Birds of Winter
Written by Kathy Meyer
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| Winter Bird Feeding |
Keep your birdfeeders clean. To clean feeders, soak them in a mild bleach-water solution (1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water). Rinse them thoroughly and let them air-dry. Clean your feeders once a month. Make sure you can see your bird feeding stations easily from indoors, and place them where you can reach them easily for refilling. If the best location for a feeder is in the middle of your yard, construct a brush pile nearby to serve as both a shelter and foraging habitat. Make sure your feeders are protected from prevailing winter winds.
It is important to select food that is appropriate. Here is a list of types of feeders, foods, and the types of birds they will attract.HOPPER FEEDER: Attracts most birds. Use black oil sunflower seed.
PEANUT FEEDER: Attracts chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and wrens. Use raw peatnuts.
PLATFORM FEEDER: Attracts ground feeders like juncos, white-throated and tree sparrows, towhees, doves, cardinals, jays, and many types of finches. Use any type of food.
SATELLITE FEEDER: Attracts small clinging birds like chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. Use black oil sunflower seed or peanut bits.
SUET FEEDER: Attracts woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, and others. Use suet or bird treats.
TUBE FEEDER: Attracts perching birds such as goldfinches, redpolls, siskins, house and purple finches, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches. Use black oil sunflower seed.
THISTLE FEEDER: Attracts finches. Use niger (thistle) seed.
Ideally, birds should have food available in the late afternoon so they can survive the cold winter nights, and again in the morning to replenish their energy supply. Feeding suet and peanuts to wild birds in the winter helps provide needed calories for energy. Did you know that birds love peanut butter? Make a treat for your birds: Stir ½ cup of peanut butter into 2 cups of uncooked cornmeal or rolled oats. Spoon the mixture onto a tray feeder. You might also give your birds apple slices, orange segments, and berries.
The single most important thing you can do for birds in any season is to provide water. Place your birdbath in a sheltered location at least three feet above the ground. You might want to consider buying a temperature-sensitive water heater. Position your birdbath near a grounded electrical outlet; if you need to use an extension cord, use a heavy-duty one designed for outdoor use. Do not use glycerin to prevent ice in your birdbaths. It can mat feathers or even be toxic to birds. Provide footing in the birdbath with sand, stones, or branches. Birdbaths in shady areas stay full longer because the water evaporates more slowly. Clean your birdbath (9 parts water to 1 part liquid chlorine bleach) and replace the water once a week.
Check out these other sources:
Birdsource
Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program
Beginners Birdwatching Class
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