There’s a nip in the air these days – so I have added to my to-do list to clean and prepare my bird feeders. I’m not sure who enjoys watching them more, me or my cats.
I set up several stations in my backyard and have visitors all winter long. This post will hopefully give you the basic information to get started, along with some websites to get more information.
Birds need three basic things in the winter: food, water and shelter.
I will talk about the three types of feeders, the seed for the feeders and who will come to visit the feeders. I will also talk about the importance of cleaning your bird feeders. Next, we will talk briefly about providing water for our guests and then about the different types of shelter you can provide.
There are three basic types of feeders:
- Hanging
- Platform
- Ground feeders
Hanging feeders can hold suet, seed or fruit. It is particularly important in the winter to provide high-fat content in the food you are serving your feathered friends. Birds burn a lot of calories in the winter staying warm.
There are many different types of hanging feeders; tube and hopper feeders are the most common.
When you hang a feeder your biggest concern and aggravation will be the squirrels. The feeders need to be 8’ off the ground and at least 8’ from any nearby branches. You will also need to have a baffle on the pole. Setting up a feeding station for the squirrels on the other side of the yard will also help.
A hanging feeder filled with suet will bring nuthatches, woodpeckers and bluebirds. A tube feeder with Niger seed will bring the finches calling. And, everyone’s favorite, sunflower seeds will bring titmice and chickadees along with several other species.
A platform/fly-thru feeder is just what it sounds like; these are pole mounted and fairly open type so that the birds can “fly-thru”.
They allow the larger birds room to feed. Again, you will need these positioned as the hanging feeders. With these feeders, you will get your greatest variety of visitors. If you used safflower seed – that will help discourage the squirrels, grackles and starlings. It will also discourage the Blue Jays.
Our last category of feeders is the ground feeder.
This is basically a platform off the ground about 6”, though you could also scatter the seed directly onto the ground. These feeders will attract my favorite winter bird – the Dark-eyed Junco and Mourning Doves. Ground feeders need to be moved regularly to prevent a pile-up of the shells which can cause quite a smelly, gummy mess. You can prevent this by buying shelled seed.
A couple of points on seed – buy the best you can afford. Birds are choosey and not all birdseed distributors are. Single seed type is the best to use – one type per feeder. If you do buy a mixed seed blend; read the label.
If the mix has red millet in it – you are better off not buying it. This is a filler seed and the birds will be throwing it on the ground.
Other foods to consider – fruit and jelly! Birds love fruit – you can cut an orange, apple in half and just nail it to a tree and watch! Another fun thing to put out is grape jelly – there are special feeders for this.
Please don’t feed the birds your stale bread. Bread has no nutritional value for the birds and will attract Starlings to your yard. Also, consider adding some native plants with berries for the birds next year.
If you Google “Bird Treats” you will get lots of sites with recipes to make your own treats! Lots of fun for you and your kids.
Clean your feeders! I can’t tell you how important this is.
Consider that we wash our dishes before using them again. Once a week is ideal, but if you could at least commit to once a month that would work.
Feeders should be cleaned with a solution of one part bleach, nine parts water. Allow the bleach/water mixture to set on the feeders for ten minutes, drain off the solution, and then rinse thoroughly. Allow the feeder to completely dry before refilling it.
For more information on cleaning your feeders go to – www.wbu.com/edu/clean.htm
The next thing our guests will need is water. Providing water is just as important as providing food.
Especially in the winter when there isn’t a natural source for the birds.
If you have a ceramic birdbath – it will need to be replaced. There are several heavy duty resin heated birdbaths on the market. Or if you have a birdbath that will withstand the winter temperatures – just add a heater to the bath.
Most commercial birdbaths are not made with the birds in mind but with the consumer in mind.
Birds prefer birdbaths with a roughened bottom surface and a depth of about 1 1/2 inches. Small birds like gently angled sides so they can wade into a depth at which they’re comfortable.
If your feeder is too deep, find some irregular, rough stones to put in the bottom to add “steps” for the birds.
And the last thing we need to provide for our feathered guests – a place to be sheltered from the winter weather.
Providing roosting boxes is a great benefit for the birds.
Making sure you have evergreens or thick shrubs will also work – and if you can – place your Christmas tree outside in the backyard when you are done with it – it will provide shelter for the birds and save some space in the landfill.
If you leave your Nest boxes outside in the winter – please note that they are not the same as a Roost box.
Roosting boxes have perches on the inside for the birds to “roost” on – these boxes can hold upwards of thirty birds on a chilly night.
So if you leave Nest boxes out – please clean them out and add some fresh hay or wood shavings.
You will need to close up the ventilation holes by sealing up the ventilation with the grey window sealer available at HD, Lowe’s etc. Don’t forget to remove it in spring.
For more information on Roosting boxes – http://www.coveside.biz/winter-houses.htm or https://www.thespruce.com/wild-bird-roosting-boxes-38664 for how to info – https://wdfw.wa.gov/living/projects/nestboxes/
Who’s your favorite winter guest? Have any tips for beginners? Need more information? Leave a note. And happy bird watching this winter!
