Winter weather means bird feeding time

The weather is starting to turn cold, skies are gray and we’re finding ourselves looking for a warm fire and a good meal. There’s nothing like settling down in front of the fireplace in a favorite recliner with a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate to take the edge off the weather.
While you’re sitting in that recliner by the fire, take a peek outside towards your back yard. Chances are, you’ll see a kaleidoscope of flitting color as songbirds scratch and hurry about looking for something to sustain them during this cold weather. Birds are adaptable little creatures. They can usually scratch out enough bugs and seeds to keep their little heaters going. However, when there is snow or ice on the ground, or when it’s extremely cold, grubbing out a meal can be quite a task.
If you do not regularly feed birds in winter, this would be a good time for you to consider starting it. All I have to do to know that this is a welcomed practice is to glance outside my office window to the feeders I keep filled. The colder it gets, the more birds flock to it and demonstrate just how thankful they are to be fed.
This time of year, I can count several species of birds that I can identify that help themselves to the black oil sunflower seed and bird seed mix I put out for them. The most obvious ones are those with the most color. Male Cardinals, in brilliant red plumage, for instance, are easiest to spot. Some years, the cardinals stay in the woods until late winter because of an abundance of wild food but in other years, they can be all over my feeders.
I asked someone once what species of birds they had visiting their feeders and the answer was not unexpected….”Lots of brown ones”, was the reply.
Most of the birds that visit my feeder are “brown” ones, but they are of several species. For example, I see several species of sparrows with the chipping sparrow being the most predominant. There are white-throated sparrows, and when the weather gets real cold, sometimes fox sparrows visit. Among the “brown” birds on my feeders now are birds that won’t be brown once springtime arrives. Goldfinches are rather drab in appearance this time of year but once they get ready to head for northern breeding grounds, their brilliant yellow color will catch your eye.
Another small dark colored bird around the feeder is one I knew as “snow bird” when I was a youngster. I know them today as juncos with black backs and bibs and white underparts.
I see chickadees, titmice, mourning doves and an occasional nuthatch. Red bellied woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers visit along with the ever-present and loud-mouthed blue jays.
One species of bird I’ll be looking for if we get snow is the rufous-sided towhee, a bird I’ve seen a lot of in winter but not in my yard. While sitting on deer stands near dense thickets, these shy black, white and chestnut-colored birds often flit in and out of the foliage.
Setting up feeding stations is an easy task. The most obvious method is to use commercial bird feeders. However, most types are not protected from the invasion of squirrels. I purchased a “squirrel proof” feeder that features a slender rod that goes in the ground but the kicker is a length of limber metal pipe sort of like a stove pipe. Squirrels can climb the rod but can’t handle the stove pipe to reach the bird seed.
I also have a feeder with a video camera that both birds and I love because they can feed in peace not knowing or caring that I have their close-up images to enjoy.
In return for taking care of the birds that visit your yard, you’ll be rewarded with flitting dashes of color and activity. To add an extra measure of enjoyment to feeding birds, purchase a bird book and keep a listing of how many species of birds visit your yard. You might be pleasantly surprised at the popularity of your yard.