This week I am appealing for bird feeding recipes that include peanut butter.

As part of an art installation, I needed a couple of dozen glass jars. Now get this; jars are more expensive when they are empty than when they are full of peanut butter! Ever frugal, I bought lots of peanut butter, confident that it would not go to waste. The birds will love it, I thought to myself, but I was wrong!

I have tried smearing it on the old oak tree, spreading it on bread and scattering it across the lawn, even mixing in meal worms to tempt the birds to try it, but they continue to turn up their beaks. I am beginning to wonder why birds will not yum up peanut butter (it’s even the crunchy stuff) when the raw ingredient is the mainstay of any feeder table. Are they concerned about their cholesterol? Are they conscious of their salt intake? Is it an image thing? 

Eurasian Robin

My most successful idea so far was to drill holes in a log and insert whole nuts, using the peanut butter as a weak ‘glue’ to keep them in place. Whilst the birds seem to find this feeding method agreeable, it does not use up the peanut butter as quickly as I had hoped.

I like peanut butter, but my uniform is already a little snug after I laid down my winter fat and I still have 8 pounds of the stuff to get through before the bathing suit season comes round again. I shall leave you with that mental picture and an appeal for any peanut butter based recipes that will save 6 inches on my waist and provide vital calories to cold birds instead.

Thank you.

 

Written by Redgannet
Redgannet worked for more than 35 years as a flight attendant for an international airline. He came to birding late in his career but, considering the distractions, doesn't regret the missed opportunities. He was paid to visit six continents and took full advantage of the chance to bird the world. He adopted the nom de blog, Redgannet, to avoid remonstrations from his overbearing employer, but secretly hoped that the air of mystery would make him more attractive to women. Now grounded, he is looking forward to seeing the seasons turn from a fixed point.