For many regions, winter feels like a time of dormancy. Trees are bare, mammals are hibernating, people are bed-rotting. While migratory birds do fly south for the winter, many seed- and insect-eating birds do not, and with leaves off the trees, the winter months are often the best time to watch them.
As someone who tests smart bird feeders year-round for WIRED, I’m always interested in ways to ensure I’m attracting the largest and most interesting variety of birds to my yard, no matter the season.
Further, if you received a smart bird feeder for Christmas and your neighborhood flocks haven’t discovered it yet, you may be looking for some ways to speed up the process. I talked to some ornithologists to learn how to boost the attractiveness of the average yard during these cold, windy, rainy, and sometimes icy months.
Mix Your Menu
Though there may be less diversity of bird species around your area due to some migratory birds having moved on (warblers and tanagers, for instance), many seed and insect eaters find enough locally to sustain them. In my West Coast region, this means chickadees, all kinds of sparrows, and even larger birds like flickers. Both ornithologists I spoke to recommended diversifying feed types in winter to appeal to the widest variety of birds.
“To attract the greatest species diversity to your feeders, offer various types of seeds in various styles of feeders,” says Noah Perlut, ornithologist and professor in the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of New England. “Some species prefer eating mealworms from platform feeders, while others prefer suet, and others feed from seed tubes.”
Suet (rendered animal fat, basically—often tallow) is indeed a staple in my own winter bird-feeding setup. It comes in a variety of styles, including balls or cakes. I like to use cakes mixed with hot pepper, which squirrels don’t like, set in an inexpensive cage feeder. I’ve found it attracts a range of insect-eating birds in my area, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, juncos, and chickadees.
I also like feeders that sport dual feed bays, especially if you aren’t able to site multiple feeders around your yard due to space or the inability to meet the 5-7-9 rule to deter squirrels. (That’s 5 feet off the ground; 7 feet from any structures like fences that could be jumped from; and 9 feet from anything overhanging, like branches.)
Maria Kincaid, head ornithologist at FeatherSnap—whose marquee Scout feeder happens to feature dual feed bays—suggests supplementing regular seed with black-oil sunflower seeds, unsalted peanuts, and mealworms. (Some smart bird feeders come with suet ball holders, while others have them available as an add-on.)
Kincaid also recommends specifically using a smart bird feeder in winter, so that you can note which types of food are the most popular. This can help you calibrate your feeding ratios to prevent waste.
Birdfy
Rookie Smart Bird Feeder
“Most songbirds that will visit our feeders in the winter have different diet requirements than they do in the spring,” Kincaid says. “High-fat and high-protein foods are especially important during the winter, as it takes more energy to keep warm in colder temperatures.”
Sharing Shelter
Sufficient cover—trees, bushes, shrubs, or even a brush pile—keeps birds feeling safe and happy year-round, but it’s especially important from December to March, when less foliage could cause them to feel more exposed or threatened.
“Winter is often the busiest time of the year at bird feeders,” Perlut says. “This increased activity is not necessarily reflective of food scarcity—instead, it is a time of year when songbirds focus on self-care instead of breeding activities.”
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