Have you noticed more birds around your yard lately? It is likely they are searching for food. This time of year, birds need the additional nourishment to aid in their survival during our Texas winter months. Support our feathered friends with quality bird seed, premium feeders, or get crafty with your family and make Bird Seed Bells.
How-To Make Bird Seed Bells with your Family
SUPPLIES
To get started, you will need the following supplies for this project:
- Calloway’s Premium Bird Seed
- 3 inch or 4 inch Terra Cotta Pottery
- Unflavored Gelatin
- Light Corn Syrup
- Corn Meal
- Wax Paper
- String
- Washers (optional)
STEP 1: PREPARE POTTERY FOR MOLD AND CUT STRING
First, prepare the mold to hold the bird seed. Get your terra cotta pottery and a sheet of wax paper. Line the flowerpot with the wax paper and form it to the pottery. Some folds and wrinkles will be present, and they should not impact the shape of your mold. Get a pencil and make a hole for the string through the wax paper and drain hole.
Next, cut the string. The string will allow your Bird Seed Bells to hang in the trees for easy bird access. Cut a 24 inch piece of string. Then, fold the string in half.
Pull the loop through the wax paper and out of the bottom of the container. About 4 inches of string should be exposed.
Now, it is time to make the bird seed mixture.
STEP 2: HOW TO MAKE THE BIRD SEED MIXTURE
Start with Calloway’s Premium Bird Seed. At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we want to provide our bird friends with a quality meal, keep pests away, and help our birds stay happy and healthy, especially during the winter. We have a variety of flavorful blends to appeal to the different birds found in your landscape. Check out our Bird Seed Feeding Chart here to find the perfect bird seed for you!
Calloway’s Wild Bird Blend combines premium seeds such as white proso millet, black oil sunflower, and red milo to create a special mixture of seeds that birds enjoy. This premium blend attracts Texas birds like Cardinals, Finches, Sparrows, Chickadees, Mourning Doves, and more.
Calloway’s Patio Blend features just the seeds and has no shells so you can feed our Texas birds the seeds they love, without having to clean up. With ingredients such as sunflower chips, oat groats, and hulled millet, you can provide the best for birds like Sparrows, Blue Jays, Cardinals, and more.
Calloway’s Hot & Spicy is a blend of delicious seeds, spiced with capsaicin, and full of nutrients. No need to worry about squirrels snatching them up! This will keep those critters away. Calloway’s Hot & Spicy Bird Seed attracts Blue Jays, Cardinals, and more.
Calloway’s Songbird Mix is a wonderful blend of premium seeds and fruit that birds love, such as black oil sunflower, safflower, and cranberries! Birds will flock to your garden like Robins, Cardinals, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Sparrows, and more.
To learn more about Calloway’s Premium Bird Seed and how our Texas birds benefit from quality ingredients for proper nourishment, visit our blog here!
For your mixture, select your preferred bird seed and add 1 cup to a large bowl.
Then, add ¼ cup of corn meal to the bird seed. Mix the ingredients together and set aside.
In a microwave-safe bowl and with adult supervision, heat up ¼ cup of water for 1 minute. Water should be hot enough for the gelatin to dissolve completely.
Add 1 teaspoon of unflavored gelatin to the hot water and mix until the gelatin is dissolved.
Add 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup and mix. Pour into the large bowl with the bird seed blend and combine. Stir until everything is well mixed.
STEP 3: CREATE YOUR BIRD SEED BELLS
Your mixture is created and ready to be molded.
Carefully pour the mixture into the wax paper molds, keeping the string at the center of the mold.
Pat the mixture down into the mold to remove any holes or air bubbles. Then, place into the freezer for about an hour to allow the mixture to set.
Remove from the freezer. Tie on a washer to help make the bottom secure and sturdy. You can also allow the Bird Seed Bells to set and harden for up to a week before hanging outside.
STEP 4: HANG OUTSIDE FOR OUR WINTER BIRDS
When ready, hang your Bird Seed Bells outside in your trees. Place on strong branches to support the weight.
Sit back and watch the show! Observe which winter birds stop by for a well-deserved snack. Stock full of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that birds crave, Bird Seed Bells are a crafty way to help our winter birds!
Keep a journal and get the kids involved. Learn about the birds that benefit your landscape and how to keep them supported throughout the year. This new hobby for the New Year can help you reconnect with nature and de-stress.
BIRD FEEDERS & MORE
Looking for a premium feeder? Stop by or check out our website to explore our birding selections.
We have feeders for bird seed, hummingbird feeders, suet cakes, nectar, and more!
Our feeders from Heath™, Perky-Pet®, More Birds®, and more are made of durable materials to last in the elements and designed to deter pests.
Available in a range of styles, we have the perfect feeder to compliment your landscape!
SHOP WITH EASE
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have convenient ways to shop for your birding needs! Shop our open-air stores, shop online, or call our store nearest you and place an order over the phone for Curbside Pickup!
Questions? Call our store nearest you! Our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals are here to help!
