My flickers like to stay for a long time on the deck rail so they can watch the feeder

by Isabel Cutler
(Western North Carolina)

Of all the birds that visit my feeders, the flickrs hang around the longest. At this moment there's one that's been in the same spot for over 40 minutes.

They are attracted to the "no-melt suet" mix I put out for the insect eating birds.

Here's the recipe:

1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup lard (not vegetable shortening)
2 cups quick-cook oats (non quick is fine)
2 cups cornmeal
1 cup plain flour
1/3 cup sugar

Melt lard and peanut butter in microwave. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into square or rectangular container. Refrigerate and cut into squares and serve the birds (and squirrels). They love it!