How to make a bird seed bell

Entice native birds to your garden and wake to a sweet dawn chorus. They’ll also help keep insect levels low naturally.

You will need

Small terracotta pots, garden or floristry wire (from garden centres); eggs, wild birdseed, oven bags or baking paper (from supermarkets); ribbon (from craft stores).

1. Line each terracotta pot with an oven bag or baking paper.
2. Separate the eggs, reserving the eggwhites in a bowl (you will need 2 eggwhites per cup of birdseed). Beat the eggwhites until fluffy but not stiff. Add birdseed and stir to combine. 
3. Pour birdseed mixture into lined terracotta pots. Press firmly. Smaller seeds set better; if using a large seed mix, top the bells with a layer of small seeds.
4. Cut a length of wire for each pot. Twist one end of each wire into a loop. Insert the straight end of the wire through the seed mixture and the hole in the bottom of the pot. Bend the looped end flat against the seed mixture.
5. Preheat oven to 120ºC. Place pots in oven, ensuring the wire is free to hang down. Bake for 60 to 90 minutes (for small pots) until bell is firm. Remove from oven. While pot is still warm, turn and remove bell. Allow to cool. Bend the straight end of the wire to create a loop. Attach ribbon.

 

Photography: Scott Hawkins. Styling: Jada Bennett.