| Winter weather will soon be here in many parts | | | | the winter. |
| of the country, yet many of us enjoy our wild | | | | Provide a source of water. Wild birds need water, |
| birds year-round. Should you continue feeding | | | | even in winter. Obviously, freezing is an issue, so |
| them in winter? What should you feed them, and | | | | a heater is a necessity. Also, birds like moving |
| how should you go about it? | | | | water, and water jigglers are available as well. |
| The "conventional wisdom" has always been that | | | | Locate your bird bath where you can see it so |
| you should feed wild birds in winter because their | | | | you can enjoy watching the birds frolic in the |
| normal source of food – small seeds and | | | | water. |
| insects – has dramatically diminished. But is | | | | Selecting a Feeder. There is a huge variety of |
| the conventional wisdom correct? By attracting | | | | feeders on the market, but some are better than |
| birds to our feeders, are we making them too | | | | others. Steel, aluminum, plastic or glass feeders |
| dependent on a free source of food, and | | | | have an advantage over wood because they are |
| weakening their ability to find food on their own? | | | | easier to keep clean and will probably last longer. |
| Do we actually put birds at greater risk because | | | | Look for feeders with metal components and |
| of cats and flying into windows? | | | | feeding ports, as they will last longer than plastic. |
| These are not easy questions to answer because | | | | The feeder should keep the food dry in wet |
| there has been little research into the subject. | | | | weather. Feeders are available with domes or |
| However a three-year study of chickadees by | | | | roofs that will help keep the food dry. If the |
| the University of Wisconsin found that winter | | | | feeder is a platform style (as opposed to a tube |
| survival rates were highest among chickadee | | | | style) make sure there are drain holes in the |
| populations that were fed – but only during | | | | bottom. |
| the harshest winters. During more moderate | | | | Squirrels and Raccoons are a constant problem, |
| winters (and lower latitudes) there were no | | | | as they will empty a feeder, denying your wild |
| significant differences in survival rates and spring | | | | birds their food. They will destroy a wood or |
| hatching rates between chickadees that were fed | | | | plastic feeder by chewing though it, so the |
| and those that foraged for themselves. | | | | additional cost of a well-made feeder is money |
| What if the feeders are removed? Can | | | | well spent. Some squirrel-proof feeders are quite |
| chickadees "remember" how to find food on their | | | | effective, but proper installation is the real key to |
| own? In a similar study, feeders were suddenly | | | | keeping moochers off your feeders. |
| removed after conditioning the birds to feeders | | | | Maintaining your feeder. The most important part |
| for many years. The birds immediately resumed | | | | of maintaining your feeder is ensuring that the |
| feeding on their own. Again, survival rates were | | | | food is fresh and clean. A huge feeder with a "ten |
| the same as for chickadees that were not used | | | | pound capacity" is not necessary or even |
| to feeders. While more research needs to be | | | | desirable because it is likely the food will spoil |
| done, these studies indicate that feeding | | | | before it is eaten. Some very good tube feeders |
| chickadees – and presumably, other wild | | | | will hold a lot of food, but the purpose of the long |
| birds – does not result in feeder | | | | tube is to prevent squirrels from hanging from |
| dependency. | | | | the top, not for huge food capacity. |
| Some argue that feeders put birds at risk | | | | After a rain or period of damp weather, inspect |
| because of the presumed greater risk of | | | | your feeders and discard any food that has |
| predation. However, birds that eat from feeders | | | | gotten wet. Wet food will coagulate in the feeder, |
| eat more in less time than if they forage in the | | | | blocking food from naturally dropping to the |
| wild, giving them more time to watch for | | | | feeding ports. Also, wet food is a breeding ground |
| predators. You can minimize the risk to birds at | | | | for algae and mold that will discourage birds from |
| your feeder by placing feeders where they are | | | | eating and may make them sick. |
| inaccessible by cats, and by adding tape or decals | | | | Set up more than one feeder with different |
| to your windows so birds won't fly into them. | | | | types of food – perhaps sunflower seeds |
| That's the research. Now, if you do want to feed | | | | in one, and finch food in another. |
| wild birds this winter, here are some specific | | | | Your feeders should be installed to minimize the |
| things you can do to keep your wild birds well fed. | | | | chances of predation. The primary preditors are |
| Birdscape your yard. Both deciduous and | | | | cats, so the feeder must be installed so that cats |
| evergreen trees and shrubs provide seeds and | | | | cannot climb or jump to the feeding area. |
| shelter. In the spring, they provide nesting places. | | | | Bottom line – don't feel you are doing your |
| Ornamental grasses also provide food and shelter | | | | birds harm by feeding them during the winter. |
| for ground birds. Perennial flowers that have been | | | | Follow the above suggestions, and you can enjoy |
| allowed to go to seed can also provide food over | | | | your wild birds all winter long. |