By Jerry Hall
Daily Record Columnist
San Marcos — The deadline is fast approaching and not one single nomination has been received for the Golden Eagle Award. As I hope you’ll recall, this award is given annually to the person in Hays County who did the most for birds in the year just past. It is sponsored by the Wimberley Birding Society and includes a fifty dollar check and a handsome framed certificate.
Unfortunately, to date, not one single person has been nominated.
If you know anyone who was a friend to birds in 2009, by all means nominate him or her. We’re not looking for earth-shaking accomplishments; maybe someone who was a successful purple martin landlord, perhaps a teacher who taught a class about birds, or maybe a person who developed a good recipe for suet dough. Get the idea? We want to recognize someone who did nice by our feathered friends last year.
Tell us in a few simple sentences what the person did and include a phone number where he or she can be reached, in case they win. That’s all that’s required.
You can nominate yourself and you can nominate more than one person. Just send your nomination(s) to Eagle, 750 Cypress Creek Lane, Wimberley, TX 78676 or via e-mail to jdothall@verizon.net. Deadline is Saturday, February 6, so please do it today.
And speaking of suet dough, Carrie Griffis of Port Orchard, Washington, has developed a recipe for peanut butter suet dough that she claims birds dearly love. In fact, she has hand-fed an adult pileated woodpecker with this treat. It is also recommended for bluebirds, Carolina wrens, nuthatches, towhees and other woodpeckers.
Here are the ingredients – 1 cup melted lard or beef suet; 1 cup peanut butter; 2 cups quick oats; 2 cups yellow cornmeal; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/3 cup sugar (optional).
To prepare, melt lard and peanut butter together on a low burner. Take off heat, and add remaining ingredients. Spread on a cookie sheet, and allow to cool in the refrigerator until the mixture is just hard enough to cut into pieces. Store in freezer bags and use as needed.I have not tried this, but I am assured it is easy to make, easy to store and is high in fat and protein which birds need in severe weather. If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own suet, I’d recommend Tractor Supply as a good source for ready-made blocks. They have a wide variety, reasonably priced.
But right now, while you’re thinking about it, please send in your Golden Eagle nomination!
