Feeding Wild Birds- A Fun, Family Activity

Submitted by Steve McDonald, CCE Association Issue Leader

Are you looking for a fun, family activity to help time pass during the cold winter months? Consider winter feeding of wild birds. This ageless project is a favorite of many 4-H families and wildlife activists alike.

Many people in the area are surprised to learn what a huge difference you can make by feeding wild birds right outside your own door or window.  A large-scale winter storm, with deep snow or ice cover, cuts off many birds from their natural food supplies and can actually cause them to starve by the thousands and even millions. Backyard bird feeding can make a real contribution to their survival and even thriving during the winter months.  

Before committing to the winter feeding of birds, here are some things you should consider. Be consistent and continue feeding throughout the entire winter. Birds grow accustomed to your feeders especially in severe weather when the snacks you offer may mean their very survival.  If you leave home for an extended period, try to have a neighbor or friend keep the feeders going. Provide multiple feeders with continuous nutritious seed foods. For most birds, theses often include seed mixes of black oil sunflower seed, hulled peanuts, and white millet seed. Mixed seed bags can be purchased at local lawn and garden stores as well as farm stores. In the coldest months birds need to burn more calories just to stay warm. During frigid conditions it is a good idea to offer food with a higher fatty content. Suet is considered a high-energy food because it consists of fat that has 9 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for carbohydrates or protein. Peanut Butter is also popular with our flying friends who need to stock up on calories, especially for those long, cold winter nights but is more expensive than suet. Also remember to water your birds; birds can become dehydrated in winter even if surrounded by ice and snow.  Putting out a pan of water near the feeder on warmer days is a terrific idea.

Feeder location is also an important consideration. It is recommended the several feeders be used to provide ample food to a variety of species. Place bird feeders in locations that do not offer hiding places for predators. Placing the feeders ten to twelve feet from shrubs or brush piles is generally a good idea as this allows the birds some time to react in the event of an attack yet provide coverage when needed. Ideally, winter birdfeeders should be placed in sheltered locations out of the most severe winds. Placing feeders closer to the house will be effective and will help keep the birds visible for indoor bird watching. To minimize window collisions, place feeders closer than 3 feet (or even affixed to the glass or window frame), or farther than 30 feet from a window.

Finally remember to clean feeders on a regular basis. Your feeders can get grimy. Natural food sources are scarcer in the winter, more birds may be attracted to backyard feeders and those feeders will need to be cleaned with some hot water few times during the season.

This project is great way for the whole family to learn more about science, zoology and more specifically ornithology (the study of birds). Keep a wild bird identification handbook handy and identify flying visitors as a family or visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search for an amazing virtual look inside most North American bird species.