Practice winter bird feeding at your home
This winter, your own back yard can provide some of nature’s best shows, especially if you practice winter bird feeding.
“Feeding birds in the winter is a great pastime,” said Patrick Snickles, information and education supervisor for the Southwest Region of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. ” A lot of people enjoy watching the birds and it’s beneficial in the winter because it’s a good supplemental food source when food is hard to find.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports on its website, “Backyard bird feeding is a convenient way to enjoy wildlife. According to a recent Census report, over 65 million Americans, young and old, have given it a try.”
Bird feeders provide one of the best places to find birds in the winter.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website reports about 35 different species can be found at bird feeders and that the southwestern and northeastern corners of the state host the greatest variety of birds through the winter.
Snickles said birds you are likely to see in your backyard include chickadees, junco, cardinals, blue jays and woodpeckers.
Penn State Extension lists on its website Pennsylvania’s top 10 birds most commonly seen at bird feeders, including dark-eyed junco, mourning dove, tufted titmouse, northern cardinal, blue jay, white-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker, house finch, American goldfinch and black-capped chickadee.
Snickles noted there are a variety of bird feeders as well as bird feed, which can be found in hardware and department stores.
He explained bird feed includes safflower and sunflower seeds, grains, cracked corn, thistle and suet, the latter combines animal fat with seeds.
“Woodpeckers love suet feeders,” said Snickles, adding that goldfinches enjoy thistle. “If you want to see a variety of birds you want a variety of food types. Cardinals and blue jays get bigger seeds while smaller birds will eat smaller seeds.”
Should you ever spread bird feed on the ground?
“I wouldn’t put it on the ground but there are some birds that like to eat on the ground. I would recommend a flat, elevated platform: a piece of plywood with four legs that you could put out,” said Snickles. “Some birds won’t go to a bird feeder but will pick up the feed that falls on the ground.”
The Penn State Extension website notes, “Consider providing a variety of feeder types to increase the diversity of visitors. The ideal feeder is sturdy and tight so that it stays put and does not allow water in. It is also easy to assemble and clean. The three main types of feeders are hopper or house feeders, tube feeders, and tray or platform feeders.
“A hopper feeder looks like a house with Plexiglas sides on top of a platform where the seed is dispensed as birds eat it. The Plexiglas makes it easy to tell when more seed needs to be added. The seed is protected against the weather but not so well against squirrels.
“Tube feeders are hollow Plexiglas cylinders with multiple feeding ports and perches. These hanging feeders attract species that typically feed off the ground, and perch size to some extent influences which species use them. Large birds need large perches, whereas small birds can feed on either large or small perches. You can attach a tray to the bottom to catch scattered seeds and to allow larger species to feed.
“Tray or platform feeders are simply flat, raised surfaces on which you spread seed. Easy to make, they are one of the most popular feeders. Birds that typically feed on the ground are particularly attracted to this type of feeder. A disadvantage of platform feeders is that they are not squirrel-proof or weather resistant. They should have drainage holes for water and need to be cleaned often to remove bird droppings. Only one day’s worth of food should be put out at a time.”
It’s also important where you place your feeder.
The extension suggests, “When selecting a site for establishing your feeding station, consider feeder placement from your point of view and that of the bird. Your feeders should be visible to you from inside your house while being safe and secure for the birds. With this in mind, place feeders near a favorite window and within 10 feet of protective cover, such as trees and shrubs. Most birds don’t like to venture far from cover that gives them protection from the elements, a safe retreat, and a place to perch while opening seeds or resting between feeder visits.”
The website also notes: “To minimize window crashes, place feeders within three feet of windows. Birds will slow down to land on the feeders and when they take off again, they will not have enough speed to hit the window with much impact. In addition, if the birds are feeding right next to the window, they may realize it is a barrier and not an opening.”
If you’re concerned about shelter for birds, Snickles provided a link for plans to build a winter roost that’s available on the Pennsylvania Game Commission website: https://www.pgc.pa.gov/InformationResources/Documents/plan5.pdf
“Not all birds will use these but it’s a bigger box with places for birds to sit,” explained Snickles. “It keeps the weather and the wind off them. It can make a major difference in keeping warm. Most birds roost in trees, bushes and shrubs.”
More information on winter bird feeding is also available on the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/winter-bird-feeding-the-basics.
And don’t forget the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, which is slated for Feb. 15-18, in which participants can count birds for as little as 15 minutes. More details are available at http://gbbc.birdcount.org/.
Snickles counts himself among the millions of people who enjoy watching birds.
“People love birds,” Snickles said, “and feeding birds is good to do in the winter.”