How to Make Sunflower Seed Syrup for Birds

Aside from eating harmful insects that can damage your plants, birds are interesting to watch and can be a welcome addition to a garden. Many bird watchers and gardeners looking to enhance the natural environment of their gardens will leave out food and water to attract birds. There are syrups and cakes you can buy for birds, but it is enjoyable and rewarding to create your own sunflower seed syrup. Sunflower seeds are popular with birds and they are very nutritious. However, birds need to crack the hulls to get at the meat, and the mess that this leaves can destroy plants and grass. Syrup is a popular food for birds because they love sugar and can get the nutrients they need from syrup without causing a mess.

Things You'll Need

  • Black oil sunflower seeds
  • Food processor
  • Knife
  • Spoon
  • Pestle
  • Corn syrup
  • Syrup bird feeder
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Instructions

    • 1
      Black oil sunflower seeds offer more nutritious content then white sunflower seeds.

      Locate black oil sunflower seeds. You can find these online or at a pet supply store. Regular sunflower seeds will work but black oil sunflower seeds have more oil and therefore more nutrition.

    • 2

      Remove the shells from the sunflower seeds. Black oil sunflower seeds have a thinner shell and are easier to crack open than white sunflower seeds. Separate the seeds from the shells and discard the shells.

    • 3

      Chop the seeds up in a food processor or blender. The seeds should be chopped enough to a paste. If you do not own a food processor or blender you can finely chop the seeds and then mash them up with the back of a spoon or a pestle.

    • 4
      Boil water and add corn syrup to create a black oil sunflower seed syrup.

      Pour 2 cups of water into a saucepan. Bring the water to a boil. Add 1/4 cup of corn syrup to the water and reduce the heat. Let the mixture simmer for five minutes.

    • 5

      Remove the water and syrup mixture from heat. Add the black oil sunflower seed paste by folding it into the mixture. Distribute the paste evenly.

    • 6
      Birds can treat themselves to your black oil sunflower syrup when you put it in a bird feeder.

      Open the top of your syrup dispensing bird feeder. Pour the mixture in. Hang the bird feeder in your garden. You may enjoy hanging the feeder by your windows so you can watch the birds feed.