Feeding Birds in Winter
Educational, Entertaining, and Environmentally Sound
Enjoy a window into the secret lives of birds by putting up a feeder. Learn how to attract birds, keep them safe, and contribute to scientific knowledge about birds.
Even in cold climates, a surprising number of birds winter over and will gratefully visit backyard feeders. Seed eaters such as finches, sparrows, and cardinals will flock to feeders, but so will many insectivores like chickadees and flickers, since insects aren't very active in the winter.
What to Feed
The Audubon Society recommends black oil seed as the best all around food to attract birds. Black oil seed comes from sunflowers, but unlike stripped sunflower seed, it is smaller and easier for birds to open. In general, grocery store seed mixes are not a good value for the money. They usually contain a high amount of milo, a small pinkish seed that songbirds generally do not like. Birds will flip aside milo in search of more desirable seeds.
Suet, hard white fat from the kidneys and loins of cattle and sheep, is a low-cost way to attract insect eaters like wrens, titmice, and woodpeckers. Many supermarket meat counters sell unprocessed suet for a nominal amount. Nature shops specializing in bird feeding supplies often carry more expensive, but conveniently shaped, suet cakes. These cakes often have additives that are very attractive to birds, such as seeds or cornmeal.
Do Feeders Make Birds Dependent?
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology states in their FeederWatch information that bird feeders are very unlikely to create dependency. Birds have evolved as wide-ranging foragers. They visit several food sources during the course of a typical day, and a feeder is likely to be only one of many stops on their daily route. However, the Lab does suggest maintaining feeders, if at all possible, during the coldest weather, particularly if the ground is frozen or snow covered.
Reduce Window Strikes
Putting up a feeder often brings birds closer to the house, increasing the likelihood that a bird will fly into a window. According the National Audubon Society, recent studies have shown that windows are the number one cause of bird mortality. Dr. Daniel Kelm, ornithologist at Mulhenberg University in Allentown, Pennsylvania, told NPR's John Nielson (All Things Considered, Jan. 3, 2006) that at least a billion birds die in the US every year due to hitting windows. Kelm says placing feeders close to windows-three feet or less-actually helps reduce the number of birds that will hit the window. The Audubon Society also suggests putting patterns of decals on windows, or stretching fruit-tree netting a few inches in front of the glass to protect birds.
Limit the Spread of Disease
There are several communicable diseases that can be spread wherever birds congregate. These including house finch eye disease, avian pox, and Salmonellosis. If a sick bird appears at a feeder, the feeder should be taken down, emptied and cleaned by dipping it into a bucket containing a mix of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts of warm water. If several sick birds are observed at a feeder, the feeder should be taken down for a couple weeks until the birds disperse.
Become a Backyard Ornithologist
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology collects data from backyard bird watchers in Canada and the United States through their FeederWatch program. Throughout the winter participants count birds and report their observations to the Labs. People of all skill levels and ages are invited to participate. The information gathered gives scientists a broad picture of bird populations, their health and movements. More information is available at the Cornell Lab's web site.
For the cost of a feeder, a sack of seed, and a field guide, anyone can enjoy the ever changing, and constantly entertaining activity of a backyard feeder while helping the birds get through the winter.
