How to Attract Winter Birds

When everything gets gray and barren outside with the deep chill of winter, it is especially thrilling to see little birds jumping about looking for food. If you are seeing them, it is usually because there is a food source nearby. As winter goes on, natural food sources dwindle and it is easier to keep the cheerful birds around your yard by keeping a constant supply of food for them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Put out seeds and water. Buy individual seeds as opposed to mixed seed mixes. It seems like there is a bunch of seed that the birds inevitably don't care for and it becomes fertilizer.
   
   The black sunflower seed is always a favorite of many birds, namely the cardinals, woodpeckers, blue jays, goldfinches, purple finches, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches to name a few! Safflower seed is unpleasant to squirrels but enjoyed by cardinals, titmice, chickadees, and downy woodpeckers. There are many other seeds you can check out, depending on the kinds of birds in your area.
2. Consider the method of feeding. Many birds prefer eating their seeds right off the ground so just a daily sprinkling makes them happy. Others like their a little off the ground like on a stump or other flat surface, while even more like the bird feeders raised well off the ground. The varieties seem to be infinite so you can chose dependent on your preferences!
3. Water is an important consideration for little bird when everything gets frozen. If you don't have open water like a stream or pond nearby, consider keeping a water source filled for your winter visitors.
4. Habitat is the final consideration in attracting the winter birds to your yard. Evergreens are a natural shelter from snow and ice and also the curious cat! Dried brush piles are favorites of little birds to forage under in the dried leaves.