Transforming Your Backyard into a Winter Sanctuary for Birds: 5 Strategies
Enjoying bird watching in your backyard is a pleasurable activity all year round. Despite certain species like hummingbirds leaving for warmer climates during winter, numerous others remain. Assist these resilient birds as the weather gets chilly by implementing these strategies.
- **Becca Rodomsky-Bish**** is a project leader of the Great Backyard Bird Count for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- **Joe Liebezeit** is a staff scientist and avian conservation manager for Portland Audubon Society.
- **Emma Greig**** is a project leader at Project Feederwatch at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Ways to Help Wild Birds in Your Backyard during Winter
Scarce natural food sources become even more valuable to birds during winter. Consequently, they stand to benefit significantly from well-stocked feeders filled with nutritious food. Although offering food can be attractive, it's crucial to prioritize their safety and well-being. Here are some tips for attracting and caring for wild birds in your garden throughout winter.
1. Focus on Safety
"When we're drawing birds in with food resources, it's essential to ensure their safety when they arrive," explains Becca Rodomsky-Bish, project leader of the Great Backyard Bird Count for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Since snow magnifies window reflections, she recommends using screens, decals, or protective measures to break up reflections and minimize bird-window collisions. Additionally, keeping cats indoor reduces the risk of them preying on feeding birds.
Joe Liebezeit, staff scientist and avian conservation manager for Portland Audubon Society, advises cleaning and disinfecting bird feeders at least once per week to prevent diseases from spreading. He suggests using soap, water, then soaking feeders in a 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Liebezeit cautions against using platform feeders as they can foster the spread of diseases due to dropped waste.
2. Establish a Habitat
Trees and shrubs, especially evergreens, provide shelter and rest areas for birds. Construct a brush pile using trimmed branches in an out-of-the-way corner of your yard. This creates a hiding place for birds seeking refuge. Roosting boxes and birdhouses offer safe havens for birds to escape the harsh winter elements. Make sure to clean them out in the fall and again in the spring.
Various plants can aesthetically enrich your garden while also providing suitable habitats for wild birds. Trees and shrubs like holly, many viburnums, hawthorns, staghorn sumac, and wax myrtle offer natural food sources persistent until winter. Waiting to prune perennials that bear seeds until spring preserves seed-bearing plants, providing sustenance to birds throughout winter.
3. Select Nutrient-rich Foods
berries and seeds become essential sources of energy for birds during winter. Consider stocking your feeders with high-fat and oil-rich foods. Black oil sunflower seeds, thistle seeds, and hulled peanuts are popular choices among various bird species. Suet, particularly for insect-feeding birds, is an excellent source of essential energy during winter.
Organic, homemade suet cakes can be an engaging project for children and an attractive treat for birds. Using a combination of wild bird seed, oats, and corn meal, melt shortening and nut butter to form a paste. Mix the dry ingredients, then spoon the mixture into ice cube trays to freeze and shape into cakes.Wrap and store the frozen cakes in the freezer until ready to use.
4. Maintain Protected and Filled Feeders
Locate feeders in a sheltered spot, away from strong winds. A spot downwind of tall evergreen trees or a porch provides favorable coverage and proximity to cover spaces from predators. Keep some space around the feeders for birds to see potential threats, while having nearby perching spots for easy access to cover.
Keep feeders covered, if possible, to shield the food from rain and snow. When it snows, shovel or compact the snow beneath feeders so ground feeding birds, like mourning doves, can easily find fallen seeds. Consistently maintain and keep the feeders stocked, especially during severe weather.
5. Provide Water Sources
Birds cannot survive solely on food; they also need water. "Providing fresh water is vital, if not more crucial, for feeding birds during winter," says Rodomsky-Bish. "Consider installing a bird bath or water dish near your food resource. Keep this water thawed and fresh."
Ceramic birdbaths might shatter in chilly weather, so opt for plastic or metallic baths instead. If your location often experiences temperatures below freezing during winter, a birdbath heater will securely prevent the water from freezing up.
Frequently Asked Queries
- What kind of meals should I avoid feeding birds during winter? Many of the delicious meals we relish are toxic for birds. Meals high in salt, artificial sugars, and dairy products should be kept at bay.
- How can I keep other animals away from my bird feeder? Employing a bird feeder protector and keeping the feeder at a distance from trees can keep squirrels, mice, and raccoons at bay. You can also acquire bird feeders with specialized trays and platforms like tube feeders and weight-sensitive feeders that will discourage other animals from helping themselves to the birdseed.
- Should I relocate my bird feeder to different spots? To reduce the risk of disease transmission, make sure to switch up your bird feeder's location often.
Incorporating "Nature Lovers' Gardening" practices can greatly benefit both you and the wild birds in your backyard during winter. With a focus on providing nutritious food, safety, and habitats, you can turn your garden into a thriving sanctuary. Stock up on seeds like black oil sunflower seeds, thistle seeds, and hulled peanuts, consider homemade suet cakes, and provide birdhouses for shelter.
Additionally, magazines such as "BHG" can offer valuable insight and inspiration for "Garden Design" projects tailored to attracting wild birds. Strategic placement of birdhouses and feeders, along with the inclusion of bird-friendly plants, will create an inviting environment for winter birds, ensuring their survival and your enjoyment of their presence.
