Bird Suet For Your Back Yard Feeders!

        Beef suet can bring in 80 species of birds into your backyard including woodpeckers, catbirds, mockingbirds, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, wrens, orioles, shrikes, thrushes, warblers, grackles, and starlings (Ehrlich, et. al. 1988). There are many different kinds of suet mixes out in the market today like ìberryî, ìfruitî, and even "insect" cakes. Long before bird food became a billion dollar industry, birdwatchers would use raw beef fat from around the kidneys and loins. I prefer making my own suet using the standard peanut-butter mix.

        Some things you need to remember about suet, is that if the temperature outside is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, beef fat can turn rancid and melt.  Sometimes this warm suet will mat feathers, which can result in reduced insulation and waterproofing to the bird.  So be sure to use commercial suet cakes called ìno meltî in warm temperatures.

        Below are some recipes for making your own suet cakes:

 Beef Suet: 

• You can trim excess fat off beef cuts and store in the freezer until enough fat is achieved or you can purchase beef fat from the grocery store or your nearby butcher. Grind the beef fat with a meat grinder or finely chop the fat. Heat the fat over a low to medium flame until its liquefied. Strain by pouring melted suet through a fine cheesecloth. Let cool to harden. Repeat steps of heating and straining because if the fat is not rendered twice, the suet will not cake properly. Let cool to harden and store in a covered container in the freezer.

 Standard Suet:

• You need: 1 pound lard, 1 cup crunchy peanut butter, 2 cups quick cooking oats, 2 cups cornmeal, 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1 cup raisins.  Melt lard and peanut butter together over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining ingredients. Pour into molds or containers suitable for your suet feeder. Be sure not to exceed 1 to 1 1/2 inches in thickness. Allow to cool completely. You can wrap the suet cakes in wax paper and store in the freezer until ready to use.

             You might consider adopting one of the Pfeiffer Nature Centers bird feeders, or even donating some leftover suet you just made.

 Ehrlich, P.R., David S. Dobkin, and Darryl Wheye, 1988    The Birderís  Handbook, A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds, Simon & Schuster Inc.

By Thomas P. LeBlanc

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