Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Fantastical Friday! #32
Good morning everyone and Happy Friday! I hope you are enjoying some nice weather in your area of the world on this fine day. It is beautiful here and getting better for the beginning of the week. By Sunday and through to Wednesday we should have temps in the low to mid 30sF (1 to 3C) which is fantastic for this time of the year. But then we drop back to more normal temps. However, we first get to enjoy some mild weather, though it might mess up the path to the river a bit. Well, the birds are sure busy out here this morning. All the regulars are here, plus some starlings are visiting again.
Although they are not the most exotic birds around, they are comical to watch, and they are amazing fliers. One thing I forgot to mention in my earlier post on suet cakes, I do like to add crushed nuts or peanuts to the mixture once it has cooled down. I do this mostly in the colder weather to help the smaller birds like chickadees and nuthatches. I mention it as “nuts or peanuts” because peanuts are not nuts. They are legumes, same family as peas and beans. True nuts grow on trees, like walnuts. Interestingly, Brazil nuts are also not nuts, they are seeds. They grow inside a large pod, something that nuts don’t do.
It can get a bit more complicated with some, but that is a simple look at the differences. Anyway, the birds like them all, so that is what matters. Poor Jasper, he has had a busy morning already. As I was watching early this morning, with just a bit of daylight showing on the horizon, the chickadees had arrived and I spotted something in the tree. It was still basically dark and there was Jasper, running around through the trees. That is taking chances for a squirrel, there are predators around that time of day, such as owls, that would love to invite a squirrel over for breakfast, making him the main item on the menu.
But as it got a little lighter out there a second squirrel showed up and the chase was on! Through the trees, tumbling in the snow, running through tunnels under the snow. Finally they both stopped for a break and I could see it was Chase that had come along. But he decided to head back home, with Jasper barely a tail length behind him! The sun is shining so nicely, should get up to 23F (-5C) today. Thank you for reading, have a fantastical Friday and God bless!
Steve and Muffin. (without using closeups, how many ducklings are in the photo at the top?)
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve’s Delicious Suet Cakes!
Hi everyone! No, this is not a recipe post for cakes, unless you happen to be a bird, because they love these suet cakes. They are not even cakes really, just flat chunks of suet. As mentioned yesterday, suet is often not translated into other languages through the Google translator, so when I use the word suet when talking about my birds people might not know what I am talking about. Suet is ‘suif’ in French, sugna or talg in Italian, camurca or sebo in Portuguese (Portugal) and schweineschmalz in German. But many languages didn’t seem to have a translation for it.
But suet is simply pork fat which is also used to make pure lard. So if you don’t have a word for suet, try looking up those other alternatives. I use pure lard for my suet cakes, mixed with peanut butter, sometimes adding sunflower seeds to the mixture, but not always since there is sunflower seeds available for the birds on the feeders anyway. Some people mix in oats, flour, raisins, sugar or honey into the suet cakes. Personally I am not in favor of using sugar for the birds, though it can give a sudden rush in energy, it is bad for them in the long run, and they just don’t need it.
I use a small pot that is just big enough to make two suet cakes, using 1 pound of lard and a large spoonful of peanut butter.
Do not use too much peanut butter as that can cause choking in some birds. The amount I use is just right. I also found that if there is too much peanut butter then some birds will not eat it. The peanut butter is good though as it gives the birds extra energy and nutrients for our cold winters.
I cut the lard into cubes so it melts faster, but it is not necessary. Melt on low heat until the lard and peanut butter is melted nicely, then set aside to cool. If adding other ingredients, I do so once the mixture has cooled to room temperature.
Then I put it in a plastic tub which is just the right size for the suet cages. Unfortunately I do not have a square container that is the right size, you just have to find something that fits. The mixture will fill the tub to just over one inch (3cm) deep which is just right for the cages.
Then I put it in the freezer until solid, turn the tub upside down, push on the bottom and the suet cake pops out nicely.
Now it can be put in the cage and the end result is happy birds. This is a very simple recipe and takes very little time to make.
However, with suet it is important for it to stay frozen or it will become rancid, meaning it goes bad and is not good for the birds. Lard will last longer, without going bad, than regular suet, but will melt as days get warmer. So it is not good for warmer climates. I have tried the store bought suet cakes and mine side by side and the birds will eat mine first. Birds know best! Thanks to Rossana for encouraging me to do this post! Have a great day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
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