As the days get shorter and cooler, the leaves on the trees fall off and my garden closes for the season. I am turning my attention to my DIY To-Do list. This is a very long list and sure to keep me busy all winter long. It has things like building a blanket ladder, putting in a wood floor in my bedroom, making a new dining room table, and making scrabble letters for the wall in my dining room. Those are much more labour intensive than this DIY which was also on my list.
So I thought it best to start small and work up to the bigger ones. Also, this easy-to-make recipe for corn-free treats for wild birds can help the native birds that come to Ontario to spend the winter. Or at least to those ones that choose to pass through my back yard. ‘Cause that’s where the treats at!.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and then buy something, I will get paid a small fee.
If you’re like me, then you love natural biodiversity in your yard. It’s important to let the ones you want come in naturally and keep the ones you don’t! If you are having trouble with garden pests, check out my post on 16 garden pests and how to get rid of them. But birds are always welcome in my yard, especially in the winter. This year I had a pair or two of goldfinches lay their claim on my yard.
Being in my garden this summer and hearing them sing and hang out while I worked was so much fun. I can’t wait until I can buy land and start building my homestead from scratch. But that’s a story for another time. When I finally get my land, I want to do biodiverse farming on my homestead.
We were going to make suet cakes for some birds in the backyard today, but that plan quickly fell through the cracks. I called several butchers in the area and found that NOBODY (except butchers and grocery stores) will sell raw suet anymore because it’s an E coli risk. No amount of begging and pleading on my part would change their minds. Which totally sucks as I wanted it for two reasons. Two of them are used to make suet cakes and tallow, which is used in cold process soap making. However, I have to change my plans until I can find someone to be my suet dealer. Luckily peanut butter works a charm and so this post is saved. That said peanut butter is not going to work for the soap!.
There are pure suet cakes on the market, so I WILL write a post about how to make them for birds. I’m not sure if that will work as tallow in my cold process soap; I need to look into it more.
Birds bring joy to our lives with their beautiful songs and colors. As spring approaches, we welcome back migratory species to our backyards. Providing food and shelter helps our avian neighbors thrive. An easy, fun project is creating seed balls to give birds a nutritional boost. I’ll explain step-by-step how to make these natural treats.
Why Make Seed Balls?
Seed balls, sometimes called seed bombs, are small balls made of clay, compost and seeds They allow you to spread native plant seeds across an area. As rain moistens the clay, the seeds germinate. The compost gives them nutrients to grow
Seed balls have many benefits:
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They can cover a large area with minimal effort. Throwing handfuls of loose seeds may result in uneven dispersal. The clay balls ensure even spacing.
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The clay coating protects seeds from drying out or being eaten More seeds survive to germinate
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Native wildflowers support local pollinators. These plants evolved together and rely on each other.
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Seed balls fight erosion on slopes and bare ground. Their roots stabilize the soil.
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They beautify abandoned lots, roadsides, empty fields or your own garden.
Providing more plants increases food sources and shelter for birds. Sites with diverse native flowers attract more species.
Choosing the Right Seeds
Select seeds of plants native to your region. Avoid commercial wildflower mixes, which may contain non-native species. The best sources are local native plant nurseries, Audubon societies or native plant clubs.
Consider the plant’s preferred growing conditions. Is the site sunny or shaded? Dry or moist? Does the soil contain clay, sand or loam? Pick seeds suited to the location.
Favorite bird-friendly native flowers include:
- Milkweed for monarch butterflies that birds feed on
- Sunflowers for their heavy seed production
- Asters, coneflowers, daisies and other composites that attract insects
- Fruiting shrubs like dogwood and viburnum
Seed Ball Ingredients
Clay creates a protective coating for the seeds. Natural clays work best:
- Pottery clay is ideal but expensive. A little goes a long way.
- Use clay kitty litter, not the clumping kind. Screen out any large pieces.
- Powdered clay is available at craft stores.
Compost provides nutrients for germinating seeds. Purchase high-quality seed starter mix or make your own compost. Avoid using soil from your yard, which may contain weed seeds.
Seeds should be native species suited to the site conditions. Buy from reputable sources like local native plant nurseries.
Water moistens the mixture so it sticks together. Add gradually until reaching a cookie dough consistency.
Making Seed Balls – Step by Step
With kids home from school, making seed balls is a fun family project. Here are the simple steps:
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Mix – In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup clay and 1 cup compost.
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Moisten – Add 1/3 cup water and mix thoroughly. Add small amounts of clay or water to reach the right consistency.
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Form balls – Take tablespoon-sized clumps and flatten in your palm. Place a pinch of seeds in the center. Pinch closed and roll into a ball.
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Coat with seeds – Roll the balls in a shallow dish of leftover seeds so they stick to the surface.
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Dry completely – Place balls on a cookie sheet and let dry for at least 3 hours, up to a couple days. They should feel hard and dry.
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Launch and grow – Throw seed balls into bare or weedy spots. Water if conditions are dry. Then let nature take its course!
Keep seeds separated by type in labeled envelopes until ready to use. Making fancier balls takes more time but engages kids. Try shaping them into hearts for Valentine’s Day or eggs at Easter.
