The use of animal fat by birds dates back at least to the 1890s. For example, historians tell us that in 1898 Florence Merriam Bailey and others were feeding animal fat to birds. These bird early enthusiasts simply tacked raw suet to the trunks of trees. This practice continues to this day.
Several years ago, a good friend of mine conducted an experiment to try to determine whether birds prefer chunks of suet (fat found around the kidneys of cattle) to rendered suet.
It is easy for us to believe that birds only obtain animal fat from raw suet, rendered suet and bird puddings. Quite by accident several years ago, I found this is not the case.
At the time, I made my discovery I was working at a checking station on the Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area. I was one of the folks that examined each deer harvested. These animals were examined under an open deer weighing shelter. After the deer were examined, chunks of deer fat were often left behind.
One day during a deer hunt, I just happened to notice dark-eyed juncos were feeding on bits of deer fat had collected along the edge of the shelter along the edge of the shelter.
I suspect that birds of been eating the fat found on dead animals of millions
of years. Dark-eyed juncos are not the only birds that have been known to eat the fat of dead animals. The list of others that do the same are tufted titmice, wrens and woodpeckers.
We got suet, as you described, from the butcher departments of grocery stores before the advent of the package blocks. I placed the suet in a container I put together, basically an inverted “L” of a 2 by 8 for the back and a thinner cap. Used about 1/4 inch wire to hold the suet in place. Worked well for years. Got pictures of racoons having climbed up the tree to get at the suet. Opossum too.
Rick,
Thanks for sharing your technique – I have never heard of a preparation like this.
Terry