Valentine’s Bird Seed Ornaments

We are days away from the Great Backyard Bird Count starting, and this year we’ve been participating in Project Feederwatch. We watch for birds, tally how many we see and submit our results. This helps researchers track bird population changes over the time. Our regular visitors include house sparrows, black-capped chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, and a downy woodpecker. Sometimes a glossy magpie chases away all the birds, and we hear blue jays but they don’t visit our yard.

This is an easy project to do with kids if you want to attract more birds to your backyard.

Bird seed mix
A binder to hold your ornament together (unsweetened peanut butter, bark butter)
Cookie cutters
Twine or natural fibre to hang
Sticks to make hanging holes

Most birds want to perch to eat, so hang your feeders where they can sit and feast. Many recipes on Pinterest advise using a straw to create a hole, but if possible avoid plastic straws and use a stick. Finally – a mission to send your children to find a stick!

Honey and corn syrup are sticky but not meant for birds. Raisins or currents are wonderful treats to include if you have some on hand.

Step 1
In a clean bowl, mix your bird seed with the binder until it has the consistency of cookie dough.

Step 2
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lay your cookie cutters on top. Press the bird seed mixture into the cookie cutters.

Step 3
Stick a small stick into each, when removed this will leave a hole to hang the ornament.

 Step 4
Chill the ornaments until firm. Remove the stick and tie a natural fibre string like twine that will decompose naturally.

Step 5
Place ornaments in a bird friendly spot and keep an eye out for feathered visitors.