5 Ways to Safeguard Birds in Winter

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.wingscapes.com/blog/5-ways-to-safeguard-birds-in-winter/?utm_source=manual&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=January2015_newsletter&utm_content=blog-read-more

5 Ways to Safeguard Birds in Winter
January 1, 2015

5 Ways to Safeguard Birds in Winter

If you’ve been outside during a snowstorm for even a few minutes, you begin to wonder how any creature—much less a tiny bird—could survive the frigid temperatures. Luckily, they have a few tactics plus a heavy coat of feathers to help them withstand the cold. But these evolutionary adaptions don’t guarantee birds will make it through freezing months. Give your backyard birds a better chance at survival with Wingscapes’ 5 tips for safeguarding birds this winter.

1. Provide seed

Birds naturally fill up on feed during the winter months. But research shows that birds with access to bird feeders in winter survive at a higher rate than birds without access to feeders. One way to make sure seed is always available to hungry birds is with an Autofeeder. Able to hold up to a gallon’s worth of seed, this programmable bird feeder stays full for longer than regular models. Also, be sure to scatter seed in thickets, brambles, and other sheltered areas where certain birds prefer to forage.

2. Offer high-fat foods

High-fat foods give birds a needed energy boost during cold weather months. Peanut butter, meat scraps, and suet (the fat removed from processed beef) all provide nutrients that help birds survive. Create a suet feeder by dipping a pine cone into liquefied suet. Or smear peanut butter into the hole of a small log and hang it from a tree. Although this high-fat diet seems unhealthy to us, it’s actually good for birds. And it’s a treat both insect-eating and seed-eating birds can enjoy.




FULL story at link.

[cyberswede]

1. K&R

I love our feathered friends! I have 3 feeders and 4 suet holders. The windbreak mentioned in the article is a great idea!

[kiri]

10. try to help native birds

We need to favor native birds--many populations of which are declining. Imported birds, like English sparrows--hurt bluebirds. Starlings, grackels do much harm to native birds, like woodpeckers. Discrimination here is good.

[shenmue]

2. Squee!

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. double squee

[Nay]

3. Ooo! Ooo! We do all this and we have TONS of healthy, happy birds, some

who are growing-up hatchlings from last year. It gives us great pleasure to see successive waves of baby bluebirds, chickadees, Carolina wrens, cardinals, titmice, etc., from one year to another. The heated birdbath is such a big hit that we are sorry we haven't had one all along. Birds love it in the winter, both for drinking and bathing.

[ErikJ]

4. Sounds like bird-heaven.

Thanks 4 helping our feathered friends.

[Kingofalldems]

5. How about peanuts?

[Omaha Steve]

11. Woodpeckers and several others love peanuts

Try providing shelled and in the shell (unsalted).

We go through over 10 lbs a week in peanuts.

[wheniwasincongress]

6. If I provide

a ceramic dish or bowl (heavy enough to not blow over) and put peanut butter in it and set the dish on our bird feeder, will the birds eat out of it?

[Omaha Steve]

7. Yes but a regular PB feeder might work a little better, but yours would be easy to clean

If birds show up and eat it out of the bowl.... SUCCESS!

Not all birds though. Some species ignore peanut butter, and some can't get enough. Bird prepared peanut butter can save some mess. There is also a peanut butter based suet available.

Goggle peanut butter recipe for several choices.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1180

Peanut Butter

In winter, especially in cold climates, peanut butter is a nutritious food to offer birds. Peanut butter sold in grocery stores is certified safe for human consumption, and is safe to offer birds when cold or cool temperatures keep it fairly hard. In warmer weather it must not be kept outside long enough to become rancid or soft.

There is some concern that soft peanut butter can stick to birds’ mouths. To make it grittier, cornmeal can be added, but because both corn and peanuts provide excellent media for bacterial and fungal growth, make sure peanut butter feeders are cleaned out frequently. Peanut oils can separate in both pure peanut butter and in mixtures. If these oils adhere to a nesting bird’s feathers, they can be transferred to eggs, plugging the pores, so never provide peanut butter mixtures that become soft or oily.

Do not use "dough no melt suet" in the winter, it freezes up solid. Great for the heat of summer though.

[calimary]

8. NICE! Sure love that family photo!

We have lots of birdies outside! I leave a cupful of black oil sunflower seeds outside on one of the flagstones, and they go for it like crazy! A squirrel or two, too!

Sometimes when I go outside in the morning, I see a bunch of them perched on the power wires along our street, waiting for me. (Or so it seems.) So cool!