With fall migration, we say goodbye to the breathtaking songs and colors of the summer songbirds. Many backyard birdwatchers welcome the winter residents that brighten the cold days with flashes of chestnut brown, fire-engine red, and ivory white. Here are a few useful tips to help attract a plethora of species to your backyard this winter.
Wintering birds require three important things to get through the winter: food, shelter, and access to water. Many birds that subsist on insects during the summer rely on seeds, fruits, and nuts to get them through the winter. Birds visiting your feeders will become dependent on your feed; it is important to keep feeding from October through late April or early May. Different species prefer different types of seed based on their diet and foraging habits. At first glance, premixed bird feed may seem like a good idea, but blends often contain uneaten filler, such as red millet, oats, and wheat. Black-oil sunflower seed attracts the largest variety of species. Some species you may see include Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Evening Grosbeaks, Dark-eyed Juncos, and wintering sparrows.. By adding cracked corn, white millet, niger, and suet, your feeders can support several other species such as Common Redpolls, nuthatches, and woodpeckers.
It is important to place feeders close to shrubs and trees to provide shelter from hawks, cats, and harsh weather. However, place your feeder ten to fifteen feet away from shrubbery to discourage squirrels. Some examples of excellent habitat include holly shrubs, red osier dogwood, plume grass, bayberry, birch trees, and winter holly. These plants also produce berries that provide a natural food. Birds need water to drink and bathe to insulate their feathers from the cold. When all puddles have frozen, a bird bath that is heated could be a good solution. If you do not have a heated unit, refill your bath periodically throughout the day or use a stick to prevent your bird bathe from cracking.
It may take several days for birds to find your feeders. Be patient and remember that the frequency of their return is dependent on the type of seed you put out and the location of your feeders. With these suggestions, you can transform your backyard into an excellent habitat for wintering birds, where you can enjoy the flutter of feathers all winter long.
When it gets cold and the winter winds blow, many “snow bunnies” move south to live in warmer weather. Many birds migrate south also, taking advantage of milder temperatures and southern cuisine with a greater variety of insects and seeds. However, you have many year-round residents who are joined by other birds that migrate only as far as your backyard so it is important to create a living area that is enticing to them.
Check over your back yard. Provide a pile of brush or bushes for birds and animals to hide in when predators approach.birds that are small will look for shelter from sparrow hawks and other predators. Leave dead trees standing through the winter so woodpeckers can find food and build nests in cavities. Consider providing plants and trees with fruits and berries. The search for food starts at dawn and continues till dusk. If birds are able to eat enough, they will store enough energy to survive a very cold winter’s night. Then they start the process all over again for another day.
Meals for your winter birds must be served in appropriate bird feeders and not just thrown on the ground where it can be spoiled by dampness, mold and pesticides. Choose a location that has easy access for you, so the bird feeders can be refilled in cold weather. Select a place where discarded seed shells and bird droppings won’t be a cleanup problem. Place your feeders out of reach of the neighborhood cats and other predators. The most effective way to attract a large variety of birds to your yard is to put out separate feeders for each of your banquets for the birds.
Don’t forget that even in winter, birds need to drink. Eating snow (if there is any) just doesn’t get it. Sometimes the birds suffer more for lack of water than food. A heated birdbath with fresh unfrozen water will prove attractive to many of your winter visitors.
It is important to place feeders close to shrubs and trees to provide shelter from hawks, cats, and harsh weather. However, place your feeder ten to fifteen feet away from shrubbery to discourage squirrels. Some examples of excellent habitat include holly shrubs, red osier dogwood, plume grass, bayberry, birch trees, and winter holly. These plants also produce berries that provide a natural food. Birds need water to drink and bathe to insulate their feathers from the cold. When all puddles have frozen, a bird bath that is heated could be a good solution. If you do not have a heated unit, refill your bath periodically throughout the day or use a stick to prevent your bird bathe from cracking.
It may take several days for birds to find your feeders. Be patient and remember that the frequency of their return is dependent on the type of seed you put out and the location of your feeders. With these suggestions, you can transform your backyard into an excellent habitat for wintering birds, where you can enjoy the flutter of feathers all winter long.
When it gets cold and the winter winds blow, many “snow bunnies” move south to live in warmer weather. Many birds migrate south also, taking advantage of milder temperatures and southern cuisine with a greater variety of insects and seeds. However, you have many year-round residents who are joined by other birds that migrate only as far as your backyard so it is important to create a living area that is enticing to them.
Check over your back yard. Provide a pile of brush or bushes for birds and animals to hide in when predators approach.birds that are small will look for shelter from sparrow hawks and other predators. Leave dead trees standing through the winter so woodpeckers can find food and build nests in cavities. Consider providing plants and trees with fruits and berries. The search for food starts at dawn and continues till dusk. If birds are able to eat enough, they will store enough energy to survive a very cold winter’s night. Then they start the process all over again for another day.
Meals for your winter birds must be served in appropriate bird feeders and not just thrown on the ground where it can be spoiled by dampness, mold and pesticides. Choose a location that has easy access for you, so the bird feeders can be refilled in cold weather. Select a place where discarded seed shells and bird droppings won’t be a cleanup problem. Place your feeders out of reach of the neighborhood cats and other predators. The most effective way to attract a large variety of birds to your yard is to put out separate feeders for each of your banquets for the birds.
Don’t forget that even in winter, birds need to drink. Eating snow (if there is any) just doesn’t get it. Sometimes the birds suffer more for lack of water than food. A heated birdbath with fresh unfrozen water will prove attractive to many of your winter visitors.
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