Winter Bird Feeding:
An activity enjoyed by millions
By
The Wild Bird Habitat Store
It’s November and already we have seen the snows creep steadily
closer with accumulations not far off. The days seem even shorter now
after rolling back time earlier in the month with the light casting long
dark shadows by the afternoon. The trees have become mostly barren with
a few leafy blotches of gold, orange, and red desperately clinging on as
if to defy the northern winds. Sweet aromas of wood fires drift lazily
from chimneys filling neighborhoods. And one last glance out the window
at dusk provides silhouetted images of Northern Cardinals at the bird
feeders grabbing a few last minute morsels before heading to their
nightly roost. The signs of winter are slowly settling in across the
The large flocks of blackbirds, except for a few stragglers, have
been ushered south by the first cold fronts. Our winter birds, the
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Juncos, Harris’s and White-crowned
sparrows, and others have been arriving over the past few weeks driven
south by the same cold north winds. Soon Pine Siskins and Crossbills
will appear, maybe even some Redpolls. The northern birds that will
spend the winter across the plains of
It is these cold weather changes that encourage many folks who
didn’t maintain a bird feeder during the summer to consider offering
supplemental food sources for our backyard birds. After all, when the
snow blows and the temperatures plummet, our resident winter birds are a
short thirty six hours away from starvation. These feathered creatures,
most that weigh less than a few ounces, only survive the harsh frigid
nights on what foods they can consume during the day.
Feeding birds in our backyards has become more than just a
passing hobby. In fact, birding in the
In the past many people would just scatter the bird seed on the
ground, or possibly have a single bird feeder filled with a general wild
bird mix and expect all birds to enjoy their fill. However backyard bird
feeding has become more specialized, targeting the specific feeding
habits of birds to meet their needs. Some birds will only feed at
elevated feeders like the Chickadees, nuthatches, and Goldfinch. Others,
such as Juncos, doves, and native sparrows, feed primarily on the
ground. Still other birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, and Brown
Creepers prefer to feed around the tree trunk zone. Then there are the
Cardinals and Blue Jays who are just plain opportunistic feeding where
ever the seed is made accessible to them.
Two of the most common style of bird feeders for attracting a
large variety of birds is a hopper feeder, which will attract large and
small birds, and seed tube bird feeders designed primarily for smaller
birds. Other bird feeders include ground and platform bird feeders which
are undoubtedly the most versatile for attracting a large variety of
bird species. Then their are bird feeders designed to attract specific
birds such as Nyjer thistle feeders for finches and suet feeders for
woodpeckers. These six types of bird feeders are recommended for a
successful backyard bird feeding program.
But just as the type of bird feeder you select determines which
birds you will attract, the bird seed you fill them with is just as
important. Birds that feed at elevated bird feeders prefer sunflower
seed, safflower seed, peanuts and other nut mixes. If you put a general
Proso millet wild bird mix in these feeders, the birds will sweep
through it picking out the nut products, scattering everything else to
the ground.
Thistle feeders are for Nyjer thistle seed and finch mixes.
Caution must be taken to assure the thistle seed is fresh or the finch
you are trying to attract may reject it. A good finch mix contains only
Nyjer thistle seed and finely ground sunflower chips, nothing else.
Avoid those commercial finch mixes that contain flax, canary grass seed,
and other filler seeds that birds do not eat.
General wild bird mixes have a base of white Proso millet with
cracked corn, peanuts, and sunflower seeds added. They are best used on
platform and ground feeders where birds can select the seed they want
without sweeping through it. However, when purchasing a general wild
bird mix read the label. Many of these inexpensive mixes contain filler
seeds such as
If squirrels are robbing the seed you intended for the birds to
enjoy, you may want to consider adding a squirrel baffle or investing in
a squirrel proof bird feeder. Another alternative is to use safflower
seed, or Nutra-Saff safflower seed, in the bird feeders that squirrels
seem determined to get on at all costs. Safflower seed will attract most
all your favorite backyard bird and can be used in any type of bird
feeder. The advantage is that squirrels do not care for it and will
leave your feeders alone.
Water for birds, especially during the winter months, is
essential for their survival. Although they do not rely on any one food
source, an open source of water in the winter can be difficult to
locate. In fact offering fresh water can attract more birds than bird
seed alone. To keep the water from freezing there is an assortment of
bird bath heaters and heated bird baths on the market that are
thermostatically controlled and use less energy than a 60 watt light
bulb. Fresh water does more for birds than just meet their hydration
needs. Clean feathers provide better insulation during cold nights.
Winter offers many relaxing moments watching the birds go about
their daily feeding routines from the comfort of your home. But winter
also provides time to consider installing bird houses for the nesting
season come spring. It’s a good time to make some landscaping plans for
the spring that will benefit the birds in your yard year round. Hedges
and shrubs will not only offer shelter from bitter winter winds, but
will become a place for birds to nest and provide a natural food source
as well. Consult with a
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