Creating a Winter Habitat for Your Feathered Friends

I enjoy a nice fire, or a cozy blanket, or both during cold winter nights. In January, I also like putting my car heat the whole way up and pretending I’m in Florida on my drive to work. Could you imagine spending 24/7 outside during the winter? No thanks!

Birds were made for the winter, and they can survive it, but I personally like to help them out a bit!

Late November, early December is generally the time I begin to place a few birdhouses outside. I usually pick up one or two over the summer and save them until the winter to put up. This is a great time because it offers the birds a winter home and allows them to begin creating a nesting place for the spring. Placing the birdhouses facing the southwest has helped my little friends to heat their homes in the afternoon before the sun falls. I also place them away from feeding areas so that when nesting and mating begins the birds will have safe havens to keep their families.  

Additionally, I supply my yard with a few basics to help the birds furnish their homes. Keeping some leaves on the lawn creates an element for birds to move to their shelter to help keep them warm. I like to hang a clump of cotton for birds to pick at and take to their new home. This cotton comes in handy for the birds year round and often needs to be replenished two or three times a year. Birds love to use it to create nests and to add to their birdhouses.

You too, can create shelter for your birds by taking a closer look at your shrubs. Do you hate pruning and thinning them at the start of winter? Do you really care if they look a little less polished? You don’t? PERFECT! By not pruning your shrubs you are able to keep a habitat that offers great protection from the elements and predators for birds. The closely packed greenery allows little nooks for birds to nestle in during windy days and snowy nights.

Whether you go hog wild buying birdhouses or do little to maintain your shrubs, the birds visiting your backyard will be grateful! Keeping your property prepped for a feathered friend’s stay in winter will keep your visitors coming back for more!