Taking care of Backyard Birds in the Winter

We had a nice holiday in the mountains of NC this past week.  There was a dusting of snow and the weather stayed cool in the 20's and 40's.   We were watching some birds using our bluebird house and I  decided to read a bit about how to attract and support  backyard birds during the winter months and here is what I found.  


Birds require food, water and shelter just as we do.  The best way to attract them in the winter months is to provide water through a birdbath, provide some favorite foods with a feeder and place a birdhouse out to take care of the cavity nesters.   

Food

A couple of our neighbors use meal-worms to feed the backyard birds and routinely have birds flying in for close viewing.  Common foods include: 

Homemade treats can be as simple as placing peanut butter on bark and adding some nuts or dried fruit.

-Fruit

-Meal-worms

-Sunflower

-Mixed seed

Water

Wild birds need access to clean water all year round, but when winter temperatures dip into the freezing range, this may be harder to find. Water can be provided with a simple fiber stone bird bath, metal or a beautiful glass bird bath.  The water should be kept shallow for the birds to be able to use.  Placing sticks over the feeder in the winter, will allow the birds to drink without getting feathers wet.   Wet feathers can freeze and cause additional problems for the bird.

Shelter

-Dense shrubs provide temporary shelter from the wind and rain for birds to stay warm and dry.

-Porches and overhangs can give birds shelter from storms, especially if there are no trees in your yard. 

-Hanging a basket on your porch can provide warm shelter for Carolina Wrens and other small birds.

-Some of the songbirds that nest in tree cavities or birdhouses in spring—will also use roost boxes to stay warm. Among them: bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, screech owls and some woodpeckers.  Leaving your spring birdhouse up can serve as a winter shelter.