Helping Birds in Winter

Winter poses tough challenges for birds, with food becoming scarce and temperatures dropping. While birds are well-adapted to survive the cold, a little help from us can make their winter months easier. Here are some practical ways to support your feathered friends this season.

1.Offer High-Energy Foods
To help birds stay warm in winter, provide calorie-dense foods like suet, unsalted peanuts, sunflower seeds, and mealworms. Suet, in particular, is ideal for woodpeckers, chickadees, and jays, offering essential fats to sustain them through cold nights. You can buy suet or make it at home for a budget-friendly option.

2.Choose the Right Feeders
Birds have varied feeding habits. Ground-feeders like sparrows and juncos prefer tray or platform feeders, or cleared ground with scattered seeds. Tube feeders with nyjer seeds are great for finches. To keep food fresh and mold-free, use covered feeders and store seeds in a dry place.

3. Provide Fresh Water
With natural water sources freezing in winter, birds may struggle to find water. Offer a shallow bird bath or dish, refilling it daily. In colder areas, a heated bird bath can keep water from freezing; adding a few stones can prevent birds from bathing, reducing the risk of ice on their feathers.

4.Feed Birds at Key Times of Day
Birds deplete their energy reserves overnight, so replenishing feeders early in the morning and again before dusk provides them with the fuel they need to stay warm throughout the night.

5. Create Brush Piles for Extra Shelter
In addition to feeders, providing natural shelter can be invaluable. Brush piles made from branches or yard trimmings create a safe haven for small animals and birds to escape from the cold and wind. These piles can be refreshed each year by chipping old brush in spring and adding new branches as they fall, offering shelter not only for birds but for other small critters as well.

6. Offer Safe Roosting Spots
Birds benefit from roosting boxes or even unused nesting boxes from the warmer months. Position these to block out cold drafts and cover ventilation holes to help retain warmth.
Place feeders at least four feet off the ground and away from areas where cats or other predators may hide.

7. Maintain a Clean Environment
Regularly cleaning feeders and bird baths reduces the risk of disease. If you spot any birds that appear sick or lethargic, it may be wise to temporarily take down feeders, encouraging birds to disperse and minimizing potential spread of illness.

8.Prioritize Safety When Restocking Feeders
It's essential to stay safe while helping wildlife. Carry a cell phone when restocking feeders, as icy paths and slick snow around feeders can be hazardous. Many bird lovers are elderly, and a simple fall can lead to serious injury. Keeping a phone on hand ensures you can call for help if needed, especially when walking in winter conditions.