A hand-carved bird feeder featuring the figure of an old man. It is made of jempinis wood and seagrass in Indonesia, measures about 34 × 14.5 × 14.5 cm and weighs 2.2 kg. The wood is left in its natural colour. As it is handmade, the face and the carved details may differ slightly from the photo.
An old man on the porch
Thanks to its rustic, characterful carving, the feeder stays decorative even when it holds no seed. It suits the corner of a porch, the side of a garden bench or a spot near the front door, as long as the rain cannot reach it. If you would like to watch the birds from the kitchen window, choose a sheltered place close to it.
What to feed the birds
In winter the best food is unsalted, unroasted black sunflower seed in the shell. You can add apple, on the ground or pushed onto a twig, and fat or suet for the tits. Hang the fat at least at head height so cats and dogs cannot reach it, and, as the MME suggests, preferably without a net. Do not give bread, pastries or salty leftovers, as these are not food for birds. Start feeding with the lasting frosts and stop at the end of March.
Tits usually carry a seed off to a nearby branch, hold it down with their feet and hammer it open with their beak.
A heavy piece for a sheltered spot
It weighs 2.2 kg, so keep that in mind when you choose its place. Wood and seagrass do not cope with long spells of rain, so put it under the eaves or on a covered terrace. Sweep out wet seed before it turns mouldy, and you will only need to check and refill it now and then.