Winter Bird Care

Seeing birds on a winter’s day is always uplifting. Their pops of color and animation as they search for food, reminds us that although this season is slower, there is still plenty happening in our natural world! Winter is especially a season of survival for wildlife, which begs the question: how can we safely support our birds through the cold months? 

Winter care for our beloved birds truly begins when we select what we are planting. As mentioned in our  A Guide To Planting For Our Feathered Friends article, planting for insects, particularly caterpillars, is crucial. Planting keystone species such as Oaks (Quercus spp) and Willows (Salix spp) will provide host plants for caterpillars that adult birds will feed their young. The nutrients consumed during the spring and summer will matter even more come winter when insects are not present. 

After we’ve set the hatchlings up for success, planting species such as Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Chokeberries (Aronia spp), Sumac (Rhus spp) will not only provide birds with habitat, but will also supply berries as a food source throughout the winter. Perennials such as Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium), and Goldenrods (Solidago spp) are beautiful choices throughout the growing season with their flowers, into the winter providing aesthetic texture for us, and seeds as a food source for the birds. All the above species mentioned also double as pollinator hotspots during the growing season!

Hydrate!

Let’s say you have planted native perennials, shrubs, and trees to help support your local birds throughout the seasons. Hero! In the fall you were mindful to leave the leaves AND you skipped the perennial clean up leaving the seeds of your Solidagos, Eryngium, and Echinacea as an offering to the birds. *Crying* SO. Proud! You have your feeders out with high fat foods during the winter to supplement. *Applause*  Things are looking good, but you may be missing a crucial element on the checklist during these cold days: water!

It’s easy to overlook but birds need access to water in the winter! Yes, in the worst case scenario they can ingest snow, but melting the snow inside their bodies costs them precious energy. 

Here are two ways you can further help our feathered friends out:

1). Heated Birdbaths

 If you have access to electricity outside, heated bird baths can be a great option! Just be sure that you are placing stones, sticks, or other nonmetallic options within the heated bath to help keep the birds from fully submerging themselves. 

2). Bowls of Warm Water 

A heated birdbath out of the question? You can still offer birds a drink by placing warm water in heavy duty bowls or saucers made of a material that won’t crack from the ice. Try to place these out at the same time and in the same spot everyday, ideally in the sun! Remember, the same rule of the heated bird baths applies here: the idea is to provide water for drinking and not bathing. Keep the water shallow, and if not then provide stones or sticks to encourage perching.

Let’s safely help our wildlife through winter as best we can! For more information on providing winter hydration for birds check out these two fantastic articles:

Should You Provide Water for Birds in Winter?

Don’t Forget Water for Birds in the Winter! – The National Wildlife Federation Blog