Birdseed Ornaments
Ingredients & Supplies:
- 1/2 c. water
- 3/4 c. flour
- 3 tbsp. corn syrup
- 1 1/2 tsp. unflavored gelatin
- 4 c. birdseed
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Cookie cutters (preferable an inch thick)
- Wax or parchment paper
- Saucepan
- Skewer or straw
- String or yarn cut into 8 inch lengths
- Wire cooking rack
- Rubber spatula
Instructions:
- Spray the cookie cutters with non-stick spray
- Place cookie cutters on wax paper
- Combine water and corn syrup in a saucepan and bring them to a boil
- Reduce heat to low and add gelatin, stir continuously until the powder dissolves then remove from heat
- Pour syrup into a mixing bowl and add flour
- Stir together until the combination is well blended, there should be no large clumps and it should have the consistency of brownie mix
- If the mixture gets to thick add hot water a tablespoon at a time
- Add birdseed and stir until flour batter coats all of the seeds (you may want to coat your spatula or spoon with non-stick spray)
- Spray your hands in non-stick spray and fill each cookie cutter to the brim with birdseed, press seed into every corn of the mold firmly to compact the ornaments
- It’s important to work quickly so that your birdseed mixture doesn’t dry out
- If you have left over seed mix you can roll it into small firm balls
- Using a skewer or straw poke a hole in the top of your ornament about an inch away from the edge
- Thread sting through the hole and tie it in a knot
- Place ornaments still in the cookie molds on to a wire rack to dry for a minimum of 6-8 hour
Choosing Your Birdseed:
Consider what kinds of birds you are wanting to attract and then use seed mixes that they enjoy. The list below should help you get started!
- White proso millet: Rufous-sided Towhee
- Mix of white and red proso millet, canary seed, and fine cracked corn: Dark Eyed Junco
- Mix of white and red proso millet: Sparrows (several species) and Dark Eyed Junco
- Mix of peanut kernels and sunflower seeds: Blue Jay
- Mix of peanut kernels, black oil sunflower seeds and black striped sunflower seeds: Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse
- Mix of black oil and black striped sunflower seeds: Red Breasted Nuthatch
- Mix of hulled and black striped sunflower seeds: Brown Thrasher
- Mix of white and red proso millet and German millet: Mourning Dove
- Safflower seeds, black oil sunflower seeds, and white milo: Cardinals
