This day was established by bird activists. It’s purpose is to raise public awareness about the physical and behavioral needs of birds in captivity. Many of the world’s parrots and songbirds are threatened with extinction due to pressures from illegal pet trade, disease, and habitat loss. The beauty, songs, and flight of birds have long been sources of human inspiration!
Bird Seed Cakes
We wanted to do something nice for birds on this day, especially with it being winter and so cold outside! So, we decided to make some bird seed cakes. Here’s what we used to make the cakes:
- Bird seed (1-1/2 cups)
- Gelatin (1 oz, or 2 packets)
- Boiling Water (1/2 cup)
- String or Twine
- Cookie cutters
- Parchment or Wax paper
1. Cut pieces of string and tie a knot at the ends.
2. Dissolve gelatin into boiling water.
3. Stir until completely dissolved.
4. Pour bird seed into gelatin mixture.
5. Mix together and add more birdseed if mixture is watery. Mixture should be stiff and sticky.
6. Lay cookie cutters onto a pan lined with parchment paper.
7. Fill cookie cutters halfway with birdseed mixture. Press firmly into cookie cutter.
8. Place string in the middle onto birdseed mixture.
9. Fill the rest with more birdseed mixture. Press down firmly. Let sit for about an hour and then gently push birdseed cakes out of cookie cutters onto new parchment paper.
10. Let dry, flipping periodically, until completely hardened before hanging.
Clay Birds
While my daughter was waiting for me to get the birdseed cakes ready, she asked to make a bird out of clay. I pulled out the clay, and she went to work! Then my son wanted to join in too. These are their creations:
Bird Books
Depending on the day, I usually like to start or wrap-up the day with a few books relating to the day. For National Bird Day, you can grab any books from your own bookshelf with birds in it (Are You My Mother?, Stranger in the Woods), or you can go a step further and head to your local library.
“Christmas Eve Blizzard” by Andrea Vlahakis – Join Nicholas and his grandfather as they push aside the thoughts of decorating the Christmas tree to lovingly care for a cardinal trapped in the snow of a blizzard on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning finds Nicholas more concerned about the bird than opening his gifts.
“Stranger in the Woods” by Carl R. James II & Jean Stoick – A heartwarming story about nature and 2 kids leaving a special treat for winter animals.
