The official start of winter is still a week and a half away, but the recent cold temperatures and snowy weather tells a different story. One thing to make sure you have on your to do list is to put out a bird feeder. A bird feeder is a must have item for a home conservationist. Natural food sources are scarce for birds in the winter. Insects, fruit, and seeds are hard to come by for our feathered friends and by providing food for them can make a difference. Not only does it help them through the struggles of the winter months, it also makes them healthier in the spring for their mating activities which helps ensure the next generation of birds.
Providing a variety of food will cover the many different birds you will see in your yard. Types of food should include black sunflower seeds, millet, thistle seed, and peanuts. I also include some cracked corn for the many doves who feed on the ground below the feeders. It is also a good idea to include a bag of suet. Suet is rendered fat from sheep and cattle and is high in calories that is easy for birds to digest. Virtually all birds will nibble at a suet cake hung from your feeder.
Despite good intentions folks who feed birds bread in the winter are not doing them any favors. Due to their highly processed condition bread is devoid of any real nutritional value for birds. Letting your feeder run out is also a bad idea. Keeping it filled regularly helps provide a routine for your backyard flock. Also, not feeding birds because you don’t see any in your yard is a mistake. Put out a feeder and you will be amazed at how fast the feathered creatures find your new treat for them. Bird feeders are defiantly a “Build it and they will come” proposition.
Now get yourself a feeder and some bird seed and start your own backyard pit stop for your backyard birds.
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