Helping Wild Birds Through Winter
Help Native Birds When the Temperature Drops
In freezing conditions, wild birds could use a hand finding fresh water and food, and with a little ingenuity and some planning, you won't even need to buy a feeder.
If you're a bird lover, one of the best things that you can do to help wild birds through a difficult winter is to provide a source of fresh water in freezing conditions. When temperatures plummet, it can be difficult for wild birds to find a source of water. If you keep a plastic sheet in your birdbath to help you remove frozen water and replace it regularly with fresh, the birds will find it.
The presence of birds in a winter landscape can be a refreshing precursor of spring, and you can help insure that they see spring by giving them a safe water source in tough times. If the idea of going out in punishing weather to change the water in your birdbath doesn't appeal to you, there are birdbath heaters available that will keep your birdbath water from freezing.
Birdbath Heaters
Birdbath heaters require very little energy, but the water they keep warm for the birds in your neighborhood can make a big difference. Birds that might otherwise be drinking water contaminated with antifreeze and other chemicals will find a safe haven. Your efforts will be rewarded by an abundance of birds in your yard this winter, as well as increases in your bird populations in the spring.
Winter Friendly Plants Birds Love
There are other measures you can take to give birds a break without investing in bird feeders or the inconvenience of keeping them stocked. The winter berry of the Washington hawthorne is a favorite and will attract and provide a meal for birds throughout the winter. Leaving the seed heads of plants in place in your flowerbeds will attract many grateful birds, too. Last season's sunflowers and purple coneflowers can provide a feast for hungry birds at no expense to you, as will bee balm, goldenrod, cosmos, asters, and tickweed.
Shrubs for Winter Seed and Fruit
Birds are also attracted to flowering and fruiting shrubs. Many shrubs retain their fruits into the fall and winter, making them a great spot for a quick snack. When laying out your garden landscape, include these bird friendly shrubs: common juniper, Japanese yew, and firethorn.
Trees That Provide Winter Protection for Birds
Make your garden winter friendly to birds by providing them with trees for shelter and protection. Evergreens like the Douglas fir and Austrian pine will be a welcome berth when there's a cold wind blowing, and birds also like the protection afforded by chestnut, oak, and black walnut trees.
Make your garden a haven for birds all year round. It's a great way to interest your children in nature and the environment. To learn more about birds in your garden, birdwatching.com is one of many excellent resources for information and recommendations, and books on birds common to your area are usually available at your local bookstore.
