Monthly Archive for November, 2009

I am freezing.  Every piece of clothing I packed for our trip to sunny Arizona is now layered on my body, yet the bone-chilling desert cold is still seeping in.  And I couldn’t be happier.  We are racking up life birds left, and right from the cold comfort of a deck chair on the back porch of Mary Jo Ballator’s Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast.  The morning has been filled with a flurry of bright and bold life Arizona species.  Acorn Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Arizona Woodpecker, Mexican Jay, Bridled Titmouse and Scott’s Oriole to mention a few. A great many of these special species were attracted to suet feeders filled with a unique mixture. Mary Jo is an incredible host, allowing us to spend as much time as we like oohing and ahhing at her amazing backyard despite the fact that we are not guests at her bed and breakfast.  Her depth of knowledge and care about each bird that visited her backyard was matched by her willingness to share.

And share she did – her parting gift as we returned to rainy Seattle was a recipe for the suet mixture she used in her backyard feeders.  That Northwest birds would be as interested in what appeared to be a magical formula in a backyard in Arizona was uncertain. I mixed it with some trepidation, but as I thought about it, I began to realize something: backyard birds east, west, north and south know a good food source when they find it.

I have been mixing and using “Mary Jo’s” for over a year with incredible results.  Even in our tiny, extremely urban backyard in the heart of Seattle we have been able to attract interesting species by putting out “Mary Jo’s.” Yellow-rumped Warblers, Downy Woodpeckers, Dark-eyed Junco’s and literally dozens of Bushtits are a few of the species that have enjoyed feasting on the suet mixture.  For several weeks we fed an injured Western Scrub-Jay.  With a broken beak, the only food she was able to spear and get into her system successfully was the pieces of Mary Jo’s suet we placed carefully on the porch roof.

As an experiment, I placed a regular suet block (a brand I have successfully fed for years) next to a block of the Mary Jo’s.  Mary Jo’s won hands down.  The gift Mary Jo shared with us has been a tremendous boost to the birds in our backyard.  Try it in your backyard- whether the wilds of Arizona or in less likely urban backyard, you will be delighted with the results.

Mary Jo’s Suet for the Birds

• 2 cups Peanut Butter (crunchy)
• 2 cups Suet
• 4 cups Corn Meal
• 4 cups Rolled Oats (quick)
• 1 cup flour

In a large heavy sauce pans over low heat melt the peanut butter and suet.  Mix thoroughly.  Remove from heat and gradually mix in corn meal, and rolled oats.  Once the mixture is combined spoon into a baking dish.  Place in the refrigerator till cooled.  Cut into squares and place in suet cages, logs or other feeding device.  Place extra squares in plastic bags,  store in the refrigerator or freezer.

For best results use a natural peanut butter without added chemicals or sugars.  Many local bird feeding stores will carry plain suet in tubs.  This is an easy alternative to raw suet from the butcher.