During the winter , birds will freqently nest in evergreen shrubbery such as arbor vitae and taxus (yews) commonly found in Northern landscaping.
Also, proximity to pine trees, wild fruits and seeds will facilitate them over-wintering successfuly.
You can encourage wild and songbirds by offerring beef suet , seeds , and fruits in bird feeders (especially 'black stripe sunflower'{highest in seed oil} seeds
which appeals to most to song birds and wild migrating birds
Your Miliage May Vary (YMMV) depending on what cover you offer them (as well as your neighbors), as well as food available.
Hi!
I’m glad that you mentioned beef suet - many years ago when I first became a bird-watcher, I learned to make my own suet cakes. Back then, I could go to the local supermarket, tell the butcher that I wanted some suet, and he’d give me a couple of pounds, for only pennies. I’d take it home and render it, put peanut butter and seeds in, etc.
But now, butchering isn’t really done in supermarkets anymore; and I doubt the people behind the counter would even know what I meant, if I asked for ‘suet’. (In the old days, they always knew.)
Anyway, I got into the habit of buying the ready-made suet cakes.
Exactly what IS suet? What fat part of the critter is it? Can it be replaced by Lard, for the birds?
(But, to turn this into a cooking thread, I’m also interested in the suet for human consumption, because it’s an important ingredient in traditional English plum puddings, which I loved as a child and have wanted to make myself.)
-JT