Feeding the Backyard Birds in Winter

The plants are still dormant for winter, so we have been watching the birds in the yard and reading about plants that attract birds and can support the birds during the winter months. 

 

Creating a bird-friendly yard is simply a matter of providing the basics of food, shelter and water.    There are several plants that can help provide the comforts of food to our feathered friends.  A yard and garden filled with a mixture of flowers, seeds, berries, and nuts will attract a variety of birds.  Try feeding naturally and avoid the general purpose seed mixtures typically found in grocery stores that can attract the nuisance birds such as blackbirds and starlings.

-Goldfinches and chickadees – daisies, sunflowers and black-eyed susans are good choices.

-Finches, sparrows and nuthatches – marigolds, phlox, salvia.  Sparrows are non-native birds and can be harmful to the bluebirds and other native birds, so if you are a blue bird lover, you will want to deter the sparrows.  




Audubon, NC - Will Stewart

-Audubon North Carolina has designated the brown-headed nuthatch a Species of Concern in the Piedmont and has implemented a nest box program to help them. Visit NC Audubon for more information.

 

-Bluebirds In the wild, bluebirds feed on small insects and fruit, so they are not often seen in traditional feeders that offer seed.  Adding fruit and berries to your landscape will help to attract these birds. 

Bluebird in Winter

-Hummingbirds – nectar from bee balm, geraniums and hibiscus.  We have a large hibiscus outside the breakfast table window and the hummingbirds are constantly feeding and fighting on the blooms in late summer.