Landworks Landscaping Company knows that even though it’s winter and the cold weather has set in, it is easier to attract birds in winter than you might first think! At the top of the list is making sure that you have foods handy that birds love, and also places for them to take shelter to achieve the ultimate bird watching during the shorter days.
Feeders will be most useful if they have a wide cover over feeding ports, perches and dispensing trays so seed is not buried during snowfalls or storms. Fly-through platform feeders are especially good designs for winter bird feeding. The cover should extend several inches over the edge of the feeder to ensure protection from all but the most serious storms. If a favorite feeder doesn’t have a built-in cover, wide baffles can be added to keep snow and ice away.
Ideally, winter bird feeders should be placed in sheltered locations out of the most severe winds. Landworks Landscaping Company recommends placing feeders closer to the house will be effective and will help keep the birds visible for indoor bird watching. At the same time, feeders should be placed near protective cover such as hedges or a brush pile to offer birds safety from predators. To minimize window collisions, place feeders no less than five feet away from a wall or window and use window clings or other techniques to help birds avoid the glass.
Most birds that
visit backyards in snowy weather thrive on seeds since insects and fruit are harder to find naturally during the winter. The best foods to offer birds in colder weather in the Kansas City area have a high fat or oil content that will provide abundant energy for winter survival. Nutritious winter foods for birds include:
· Sunflower seeds, all types: Cardinal, evening grosbeak and most finch species
· White proso millet: Rufous-sided towhee
· Mix of white and red proso millet, canary seed, fine cracked corn: Dark-eyed junco
· Mix of white and red proso millet: Many sparrow species and dark-eye junco
· Mix of peanut kernels, sunflower seeds of all types: Bluejay
· Mix of peanut kernels, oil (black) and black-striped sunflower seeds: Chickadee and tufted titmouse
· Mix of oil (black) and black-striped sunflower seeds: Red-breasted nuthatch
· Mix of hulled and black-striped sunflower seeds: Brown thrasher
· Mix of white and red proso millet, German (golden) millet: Red-winged blackbird
· Oil (black) sunflower seeds, white and red proso, German (golden) millet: Mourning dove
It is possible for birds to melt snow to give themselves something to drink, but this causes the birds to use a lot of energy. The
National Wildlife Federation tells us to remember that water is as important for birds in the cold months as it is in summer. Water is at its scarcest during the winter months, so Landworks Landscaping Company recommends that you make sure that you have a source of clean water nearby for backyard birds and keep it filled. There are
heated bird baths for sale, or you can use a
de-icer in your existing one. Keep the bird bath fresh and clean so that you don’t spread disease and be sure to keep it full so that the heater does not malfunction.
For information about
Landworks Landscaping Company, lawn care services and more services provided, call (913) 422-9300. To request a quote,
click here.
