Feeding Backyard Birds in Winter

Fall is breezing through the northern states, time once again to plan ahead to feed your feathered backyard visitors. What sort of food should you put out that will be healthy and attractive to native birds?

In winter, perching birds need a quarter to a third of their weight in food a day to get enough calories [Vermont Institute of Natural Science]. High calorie foods are key.

Suet is the number one answer-animal fat. Often you can find suet cakes at grocery marts, feed stores, or other shops that sell birdseed. Some even come with a fancy hanger or feeder. For the do-it-yourselfer, you can purchase plain suet (beef or pork fat) from any grocery store butcher counter and offer it to birds plain or render the fat.

Melt it down (microwaves work well) and mix the melted fat with seeds such as sunflower or oil seed, then cool in a mold such as a plastic butter tub or yogurt container. You can add a small loop of twine before it cools completely, making a built-in hanger, or put your molded suet into a mesh bag such as you get with onions or small cheeses. Experts recommend you only offer suet in the coldest weather, however, as it can spoil in warm weather and give birds food poisoning.

New birdwatchers often worry that birds will become dependant on the seeds provided by people. If you begin putting out seeds, it is polite to continue doing so, however you needn't worry they will starve. If you do decide to feed seeds from a feeder, choose a safe location-near shrubbery or preferably an evergreen that birds can perch and hide in. To protect against roaming cats that disrupt wild bird populations, hanging feeders are your best option. Keep bird feeders clean, removing wet, clumpy seed or moldy food before refilling [Vermont Institute of Natural Science].

For folks who dislike the pressure of keeping the feeders stocked, there is hope. It will take advance planning, but several plants furnish food for native birds in the fall and winter. Sunflowers and their relatives, coneflower and cosmos are a few that produce seeds. Shrubs such as Washington hawthorn, holly and viburnum offer berries [Birdwatching.com].

Don't forget to provide water, right through the winter. Break ice in water dishes every morning, or use a heater to keep the water ice-free.

With a little planning, you can enjoy the sight of your feathered friends in your yard year-round.