Help birds to eat in the winter

Not all bird species migrate, but most do. Migration is defined as the seasonal movement of birds, north in the spring from the wintering grounds, and southward in the fall from the breeding grounds. Among the birds that are resident in the northeast and do not migrate are grouse, ptarmigan, quail species, owl species, pileated, red-bellied, downy, hairy woodpeckers, white-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren, northern cardinal, wren, ring-necked pheasant, Townsend's solitaire, common raven, gray jay, and the northern mockingbird. More and more in the winters of the twenty-first century birds that used to fly south are staying in the north year-round, creating certain problems for the survival of birds in harsh weather. If you enjoy the passage of the small feathered creatures among the trees in all seasons, here are some feeding tips to help make their sojourn to your yard in the north safer and more habitable.

Wild birds fall into three different groups of feeders. The first ones are the carnivores, the flesh eaters of insects and small mammals. For instance, the common shrikes, kestrels and raptors. Second are the plant eaters, like finches and grosbeaks; and last are the omnivores, who eat from both tables, plants and animals. All groups usually depend on their preferred food being available in nature, such as fruit, seeds, insects, nuts and small mammals. But in winter when days are short birds have less time to find enough food to keep themselves warm and alive through long, cold winter nights.

Many use mixed seed as their primary feeding supplement, but that type of seed attracts some birds that are less beneficial to the environment, more pestlike, or too lazy to hunt for their food in the wild. But who, because of northern bird feeding by humans, have happily adapted to northeastern winters. House finches, starlings, sparrows, juncos, piegons, and doves fall into this category. Bird experts suggest particularly not fostering starlings’ presence by eliminating bread products, peanuts, garbage, and mixed nuts, and sticking to the sunflower seeds which are less attractive if starling infestation is a problem in your neighborhood.

The ideal food for attracting the more unique birds, like bluebirds (which have begun wintering over), the northern cardinal, oriole, nuthatch, red-headed woodpecker, purple finch, blackbird gold finch, and titmouse is black-oil sunflower seeds. If you are willing to attract both the so-called desirable birds and the less desirables have separate feeders with cracked corn, millet, rape seed, and peanuts. For the more common birds, they prefer a cyclindrical feeder with short perches for the more colorful birds.

Some birds seem to need to store up food in large caches throughout the winter. Nuthatches often bury seeds when they are abundant, the blue jay will hide or bury their favorite acorns, and woodpeckers will drill holes into bark and hide acorns there. Other birds, like the European kestrel, will catch prey and hide it near their roost to be eaten when their hunting day is over and when they are returning to the nest. This evening meal helps keep them warm through the night.

While feeding birds can help save them, particularly when the normal sources of food are covered with snow or ice, it’s important not to stop feeding during the winter, once your feeders have begun attracting a steady clientele. It is also important for birds to have water during the winter months. Consider a bird bath, possibly a heated one, if both days and nights dip below freezing.

Many people decorate the outdoors for the holidays. Be careful that materials used, such as foil and colored paper are not nibbled by birds or small animals, as they can be toxic even in minute quantities. Better to use old-fashioned strung popcorn and berries, such as cranberries. Suet cakes and pine cones with a peanut butter-seed mixture also provide special treats, more favorable to some birds than others. Millet branches can be purchased and hung outdoors with apple slices hanging from them, for a pleasant, natural decoration that will also appeal to the feathered creatures that brighten our winter days.

Locate your feeders in sheltered areas out of prevailing winds and a few feet from protective cover like shrubbery. Never use salty snack foods or sugary cereals to feed birds—it could hurt them.

One word of caution: attracting large numbers of birds to your yard can increase the risk of spreading avian disease. Some sick birds may feed at the feeders and spread their germs to healthy birds. For this reason, a solution of one part bleach to two parts water should be used to cleanse bird feeders once a month. Don’t use plywood feeders, as the glue used in them can be a problem for some birds and make them ill.

To increase your pleasure at feeding and attracting birds to your yard keep a bird identification book, binoculars and a birding journal handy near the window. Many websites offer information, pictures to identify, and even sound tracks of various birdcalls. Try www.audubon.org to get you started, and don’t be surprised at the pleasure hours of birdwatching can offer.

A pair of cardinals on fresh snow, purple finches darting in and out of the bare branches of the trees, and even the bossy, big bluejays are a treat to watch on a winter day. If you catch sight of the rare bluebird, or find a redheaded woodpecker showing his tuft of scarlet feathers at your feeder, be prepared to see them again and again. Birds are as faithful as dogs, if you know what they need and try to provide it. You will be more than rewarded by their diligent and colorful appearance around your yard, and their songs when the moment is right will delight you.