Nothing brings more joy to a gardener than to attract all kinds of beautiful songbirds to their yard in the fall and winter. Everyone has the ability to attract and keep all kinds of colorful and interesting species of birds in their yards' during the colder months. The key however, is consistency.
Birds quickly become dependent on you for a source of food and water once you start putting it out. Water needs to be clean and consistently available. Doves and other species are not terribly careful about where they defecate and the water can become contaminated in one day. Tipping out the old and pouring enough new clean water to rinse out debris, then replenish with fresh clean water. Refill whenever the level gets low. Birds prefer a shallow water source, two inches deep or less. Using a heater to keep water from freezing during winter months is not recommended. Instead, change the water often or add tepid water to the frozen to thaw it out.
Now is the time to clean your feeders as birds can contract diseases from dirty feeders. An easy way to do this is to fill a large bucket with vinegar and warm water. Plunge the feeder into the bucket and leave it to soak. This will loosen dried on mold and seed hulls. After an hour or so scrub it with a brush. Vinegar and water will kill most bacteria. Rinse the feeders well with clean water and dry prior to refilling with seed. Cleaning feeders on a bright sunny day will speed drying time. Dry with a clean duster. Changing the location of feeders is also important, as the ground can become contaminated with mold and seed hulls, which can make birds sick. If you find it impossible to move your existing feeders, at least clean up the area underneath by removing seed hulls and debris with a rake. Mowing beneath your feeders or changing mulch could also be sufficient.
Hummingbirds usually leave our area around the second week of October. Keep your feeders full and free of mold until then. Keeping hummingbird feeders up later does not keep them here past their nature migration date. They know instinctively when to leave.
In order to attract a variety of birds, it is important to offer different foods at different locations (i.e. cardinals and doves prefer to feed from the ground.) Doves’ favorite food is millet, the small round seed found in inexpensive seed mixes. If you can only offer one type of food, black-hulled sunflower seeds attract the largest number of birds.
Offer different types of feeders if possible. Tree clinging birds, like woodpeckers and nuthatches need special feeders because of their feet. They prefer a wire mesh on which to cling and love shelled peanuts. Titmice and chickadees would also be attracted to a peanut feeder. Several inexpensive feeders are available on the market that attach easily to your window for viewing. Make sure that you keep the feeder full. Birds will notice a new feeder and survey it carefully prior to using it. Be patient. If a feeder has been offered in a new location and there has been no activity in two weeks, perhaps the birds feel vulnerable and need some cover to dart into from predators.
Hawks will watch for easy prey at bird feeders. They are opportunist. Consequently, feeders should be located near shrubs where the birds can flee quickly when they feel threatened. Piles of twigs and branches left on the ground near feeders also offer shelter for birds from predators.
Suet is a great source of energy for insect eating birds during the winter months. There are many types available at reasonable prices in supermarkets and birding shops. Woodpeckers are especially fond of suet and will come from miles around to dine a your backyard table.
Bread is not a good food source for birds as we once thought. It offers bulk without enough fat to keep birds fueled. In winter you can offer bread only if it is fried in bacon fat and cooled prior to serving.
