Burgess Bird Food

by Beverlee Traxler
(Deka Lake, British Columbia, Canada)

1/8 Cup Crushed Egg Shells
1/4 Cup Crushed Crackers
1/4 Cup Chopped Walnuts
1/4 Cup Coarsley Chopped Oranges
1/4 Cup Currants
1/4 Cup Rolled Oats
1/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds
1/4 Cup Peanut Butter
1/4 Cup Beef Fat

Over low heat in medium saucepan melt peanut butter and beef fat. Mix together all other ingredients and add to peanut butter mixture. Place in an aluminum pan approximately 4" X 9", press down firmly and freeze. Once frozen break in half and it should fit into the regular sized suet holder. Return other half to freezer for use later.

Using the same recipe - take two large pinecones and to each pinecone tie string to one end to enable you to hang. Smear the peanut butter mixture on pinecones filling in all the gaps. Roll in the treat mixture, pressing firmly, and hang from tree.

You can vary the type of nuts and fruits. Using this recipe we attract downy woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, black capped chickadees, mountain chickadees, and red breasted nuthatchers.