Where to Use Seed Balls
Look for sites in need of enhancement:
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Abandoned lots, deserted homesteads or fallow fields. Get owner permission first.
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Road embankments, powerline corridors, vacant public land. Call before sowing.
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Eroded creek banks, trails or shorelines. Stabilize the soil.
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Neglected corners of your yard, gardens or flower beds. Fill gaps and add diversity.
Before spreading seed balls, remove invasive weeds that could overwhelm young native plants. Monitor periodically and weed as needed. With time, beneficial species will mature and discourage weeds.
Follow Ideal Planting Times
For best results, broadcast seed balls during optimal planting seasons:
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Spring – March through May. Fall-sprouting species like wildflowers grow well.
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Fall – Late October through November. Spring-blooming flowers and grasses do best planted in autumn.
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Winter – Late November through early January in warm zones only. Shelter balls under mulch.
Seed some annuals each season for quick color. Perennials and shrubs provide long-term habitat. Monitor and add new species over the years.
Additional Tips for Success
Here are a few more pointers to grow robust, bird-friendly gardens using seed balls:
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Group seed balls close together in clusters of 3 or 4. This mimics how they’d naturally drop from mature plants.
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Toss balls downward rather than throwing upward. Keeps seeds contained near the parent plant.
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On sloped sites, flatten one side of balls so they don’t roll downhill.
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During drought, give seedlings occasional water the first year until established.
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Weed diligently while plants are young and vulnerable.
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Allow species to reseed themselves each year and spread naturally.
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Avoid using chemical pesticides which also kill beneficial pollinators.
Watch Your Efforts Flourish!
As someone who enjoys crafting and gardening, I find making seed balls incredibly rewarding. I love stepping back and letting nature take over. Optimizing conditions gives seeds their best chance to flourish.
It’s exciting to watch wild areas come alive with color and birds feasting on the fruits and seeds. The variety attracts many more species to my yard. With little effort, I can create an oasis for wildlife to enjoy.
I hope these tips inspire you to try making seed balls. Guiding plant succession enhances biodiversity in yards and open spaces. Our feathered friends will thank you!
Do wild birds need winter treats?
No they don’t, but that doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy them. I don’t need the Haagen Daaz ice cream either, but I like it and it makes me fat. Birds are the same, but because they have to spend the whole winter outside, they can benefit from the extra fat. Me not so much .
This one is the easiest and quickest. Now, that doesn’t mean the other ones are easy; I just had to put them in some order, so this is how I did it. Another good thing about these is that the pinecone can be used as a base if it gets a little warmer. If the temperature goes up, the other ones might fall because the twine or ribbon doesn’t have a solid base when the treat isn’t frozen. In that case you have bird treat mush, but even then someone will make the most of it!.
Pinecone & peanut butter bird treats
- Pinecones
- Butter knife or spatula for little kids
- Twine or ribbon
- Small dish or bowl for the birdseed
- Cookie sheet
- Aluminum foil
- Peanut butter
- Wild bird seed
- Black oiled sunflower seeds
- Wrap the twine around the pinecone’s top and make a loop to hang it.
- In a small dish, pour some birdseed and sunflower seeds
- Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil
- Spread peanut butter all over the pinecone using a butter knife or spatula.
- Roll and press the pinecone with peanut butter into the seeds.
- Do not move the pinecones from the cookie sheet. Instead, freeze them for one hour to make them firm.
- If you put them outside for the birds, make sure there is a branch under them for them to sit on.
OK, so full disclosure, this is more like 2 1/2 recipes. This one uses most of the same ingredients as Recipe #1 did but with a wee tweak. Just sayin’. I wouldn’t recommend putting these ones outside until you know the temperature will stay below freezing. Why? Well there is no base structure if the mixture isn’t frozen. So the first ones I always put out are the pinecone treats.
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How do you make bird seed balls?
Warm the suet like before and add the peanut butter. Add the bird seed, rolled oats and cornmeal and mix well until combined. Place the mixture in the fridge to set a little. Once the mixture is workable, shape into balls. Put the balls into the fridge again until they’re firm. Hang the seed balls outside and watch the birds having some fun.
Can birdseed be used as seed balls?
However, there are other ways to present the birdseed to your bird, such as making it as seed balls. The traditional birdseed balls are usually mixed with lard as the primary ingredients, along with the others, to make nutritious seed balls for the bird. However, is there any alternative for lard as the fatty catalyst in making seed balls?
How do you make fat balls for birds?
At a basic level, fat balls for birds are a mix of two parts lard or suet to one part dry mixture. The dry mixture consists of good quality bird seed, along with raisins (though avoid these if you have dogs or cats in the area, as they can be harmful to them), peanuts, grated cheese. 2. Warm the fat
How do you make seed balls?
Native seeds, compost, clay, and a little bit of water are all you need to make seed balls. Photo: Mike Fernandez/Audubon Add 1/3 cup of water and stir. If the mixture it too wet, add a little more compost. It it’s too dry, add a litte more water.