WINTER BIRDFEEDING--FUN AND HELPFUL

Cooler temperatures are starting to move into most regions of the United States, and the natural food sources, such as berries and insects that bird depend on, are becoming scarce. Also, the days are becoming shorter, and “shorter” means birds have less daylight to hunt for natural food.

This gives us the opportunity to help birds through the winter months and at the same time have fun with nature in our own backyard. People can enjoy and help birds all year by providing food, shelter, and water. But a feeder can be a critical source of food when it’s cold and snowy, and you can help the birds endure the long winter nights by having food available during the last hours before dark and first thing in the morning.

Good winter food options are foods high in calories-black oil sunflower, suet, peanuts and a peanut butter mixture. Black oil sunflower is the number one choice of about 85% of our common feeder birds and the peanut products are adored by the Chickadee family and the Woodpecker family.

Yes, birds need water in the winter and since most of the natural sources are either frozen or dried up, your birdbath becomes extremely important and very popular. You might be wondering how you can provide water. That has been made easy with the many styles of birdbath heaters available today.

Shelter is the third ingredient for successful winter survival. The natural plantings of shrubs and trees ads well as nesting boxes provide our feathered friends the protection they need from the cold.

You might be wondering on cold days when you are bundle up in a coat, hat, gloves, and boots how birds survive the cold temperatures. Warming techniques include fluffing up their feathers, “shivering” and drawing up one leg to their breast and then the other. Birds also fill a special storage pouch in the esophagus with food before dark and digest the food overnight. While these techniques are great short-term solutions, the essential element for energy and stamina is FOOD. Songbirds can lose 10% of their body weight on extremely cold nights, which is why your feeders are not only vital, but very popular in the early morning hours.

Try bird feeding this winter. It’s helpful and fun.