When it comes to the worst, or not necessarily, eating birds for survival ceases to be a big deal. And, in fact, survival or no survival, eat birds just once, and you’re never making a fuss on it the second time. Yes, they are that tasty. Birds are also very nutritious, so they are nearly perfect feeding options in the wilderness.
True, the idea of eating birds may look repulsive at first. Some of us are strongly against new, unfamiliar foods, much more uncommon and odd as wild birds. You may have heard that you can survive for three good weeks without eating, and while this is true, I assume you do not know the demerits of starvation.
When starved, the body starts to feed on the fats stored within as it seeks energy by itself. This may seem like a noble cause, but it has adverse effects. When this happens, you become clumsy, nauseous, drained, depressed, weak, and empty. Ordinary, simple tasks like collecting firewood become very difficult since there is no energy left in you. And should something so easy become hard, think of what may happen if you have to fight a buffalo or climb a hill for escape.
Apart from the compulsion that may leave you with no choice but to eat birds, they are hardly scarce. You will always find a bird tweeting, napping, or flying. All you have to do is trap them and get that rich shake of protein.
Birds Are Rich Sources Of Protein
Birds are one of the richest sources of proteins and fats in the wild. And while most birds can be small, you’d be pleasantly amazed at what you can get out of one.
A few years ago, I partook in a camping exercise geared towards proving birds’ usefulness in the wilderness. This exercise is usually carried out in winter, so you can guess how difficult it was. After some hiking, I reached the Ozarks, settled close to the springs, and set up a lean-to shelter, after which I built a body-length fire for warmth. As you may know, there was enough firewood in the Ozarks, and I could conveniently drink from the spring. Thus, my chief focus was finding food.
The birds were up and about with the temperature hovering 5° Fahrenheit, as they always are anyway. Therefore, it was easy to catch a bird, although what I settled for was just about a half-pound. I was expecting something sizable, so imagine how gutted I was when all I had after plucking the feathers was small meat. But I was in for a pleasant surprise. I impaled the bird & roasted it over the fire I built before eating everything on offer. By everything, that meant the beak, bones, feet, organs… and to my shock, I gained instant energy and could even hike out of the Ozarks. That opened my eyes to the massive benefit on offer.
Contrary to what you may think, there are not only small birds in the wild. Should you come across large birds, such as turkey, grouse, and pheasant, you and two others can eat well.
Best Trap To Build For Eating Birds For Survival In The Wild
Before you can eat birds for survival, you have to catch them first. Isn’t it? I don’t think that any flying twit will come to lay before you and ask you to kill it. Remember, these fellas are in flight most of the time, so killing them may not be so easy, except if you have a hunting rifle. However, if you don’t, then your only option is trapping.
Below, we look at a simple trap that is always very effective in hunting birds.
Cup Bird Trap
As ironic as it may sound, there may be a use for the trash materials found across the wild. These days, it is sad but undeniable: you must find heaps of trash when you go camping, especially cups and bottles, along drinking sites. This trap is designed to take advantage of the fact that birds can’t back out of hollow or narrow spaces, which is the shape you have in cups.
To make this trap, get a cup, or cut a bottle into two to improvise, grab a couple of baits and get a sticky substance. Your baits should be items hard to miss for birds, for example, groundnuts, berries, or seeds, while the sticky substance can be honey or tree sap.
Now, follow these steps:
- Line the bottom of the cup’s inside with your honey or tree sap.
- Pour the baits inside the cup.
- Rub the gum on the insides of the cup.
- Look for a spot where small birds frequent and drop the cup there.
The logic is that the bird sees the baits in the cup and walks head-first into the trap to grab them. But when it does, it becomes impossible for it to walk out as it cannot walk out of a narrow space with its back. Besides, the sticky substance is now on its feathers, and it can’t move much. When you’re ready to feed, come to where you drop your cup and get dinner.
Cleaning, Cooking & Eating Birds For Survival
There are just two steps for cleaning birds before cooking.
- Remove the feathers. You can do this without any aid for small birds. If it’s a big bird, though, you’d need hot water to remove the feathers more easily.
- Slice the space between the legs open to remove inedible organs.
There are three easy methods to cook birds before eating.
- The easiest method is to skewer and roast the bird over a fire.
- The second is just to boil. This is not as tasty as roasting, but the broth in the water is flavorful as well.
- The third is to spatchcock the bird. Cut out the bird’s backbone and spread it out. This is a technique to ensure that the bird cooks more evenly on a hot pan or rock.
Takeaways From Eating Birds For Survival
Eating birds for survival is not as bad as you’ve always thought. Apart from its wide availability, they offer many proteins and minerals, which will help you stay active and energized. Birds are also easy to clean and cook, so you do not need much energy to eat one. When eating a bird, crush its bones, eat its organs and everything else edible, you need all the calories on offer.