Uneaten leftovers from suet balls make great composting material. You can also attract birds by playing recordings of bird songs . Harvest gourds after the first frost and clean them with soap and water, dry them and then apply rubbing alcohol or disinfectant to the surface. Set them in a warm dry place to dry. Gourds can take two months to six months to dry depending on how big they are.
Gourds are dry when they are brown and lightweight.
If you harvested gourds this fall they might be dry and ready about now to make into a gourd bird feeder. Use a keyhole saw to cut out the triangles. Scoop out as much of the insides of the gourd as possible. Punch two holes in the top of the gourd handle using a hand drill or leather awl. Thread a wire through the holes and twist the wire into a hook.