Housing Market Is Tough for Birds This Winter!!

Backyard birds not only need a place to live, they also need a place that provides food, water and a safe haven from predators.

When the temperature drops and the winter winds whistle, many folks move south to live in milder weather. Many birds migrate south also, taking advantage of warmer temperatures and southern cuisine with more abundant insects and seeds. However, you have many year-round residents who are joined by other birds that migrate only as far as your backyard so it is important to create a habitat that is enticing.

Look around your yard. Is there a pile of brush for birds and animals to hide from predators? Small birds are looking for shelter from hawks and other predators. Have you left dead trees standing so woodpeckers can find food and build nest cavities? Are there plants and trees with fruits and berries? The search for food starts at dawn and continues till dusk. If a bird is able to eat enough, it will store enough energy to survive a cold winter’s night. It then starts all over for another day.

Banquets for your winter birds must be served in appropriate feeders and not just thrown on the ground where it can be contaminated by dampness, mold and pesticides. What’s the best feeder location? Pick a location that has easy access for you so the feeders can be refilled in cold weather. Select a place where discarded seed shells and bird droppings won’t be a cleanup problem. Place your feeders out of reach of the neighborhood cats. The most effective way to attract a large variety of birds to your yard is to put out separate feeders for each of your banquets for the birds.

Don’t forget that even in winter, birds need water. Sometimes the birds suffer more for lack of water than food. A birdbath with fresh unfrozen water will prove attractive to many of your winter visitors.