Feeding Birds in Cold Weather

Around here, we love to take care of our feathered friends. Personally, I love the sound of birds chirping in the morning to wake me up! Even still, when the weather dips, we have a tendency to forget about helping out the birds in our area.

Many birds stick around for the winter, and they can really use our help to make it through this cold weather. Birds are warm-blooded, and they require more calories in the winter than they do in the summer. The problem is that the bugs that they usually love to eat are either dead or dormant, so it's a challenge for birds to find their needed nutrients. If the birds are used to having a constant supply of food from you in the warmer months, it makes finding food in the winter even more challenging.

What should you be doing in the winter to help the birds in your area? Keep feeding them! They need foods that are high in calories and fat (I'm starting to think I'm a bird, because this sounds like my winter diet...) Try things like suet, which is very fatty and high energy, and things like peanuts and oil sunflower (we have great luck with Cole's Bird Feed.)

Different types of birds prefer different types of feeders, so you will want to have feeders on the ground, feeders on trees, and hanging feeders. The hanging feeders have a tendency to blow around more in this kind of weather, so only certain types of birds will be able to use them. In general, try to keep your feeders in a protected area that is relatively out of the wind.

Don't forget that the birds have lost a lot of the protection they normally get from trees. Bird houses can really be helpful this time of year. The birds don't want to be out in the elements, and they always need protection from predators. Make sure you keep them clean so you can help prevent the growth of parasites.

Birds are a wonderful addition to your landscape year round. They provide lively color, beautiful songs, and lots of entertainment. If you take care of them in the winter and become a reliable source of food, your yard is sure to become the new hot spot in your neighborhood for the best bird watching!