‘Goo-kum-pucky’: It’s for the birds!

Bark Butter is spreadable suet. You can smear it into the crevices of tree bark to attract various backyard birds. Here, a Golden-fronted Woodpecker, a Green Jay, and a Northern Cardinal check out the offering. (Robert Benson photos)

Peanut butter appeals to dogs! Be sure to spread your bark butter high up on a tree trunk, or your pet may help himself to it. (Karen Benson photo)

I was recently making a cursory inspection of my pantry when I discovered it. I had stockpiled a big jar of peanut bu_er in case of emergencies such as hurricanes, winter storms and COVID pandemics. I opened it, and the smell was not “deliciously peanutty” as the label stated. I wonder if the oils in the peanut bu_er had gone slightly rancid. It tasted okay to me, but I was sure my husband would claim it tasted off.

Ever frugal, I wondered if I could make some wildlife food from this well-aged peanut bu_er. That’s when I remembered a recipe I had gotten from a bird-loving friend a few years ago. It was for Bark Bu_er.

What is Bark Bu_er? It is a gooey mix of peanut bu_er, suet and some grains. It could be called Spreadable Suet. Or my grandmother’s name for all gooey, sticky messes: Goo-kum-pucky. As a child, I thought this was a real word. Later, I assumed it was a word from her Eastern European ancestry. I now think she just made it up! It is a great descriptive word, though, and I use it often. Bark Bu_er is definitely “Goo-kum-pucky.” It is sticky, slimy, greasy and gooey all at once. You don’t want to put your hands in it if you can avoid it.

However, I wanted to use this peanut bu_er, and a homemade bird-feeding goo sounded like just the ticket. The recipe is as follows:

• 1 part peanut bu_er

• 1 part lard

• 1 part flour

• 4 parts cornmeal Mix the first two ingredients until creamy. Stir in the flour. Gradually add the cornmeal and knead into the mix until it has a pu_y texture.

It seemed easy enough. I put a cup of peanut bu_er and a cup of lard in my automatic mixer and let it stir. I added the flour and let it churn away on low speed for a while. The goo had become a huge lump stuck to the mixer’s paddle. There was nothing for it: I had to get my hands in it to remove it from the paddle and to knead in the cornmeal. Oh my goodness, my grandmother was right! Some messes need their special name. This was Goo-kum-pucky!

I mixed the cornmeal into the bu_er with my hands until I had a large lump of pu_y. I placed it in a plastic container and let it chill while I cleaned my hands (it took a while). Then it was time to see if the birds would like this Bark Bu_er, also known as Gookum- pucky. Using a frosting spatula, I spread a glob on a log we have mounted on the bird feeder at our photo blind. I sat in the blind to see if the birds would come to the special treat. Even before the inquisitive jays found it, my dogs showed up. Who knew that dogs like peanut bu_er? Standing tall on their legs, they could reach the patch of Goo-kum-pucky and lick it off the log. Okay, maybe that is why bird lovers spread Bark Bu_er higher up on the bark of a tree. I relocated the goo to a nearby tree trunk.

This did the trick! The Green Jays and woodpeckers were on it in a flash. They winkled out the treat from the crevices in no time. My homemade Bark Bu_er was a hit.

Bark Bu_er, as a homemade product, has been around for decades. The marketable Bark Bu_er is the creation of Jim Carpenter, the founder of Wild Birds Unlimited, a nature-lovers supply store. He has trademarked the name of his product: Jim’s Birdacious Bark Bu_er. Observations have confirmed over 161 species (and still counting!) of wild birds partaking in Jim’s concoction. It is an excellent product, and he has made it even be_er. The improved bu_er contains red pepper seeds, which the birds love, but other cri_ers (like dogs and squirrels) “not so much.”

You can buy Jim’s Birdacious Bark Bu_er (and avoid the mess) or make a fair copy of it yourself. Let’s call our homemade concoction “Gookum- pucky” and embrace the sticky, gooey process. Want to make some Goo-kum-pucky? Check out the Beeville Garden Club’s Table Show at Prosperity Bank, Feb. 29–March 1. A demonstration/workshop on making Bark Bu_er for the Birds will be offered free to the public. I hope to see you there!