Great Tips to Help Birds in Winter

Winter is on the way, and what better time than now to start thinking about all the ways you can help birds survive the long cold days and nights? While most birds can survive winter without our help, studies have shown that they will survive at a higher rate when they have access to plenty of food, shelter and water. Here are some tips to get you ready for the winter season.

 

Food is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of ways to help the birds in winter. Birds need lots of calories to stay warm, and we can help provide that with high fat foods such as black oil sunflower seeds, nuts, suet and cracked corn. At the very least, offer black oil sunflower seeds and suet. Both these foods have a very high fat and protein content and birds will flock to both of them.  The type of feeders you use are up to you, but platform feeders are very versatile because you can use them for any type of seed and even place suet cakes on them. If squirrels are a problem, try putting out a critter block just for them.

 

Mixes that contain millet, corn or canary seed are good for attracting ground feeding birds such as juncos, doves and sparrows. Sprinkle it on the ground under bushes or put on a ground feeder. And don't forget the finches. Goldfinches, redpolls and siskins frequently arrive in large flocks.  They love sunflower seeds, but if you want to give them a real treat, feed them Nyjer seed in a fabric sock or a feeder made expressly for this seed. Other choices that birds love would be peanuts, peanut bits, and insect foods such as mealworms or suet containing dried insects.

 

Keep extra supplies of food and suet on hand for last minute emergencies when the weather turns too nasty to go to the store. Both seed and suet can be kept fresh and away from critters if you keep it in the freezer. If you’re storing your extra foods in the garage or a shed, make sure the container is chew-proof and locks down securely. 

 

Keep some extra feeders on hand. After a big winter storm, birds will appear in droves, looking for food. You’ll want to make sure everyone has a place to eat and you won’t have to fill the feeders as often. 

 

Be sure to check your feeders regularly and clear snow from feeding ports and off of platform feeders. And don’t forget that feeders should be cleaned in the wintertime just as often as in summer. Use a mild disinfectant solution like one part bleach or vinegar to nine parts water.

 

Cold winter wind saps energy and warmth from birds, especially at night. Birds are able to lower their body temperature to conserve calories at night, but a chilling wind can tax that system. A good way to help the birds stay warm is to leave your nesting boxes up all winter.  Stuffing hay or dried grasses inside will provide some insulation and the box will serve as a cozy place for birds to get out of the elements. Blocking the ventilation holes will help too; you can stuff hay in the openings or anything else that will keep out the drafts.

 

Roosting boxes are even better. These have the entrance hole at the bottom and perches inside for roosting. Having the hole at the bottom keeps drafts to a minimum. Sometimes many birds will share the same roosting box. Facing the opening in a southerly position might help warm the box in late afternoon.  A cute alternative is a thatched roof shelter.

 

You might notice that on a windy day, there are fewer birds at your feeders than on an extremely cold, but sunny windless day. That’s because the birds are taking cover from the wind in underbrush and other less exposed places.  Creating feeding areas with windbreaks will encourage more birds to feed and they’ll be much more comfortable out of the wind. Windbreaks can be created by clearing a snowy area down to the ground and piling the snow up around the edges to keep down wind. Then just put your seed on the ground, on a ground feeder or just use a preformed bird block. More snow or branches can be used to raise the height of the “walls”. Or create walls with pieces of plywood stuck in the snow. Even a plastic or metal trashcan on its side with seed placed inside would make a wind-free feeding area for birds. Wooden platform feeders with roofs can be enclosed on three sides with either wood or plastic sheeting to make a cozy feeding place too.

 

Water is important in winter because often there isn’t any snow, but natural water sources are frozen solid. Use a bird bath heater or a heated birdbath. Place the bath away from the feeders so that shells and seeds aren’t dropped in the bath. Cleaning a bird bath outside in winter isn’t fun; it still has to be done, but keeping the water clean goes a long way.

 

Melted water is a visual cue to birds that the water is warm enough to bathe in. However, since we have created an artificial situation by keeping the water ice-free when it shouldn’t be, we need to prevent the birds from bathing because the air is too cold. Put several rocks in the bath so birds can land to get a drink, but won’t have enough room to actually get in the water.

 

Keeping these tips in mind will help keep the birds healthy all winter, and in return, you will be rewarded with having lots and lots of winter visitors.