updated: 17:25, Wed, Dec 31, 2025
"Those looking to bring robins into their garden have been encouraged to upgrade their bird nesting box to a #WinterRoostingBox by House Digest. These small wooden shelters trap heat with a low entrance, keeping birds warm and safe in winter. Nesting boxes, on the other hand, are only intended to protect eggs with a higher entrance to allow for ventilation. This upgrade can be completed simply by using wood filler, weather-resistant screws, and untreated wood shavings. Wild Birds Unlimited recommends flipping boxes upside down to lower the entrance, and filling ventilation holes to prevent heat from escaping. They should be put in a secluded spot, protected from wind, snow, and rain, about six feet off the ground.
"Gardeners have also been told to leave #suet balls in the garden. As food sources dwindle, robins will seek alternative sources of nutrients.
"Richard Green, an animal nutrition expert at Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies, told House Beautiful that the hard, white animal fat is one of the best options for bird food at this time of year."
Learn more:
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/garden/2152244/robin-garden-nesting-box-upgrade-january
#SolarPunkSunday #BirdBoxes #NestingBoxes #Wildlife #FeedingBirds #AnimalProducts
@MaQuest Cool! I made something similar last year using hand-rendered suet (instead of lard). I'll be posting about that next week!
#SolarPunkSunday #Wildlife #Suet #SuetCakes #DIY #FeedTheBirds #AnimalProducts
Bloody crows; they've found a way to lift the lid of the suet ball feeder, and nicked them whole! I was amazed once when such an item was picked up complete by a crow who flew off with it in the beak. That, and rats.
nothing on the track camera, eh! forgot to switch it ON yesterday; OK today, and have placed a few wholemeal baps, pack found in a bag full of stuff for the taking, imagine, as bait.
Today performed a session of weed reduction in the area outside the actual plot; am keeping it bramble free, worked OK so far, only three in a sea of other weeds which include noxious stuff. It is in this area that I found wide marks of flattened weeds, indicating some sort of animal doing the rounds; what is it I don't know.
#alllotment #crows #wildlife #weeds #suet balls
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