Homemade Birdseed Bell

Watching wild birds can be endlessly fascinating.

Attracting wild birds into your yard with a homemade birdseed bell is enjoyable and educational, and children, especially, enjoy learning about nature and watching birds eat a special treat that they have created. Though you can purchase a birdseed bell, making one is a rewarding nature project that a family can do, together, at home.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan
• 1 lb. bacon fat or lard
• 8 oz. creamy peanut butter
• Spoon
• 1 lb. white flour
• 1 lb. cornmeal
• 1 lb. wild birdseed mixture
• 2 bell-shaped cake pans
• 10-inch piece of string
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• Spatula

Instructions

1. Melt 1 lb. lard or bacon fat in a large saucepan. Bacon fat and lard can be purchased from your butcher, or you can save the drippings after you cook bacon. Supermarket meat departments will often sell lard, as well. Stir 8 oz. of peanut butter into the melted bacon fat or lard.

2. Turn the heat off and remove the pot from the heat. Stir in 1 lb. each of white flour, cornmeal and wild birdseed. Mix the ingredients well.

3. Press half the birdseed mixture into each bell-shaped cake pan. Fold the 10-inch piece of string in half to create a loop and press a cut end into the top, or "dome," of each bell half. Place the birdseed bell halves in the refrigerator to harden for a few hours or overnight.

4. Turn the cake pans over to remove the bell halves. Spread 1/2 cup peanut butter onto the flat side of one of them to act as a glue. Place the flat sides of the bell halves against each other and press them together.

5. Put the birdseed bell back in the refrigerator for one hour. The birdseed bell should then be ready to hang in a spot where you and your family can watch birds eat it.

Tips & Warnings

• Create birdseed treats in other shapes to celebrate holidays or special times of year.

• Children should not attempt this project without adult supervision.

References

• Cooks: Recipe: Bird Balls