Bird Feeders Liven the Winter Garden

I'm always a bit sad as the summer garden fades into memory and I am faced with preparing the garden for another winter. Saying goodbye to butterflies and hummingbirds is bittersweet as I know that soon the winter birds will flock to my feeders bringing new life to the garden. Attracting songbirds to the garden adds color and movement and provides hours of enjoyment from the comfort of the home. Providing them with a quality feeder designed to meet their feeding needs improves your chances of attracting the widest selection of winter birds.

Platform Feeders: These feeders are typically raised above the ground on a post or stake. The feeder consists of a flat platform that allows birds to perch and eat freely, under the cover of a simple roof to shield them from rain and snow. Platform feeders attract a wide range of birds that might otherwise pass your garden by. Expect a host of birds - ranging from tiny finches to blue jays, if you install a platform feeder.

Hopper Feeders: These feeders look like a tiny house with clear acrylic or plexiglass sides perched on a tray equipped with a lip to prevent seeds from falling off. Walls are typically slanted and extend to within and inch or two of the platform to allow seed to drop from the hopper onto the tray. Hopper feeders hold several quarts of birdseed, but do tend to get wet in winter storms. Hopper feeders attract a wide range of birds including finches, chick-a-dees, blue jays, gross beaks and nut hatches.

Suet Feeders: Suet feeders feature a wire cage or a metal cylinder lined with tiny holes to allow birds to eat. Filled with fresh suet, or any variety of bird seed cakes, these feeders attract nuthatches and woodpeckers, as well as an occasional finch, wren or chick-a-dee.

Tube Feeders: Tube feeders are long and cylindrical with several holes and feeding ports for hungry birds. These easy-to-fill feeders fill from the top and may hold several quarts of bird seed. Tube feeders also get wet during winter storms, but typically this is not an issue unless the storm is severe. Because the perches and feeding holes are small, tube feeders discourage large birds such as bluejays from feeding and allow small finches and chick-a-dees to enjoy their meal.

Providing a selection of feeders allows you to attract the widest range of birds to your yard - but don't forget the value of scattering seed on the ground for ground feeders. These eager birds often flock to spilled seed under feeders, but benefit from their own space for feeding. Ground feeders include cardinals, mourning doves, sparrows and wrens.

As winter approaches and visions of brightly colored flowers fade, my sights turn to hungry birds eager to flock to my feeders. By late fall, I make a special effort to repair old feeders and fill them all with seed. Within a few days, a host of birds have stopped to explore. Images of brilliant cardinals and proud blue jays fuel my fire as I dream of new fallen snow and the joy of watching my garden come to life once again.

Other work by this author:
How to Make Suet Cakes for Birds

How to Get Rid of Squirrels: The Bird Feeder's Dilemma

How to Choose and Install a Back Yard Bird Cam