Sweet Suet
by Kathy White
Title
Sweet Suet
Artist
Kathy White
Medium
Photograph - Photography--greeting Cards Or Notes Are Cheaper By The Dozen!
Description
The most important element in attracting birds to your yard is the food that you offer. Traditionally, feeding wild birds has involved providing bird seed in feeders, and now includes supplying alternative foods ranging from suet to insects. Different bird species have different food preferences.Suet is very attractive to a wide variety of species including woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, Carolina Wren, and Tufted Titmouse. Suet comes commercially packaged or can be purchased from the butcher. Commercially packaged suet can be fed year round.
Some instructions I found said to provide suet during cool weather only. Suet (beef fat) attracts insect-eating birds. Place the suet in special feeders or net onion bags at least five feet from the ground to keep it out of the reach of dogs. It said to be careful putting out suet during hot weather as it can turn rancid; also, dripping fat can damage natural waterproofing on bird feathers.
Peanut butter is a good substitute for suet in the summer. Mix one part peanut butter with five parts corn meal and stuff the mixture into holes drilled in a hanging log or into the crevices of a large pinecone. This all-season mixture attracts woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and occasionally warblers.
Suet cakes are usually placed in square, plastic-coated wire baskets. Suet feeders vary in the number of cakes they hold. Many factors, I also found, make suet feeding more attractive year-round now. Improved, no-melt formulas take the mess out of using it during the warm summer months. You can also find fortified varieties that contain seeds, fruits, and insects to attract a greater variety of wild birds, and to maximize the dietary benefits of suet – no matter what the season.
Suet is high-protein, high-calorie, pure animal fat that provides a perfect food source for always active wild birds. It offers much needed energy for generating body heat, migration, breeding, and overall survival in often harsh conditions. Suet also frequently contains additional bird-favorite ingredients such as seed, fruits, vegetables, and insects. While suet is traditionally thought of as a winter substitute for insects, it can now be used for year round feeding.
Locate your suet feeder close to a tree trunk. The close proximity to the tree not only encourages suet feeding, but also protects the suet from the sun's heat. Since suet is a coveted item, it is eaten rapidly once birds discover it. You will need to refill often, especially in the winter. Pretty soon, you will see a steady stream of birds in your backyard!
Uploaded
May 9th, 2013
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