10 gifts for birds -- and watchers

The gift-giving season looms and winter is settling in, perfect timing for selecting gifts for birds and bird watchers alike. Here are some gift ideas for the person with back-yard feeders, a kid who's interested in nature or that friend who tromps across field and stream in search of birds:

1 Digital bird guide: For someone with a smartphone, choose an app that replaces the need to carry a book to identify birds. The new Audubon Birds: A Field Guide to North American Birds gets great reviews for its thousands of bird photos, high-quality bird songs and calls and maps showing where each bird lives. For iPhone, download at www.audubonguides.com/index.html. For Android, purchase gift certificate from Amazon. $9.99 to $14.99.

2 Books for the bird inclined

"Twelve Owls," by Laura Erickson, with illustrations by Betsy Bowen. Two of our state's more beloved authors have created a beautiful book for adults and kids alike. Erickson tells fascinating tales about each of Minnesota's 12 owl species and Bowen's art makes the owls fly off the pages. Since owls fascinate many people, this gorgeous book is a great gift for many on your list. $19.95

"Birds in Our Backyard," photography by Bill Marchel, text by Adele Porter. Award-winning photographer Marchel and well-known author Porter teamed up to produce a fun book for young birders and naturalists. This handsome book will help coax kids outdoors to experience the natural world, or to learn about the birds in their back yards. $16.95

"Amazing Gulls, Acrobats of the Sky and Sea," Marlin Bree. Gulls don't get much respect, a situation that author/photographer Bree sets out to change through photos, anecdotes, poetry, even legends. Readers of this small, fascinating book will take a second look at our inland gulls, those ubiquitous masters of the air (and mall parking lots). $10.95

3 Gift packages. Assemble items that will appeal to bird lovers and place them in a festive box or basket.

For hummingbird fans, purchase a drip-free feeder and packets of seeds for red-flowering plants or a garden center gift certificate with a handwritten card listing plants and shrubs that hummingbirds like. Round it out with a hummingbird plush toy or hummingbird holiday tree ornament.

For cardinal lovers, start with a platform or domed feeder, add a 5-pound bag of black oil sunflower seeds, a small calendar with cardinal images and a book about winter feeding. Tie it all up with a red bow.

4 Donate to wildlife hospitals. Make a donation in someone's name to one of the outstanding wildlife treatment centers located in the Twin Cities. The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville treats everything from beavers to wrens, and relies on donations for its entire budget. Donate at www.wrcmn.org. The Raptor Center in St. Paul is world-renowned for its care of eagles, hawks, owls and falcons, and for research and educational activities. Donate at www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu.

5 For thirsty birds (and all birds are thirsty) wrap up a birdbath heater or a birdbath with built-in heater. Birds flock to heated open water all winter long. Wild bird supply stores stock these, as do some hardware stores.

6 Give a membership in the Audubon Society (support.audubon.org) or the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (moumn.org).

7 To encourage back-yard bird feeding, give a gift certificate from a wild bird supply store. Tie it to a plush bird toy that makes bird sounds: a cardinal to suggest black oiler seeds, a goldfinch for nyger seeds.

8 Mix up a batch of homemade suet and cut into holiday shapes (stars, reindeer, etc.), then freeze before gift boxing. See suet recipe in nearby box.

9 Make your own gift certificate with an offer to accompany the recipient to a favorite park or a new spot to observe winter birds.

10 For someone who spends a lot of time outdoors, box up a batch of hand and foot warmers to stuff into gloves and boots.

1 c. shortening

1 c. peanut butter

2 c. quick oats

2 c. yellow cornmeal

1 c. white flour

1/3 c. white sugar

Melt shortening and peanut butter together, mix in dry ingredients, pour into pan to cool. The pudding should be very thick; add extra oats if needed.

Cut into shapes, if desired, freeze until needed. For added energy, add chopped nuts, chopped raisins or other dried fruit and/or chopped sunflower hearts.

Val Cunningham, a St. Paul nature writer, bird surveyor and field trip leader, can be reached at valwrites@comcast.net.