Fall Feeding Our Feathered Friends

Bird feeding, a treasured pastime, is enjoyed by many through every season. If you are new to feeding, here are a few tips to attract a wide variety of both local species and migrating birds to your fall landscape.
Let’s start with some basic bird needs – food, shelter, and water.

Food:

Plant for the birds – consider adding landscape plants to your property that provide fruits, nuts, and berries in fall and winter. Viburnum, holly, oak, crabapple, and Amelanchier are all good sources of natural food. Keep in mind, natural sources of food from landscape plants can be quickly depleted by visiting birds.

Buy for the birds – A feeding program that includes birdseed provides a trusted and reliable source of needed food. Suet cakes, sunflower and safflower seeds, peanuts, nyjer (aka thistle), and bagged feed are solid choices for a variety of birds including finches, cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, and more.

Good advice:

• Keep feeders filled, especially when natural resources are scarce or no longer available! Empty bird feeders, on a consistent basis, will reduce the number of birds that enjoy your property.
• Always buy quality seed that is free of fillers.
• Use different types of feeders – tube, platform, sock, suet, nectar – to attract a variety of local and migrating birds.
• Keep feeders clean and in good repair.
• Outsmart annoying squirrels that rob birds of food – use a squirrel-proof feeder.

Shelter:

Consider your landscape plantings for starters. Ornamental grasses offer shelter during the wintery months so hold off on cutting back last years’ growth until late winter/early spring – just before their new growth appears. Evergreen trees and shrubs, such as holly, yew, spruce, and juniper give shelter, security, nesting, and perches for birds throughout the year, especially during cold winter weather. Birdhouses provide a safe retreat for birds from predators and the elements. Add several to your property and enjoy the show.

Water:

Clean, fresh water is an essential part of a bird’s year ‘round diet. And needed for their daily bath! Make it a practice to keep birdbaths clean and filled with water 365 days a year. When freezing temperatures arrive, add a heater to the bath.

Need help?

At Heritage Farm and Garden, we offer a full line of feeders, food, houses, and more for our feathered friends. Our friendly staff can help you with all birding needs and questions.