Common Redpoll by Gerald Romanchuk
With the holiday season just around the corner, what better way to get in the spirit than make our feathered friends some edible ornaments? Follow this simple recipe, and the steps in the video and you’ll have ornaments hanging outside by tomorrow!
The common redpoll is just one example of a bird that stays in Alberta for the winter and would be happy to find your feeder.
What You'll Need
1/2 cup water
3 tbsp corn syrup
2 1/2 tsp (1 packet) gelatin
3/4 cup flour
4 cups bird seed (we recommend going to Wild Birds Unlimited or Wild Bird General Store to learn more about the right type of seed to use for our wintering bird species)
What to Do
Boil the water and corn syrup in a saucepan. Reduce heat and add the gelatin; stirring until it dissolves.
In a mixing bowl, add flour and then bird seed to the mixture.
Grease your favourite cookie cutters and your hands and press the mixture firmly into the shapes.
Use a skewer to poke holes in the ornaments while still in the cookie cutters.
Remove from the cutters, and place in the freezer overnight.
Use twine or string* to make hangers for the ornaments, and hang on your tree for the birds.
*Please don’t use fishing line – this can be hazardous to the birds once the ornament is all eaten. Use twine or yarn, and the birds can use it in their nests in the spring!
Ask Yourself
What types of birds are going to use my bird feeder? Remember that it's winter time!
Where am I going to hang up my bird seed ornament? Make sure your ornament is either less than 1 metre away from a window, or more than 10 metres away from a window to prevent the birds from colliding with the window while going to the feeder. A tree in your yard would be the perfect place!