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Preparing for Winter Bird Feeding

November 18, 2023

Blog

Gardening & Plants

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Winter is one of the most crucial times of year to feed wild birds! The harsh weather makes food and water sources hard to come by. Here are a few tips to prepare for winter feeding of your backyard friends. Black and White Female Downy Woodpecker eating suet from cage High Fat Foods Nuts, suet, and high oil seeds are all great options that provide the extra energy they need this time of year.
High Oil Seeds Black Oil Sunflower and Nyjer are both seeds with high oil content to give birds the healthy fats they need.
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) eating sunflower seeds from feeder Mixed Seed Blends Mixed seed blends will attract a greater variety of bird to your yard, while providing balanced nutrition options as well. Avoid bird seed with Milo as the birds will often pick around it, wasting your money and their energy.
Fruit Whether it’s putting out fresh oranges, or a seed blend that contains fruit, like Nature’s Nuts Fruit & Berry Blend or Nut & Berry Blend, fruit is always a much-welcomed treat.
Oregon Junco perched on a feeder rail during a snow storm in a garden Cracked Corn Cracked corn is the most cost-effective grain is another food source that will give them the carbs they need for extra endurance over the winter months.
Heated Bird Baths During late fall and winter, non-frozen water sources can be extremely difficult to find. Keep them hydrated all year-round by using a heated bird bath. Keep Your Feeder Full You may find yourself refilling more often over the winter, birds come to rely on this supplemental feeding, so do your best to refill your feeders once a day. If feeders are difficult to reach due to snow fall, even a bowl with bird food on your porch is helpful.
American Gold Finch hanging onto an ice covered mesh feeder after freezing rain Clear Off Snow & Ice If there is snow and ice blocking the feeders, birds cannot get the food they need out of them. Be sure to clear off snow and ice after storms. Start In the Fall If you haven’t already started feeding birds regularly, putting out a feeder in September and October is a great way for birds to learn you are a reliable source to come to once winter hits.

Author

Chuckanut & Nature's Nuts

My Wilco Life Blog Contributor

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Backyard Birds

Fall

Wildlife

Winter

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Limited to stock on hand. Some items may vary from photos. Because of store size limitations or geography, some items featured may not be available in all stores but will be made available by special order during sale periods at advertised prices. All sale prices listed as “dollars off” or “% off” are discounted from our regular posted shelf price, not from discounts given with specialty, bulk or pallet pricing. Reseller and Drop-shippers must contact us for pre-approval to place orders with the intent to re-distribute.