Growing Gardeners: Gifts for Birds

Birds are intriguing for kids. They are covered in feathers, fly, and are right in our backyard! Different birds have different physical characteristics and behave differently from each other. Many beautiful species visit backyards in Pennsylvania, so observing and identifying birds can become a fun hobby for children and their families!

In order to attract more birds to your yard, you need to make the space appealing for birds. Providing shelter by planting trees and shrubs and providing a water source can help attract these feathered friends to your yard. Adding food to your landscape is another good way to attract birds. The following activity can help your child create a seed cake for the birds and attract various feathered friends.

Seed Cakes at the bird feeder. Photo: Louisa Fordyce, Penn State Master Gardener

For this activity, you will need the following:

• ½ cup unflavored gelatin
• 2 cups water
• 1–2 quarts of birdseed

Instructions

1. With an adult's assistance, pour the water into a shallow non-stick pan, such as a 10" skillet. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let it "bloom" (soak up the cold water and swell). Cook over medium heat, stirring gently, until the gelatin melts and the mixture starts to boil.
2. Pour 1–2 quarts of birdseed into a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot gelatin water over the seed and mix well. You could start with 1 quart of seed and then add to take up more of the liquid. Add as many seeds as necessary to incorporate most of the liquid.
3. Press mixture into molds or containers. Clean tuna or cat food cans work well. The seed cake with the container or the bare seed cake can be inserted in a suet cage. If using these containers, let the mixture dry and harden thoroughly before placing outside. Bundt pans or ring molds can also be used; spray with PAM so that the hardened birdseed ring releases from the mold. These can be hung from a tree branch or shepherd's hook using heavy twine. You can also press them into cookie cutters to make fun shapes.
4. Enjoy the birds that stop by!

More Learning Opportunities

Make a pinecone bird feeder! Find a pinecone. Brush any dirt off of it. Add a string for hanging. Slather the pinecone with peanut butter (coconut oil will also work) and roll it in the seed. Find a cool, shaded area to hang the pinecone. You can also use toilet paper tubes.

Participate in The Great Backyard Bird Count. Occurring in February, your family can become citizen scientists to count and report the birds in your yard. More information can be found on the Great Backyard Bird Count website.

Plant for the birds! The National Audubon Society has a wonderful native plants database where you can submit your zip code and learn about plants in your area that are food and shelter sources for residential and migratory birds.

Pennsylvania State Bird Fun Facts

The Pennsylvania state bird is the ruffed grouse. It was designated as the state bird in 1931. Early settlers to the state used this bird as an integral part of their food supply. The ruffed grouse is not usually a backyard visitor, living mostly in the heavily forested area of the state. These birds eat fruit, insects, and green leaves during warm weather. In the winter, they eat buds of dormant arboreal flowers, such as filberts, birches, cherries, and aspens.

Activity Resources

• The Great Backyard Bird Count
• Education Possible
• Thayer Birding