Seasonal Narrative by Denice

WINTER

So the cold weather has finally arrived; we can just add a layer of clothes, a sweater, or turn up the heat (not by much at these prices). But for our feathered friends it is not that easy.  Cold is not the real problem the birds face in the winter months; they are able to fluff up their feathers and trap their body heat. It is finding the food that builds the fat that they need to “burn” for energy that creates the biggest problems for them.  This of coarse is where we come in!  Your feeder, particularly in extreme cold, may make the difference for many of our friends when ice and snows cover many of the natural food sources.

So here are some tips and pointers to keep in mind for your feeding stations.

Add a few extra feeders, you will be surprised at how many birds will find them during the tough times.  Be sure to keep the feeders well stocked, particularly with high-energy foods like suet, and black oil sunflower seeds.  Move your feeders closer to the house or consider window feeders. The more convenient it is for you to fill them the more apt you are to do it, especially on the worst of days. 

You may notice an uptake in the activities right before a storm as the birds strive to put on a little extra fat to help with the increased demand for energy.  As for weathering storms, do not take those birds houses down!  Clean them out and maybe add a small layer of grasses; they are a port in the storm for many a bird. Consider putting up roosting boxes and roosting “pockets.” 

Another important item is water, especially when natural sources are now frozen.  Many birds will eat snow in order to get their water; this in turn lowers the body temperature making it more difficult for them to stay warm. Consider adding a heater to your birdbath, or there are many that come with their own heating source built in.  If a heated birdbath is not in the budget, try putting out small bowls of warm water at the same time every day…you may find someone waiting for you after a while.  Remember that  you don’t want the water to be too deep & change the water and clean the bath often.

Speaking of cleaning, don’t forget the feeders.  Shake and tap loose any empty hulls, wet or compacted seed from the feeders every time you fill them  Also, they need to be cleaned, (1 part bleach 10 parts water).  On nicer days, rake up any empty hulls from around your feeder station.  All of these things help to prevent the spread of disease.

When bad weather is expected use covered feeders or feeders that are more protected to help keep the seed dry.   At the same time, don’t forget the ground feeding birds; be sure to throw seed on the ground or invest in a ground feeder.

Don’t throw away that Christmas tree!  If possible, put it in a corner of the yard till spring; the birds will use it for shelter.  On those snowy winter days when the kids are bored there are many treats you can have them make for the birds.  One is to spread peanut butter on pine cones or stale bagels.  Spread thinly and then press the cones or bagel into a bowl of seed, or chopped nuts. Or they may want to string popcorn, cranberries, raisins, or diced apple pieces onto long pieces of yarn of string.  Then send them out to decorate that Christmas tree again.