Short days and long cold nights can make winter a tough time for many animals. Birds in particular face a daily challenge to find enough food and water to see them through to spring. With many of our favourite garden species already struggling due to habitat loss, intensive agriculture and numerous other threats, they are in desperate need of our help. Birds can expend a huge amount of energy just staying warm during cold winter nights, meaning that finding food is a top priority during daylight hours. Providing a consistent supply of energy-rich foods can make an enormous difference to these birds You can help garden birds survive the winter months by using our vegan recipe to create bird seed balls. Items Required:
- 50g coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 70g polenta
- 2 tablespoons rolled oats (crushed into small pieces)
- 2 tablespoons plain flour (white or wholemeal)
- 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons raisins (chopped)
- String to hang the finished bird seed balls (or save the outer string bags from fruit such as satsumas or clementine)
- Melt coconut oil and peanut butter over a low heat in a small pot.
- Combine remaining edible ingredients in a mixing bowl. When the oil and peanut butter have melted, add it to the dry ingredients and mix to combine evenly. Scrape into a shallow container press the mixture down, cover and refrigerate until firm.
- Cut the string to size and using a handful of the cooled and firm mixture, press around the string to form a ball, and then wind the string around several times to secure. Alternatively just form balls and place into your saved fruit string bags. These can then be hung from branches to provide vital nourishment for local birds.