Lehigh Gap Nature Center volunteer Anne Zagarella helped visitors make their own bird cookies this past Saturday. These little crafts are a perfect activity for the kids, and they make a great present for your local bird enthusiast.

Bird cookies

¾ cup flour

½ cup water

1 package Knox gelatin (2½ teaspoons)

3 tablespoons corn syrup

4 cups bird seed (safflower, sunflower, millet, red millet, possibly adding peanuts, raisins, dried papaya, and/or dried pineapple)

Add gelatin to boiling water and mix until fully dissolved.

Add corn syrup and remove from heat.

Pour into bowl with the flour and mix lightly.

Mix in bird seed, fruit, and nuts.

Shape by pressing firmly into lightly oiled or sprayed deep cookie cutters.

Fill mold half way, then add a loop of twin, raffia, or heavy string tied in a loop with loose ends outside to fasten onto a tree. Fill cookie cutter to the top.

You can also mold the cookies by hand, or use the cookie mixture to coat bird houses by cutting the amount of seed in half and applying it to the bird house walls with a stiff, lightly oiled spatula.