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Bird Feeding In Winter
Feeding wild birds is a great way to enjoy nature. It is also a great way to help out your neighborhood bird population. According to the Humane Society of the United States, here are some tips about wild bird feeding.
Getting started
When to feed wild birds
While bird feeding is not necessary, feeding them at times when birds need the most energy can be very helpful. During temperature extremes, migration, late winter and early spring are important times to feed. They don’t generally need your help in the summer because they are focusing more on eating insects and raising their young.
If you do feed birds and leave town, you generally don’t need to worry about feeding them, especially if you live in a suburban area. If you live in a rural or isolated area, try to arrange for someone to maintain your feeders during the winter.
A safe place to feed
Where to put bird feeders?
Location
Bird feeders are best in locations safe from predators. This would be about 12 feet from a brush pile, evergreen tree, or bush. That way they are outside of striking range from a predator and can still quickly get to safety. You can also put chicken wire or thorny branches around ground level feeders as extra protection.
You should also keep bird feeders either more than 30 feet from a window or less than 3 feet. This will reduce the chance of a bird colliding with a window.
Height
Different heights attract different birds. Ground level is ideal for doves and sparrows while table level is good for cardinals, finches and blue jays. Hanging feeders attract chickadees, goldfinches and titmice while tree trunk feeders are great for nuthatches, woodpeckers and wrens.
Through the seasons
What to feed?
Winter Foods
- Black-oil sunflower seeds
- Cracked corn
- Nyjer seed
- Peanuts
- Suet cakes
- White Proso Millet
Spring Foods
- Fruit
- Baked and crushed eggshells
- Nesting materials
Summer Foods
- Nectar for hummingbirds
- Nyjer seed for goldfinches
- Don’t feed other birds
Autumn Foods
- Millet
- Peanuts
- Peanut butter
- Suet cakes
Beyond the feeder
Other considerations
Remember in addition to feeding your neighborhood birds, providing them with shelter and water can help make your yard a safe haven for birds! Read more at the Humane Society of the United States.