Birdwatching in Winter

Birdwatching can be a year-round activity. To find success in winter, you need to attract birds. This is relatively easy to do as you can offer much-needed resources for the birds, drawing them into your yard.

Firstly, fresh water is very important. Winter freezes most water supplies for birds, giving you a chance to offer a resource they’ll have trouble finding anywhere else. On a daily basis, make sure to de-ice water supplies you’ve provided. Or, try a heated bird bath.

Secondly, provide a variety of appetizing foods. During winter, birds hunt for reliable food sources in preparation for dropping temperatures and lack of natural food supplies. Offering a continual, yummy food resource establishes your yard as a bird sanctuary. The birds that stick around in cold weather are used to eating seeds because insects aren’t on the menu this time of year. To attract wild birds in winter, offer bird seed.

Birds need to consume 1/3 – 3/4 of their body weight daily to gain the energy needed for winter survival. Offer a variety of seeds: black oil sunflower, nyger, safflower, white millet, and suet. Be sure to keep your birdfeeders filled. Even if you’re guests haven’t yet arrived, having a constant resource of food will ultimately spread the word and bring in a crowd.

Finally, winter means all animals are searching for food, including squirrels. To keep squirrels away, mount your feeder poles at least 6 feet from the ground and 6 feet away from any nearby trees or roofs. This will ensure they can’t hop onto any of your feeders and steal the seeds.