Feeding In Winter For Birds

Looks like we've all been charmed enough to
experience a remarkably mild winter thus far.
That undoubtedly means your bird watching and
feeding habits haven't changed as noticeably as
you're used to in the winter months. However,
you still should plan to make some modifications
to your feeding routine and menu to make sure
that your yard remains an enticing place to see
the most breeds of bird year round.

Supply and Demand

The winter months are a time for bulk feeding.
Even in the most mild of winter months, the
little metabolic system of birds will have to
step up workload in order to keep the small
animal warm. This additional work means that
birds will need additional food to produce
enough energy. Make your feeder and yard a more
attractive place for birds by setting out an
additional feeder and making sure to keep all
your feeders full at all times.

New Visitors

Not all birds fly south for the winter! Some
breeds will stay close to their year round
locations and you may even begin to see some new
breeds as the Mercury in the thermometer drops.
Increase your odds of seeing more variety in
your yard by offering a winter mix of seed that
is targeted to winter birds. A few seeds to look
for include:

For colorful birds like Cardinals, Blue-jays,
Gold and Purple Finches and Chickadees, think
about a using sunflower seeds. Save yourself
some cash and opt for black oil sunflower seeds
as opposed to the gray and white striped variety
that you might eat yourself. This less expensive
alternative is also softer and easier to shell,
making it a favorite among winter birds.

Nyger seed is a favorite of the Goldfinch. It's
also a favorite of the grocery store vendor as
it is the most expensive winter seed you can
buy. The seeds are small and delicate, so you'll
want to hang them high to avoid mammals. Mix the
Nyger with other filler feeds to make it last
longer and go further.

White Millet is a great choice to use as a
filler seed to the more expensive Nyger. It is
the least expensive winter seed and is widely
available at grocery and hardware stores.
Sparrows and Juncos flock to it, making it a
good ground scatter seed.

Water Wisely

Water will begin to freeze at just 32 degrees.
Because of this it can become increasingly
difficult for birds to stay hydrated in the
winter months. Be a friend to the bird and keep
a bird bath ready with clean water year round.
There are several models which can help keep
water thawed as well.

Don't Scrimp

You should check the ingredient label before the
price tag on all bird-seeds, but especially on
winter seeds. This is because many brands of
mixed seeds will provide a lot of cheap filler
seeds such as red millet seed. These filler
seeds are often too hard when frozen for the
birds to crack or are simply undesirable. As a
result the birds will spit them onto the ground
where they stay until they rot. Buying a cheap
mixed seed bag doesn't really save you money,
since about half the bag will go to waste.
Instead, opt for bags of mix that have more of
the seeds you know your flying friends are
searching for.

----------------------------------------------------
This is a brief guide to get you started, but any
help you give will be of help during winter.
Resourced from
http://www.dodsonandhorrellpetfood.co.uk/

EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=244732

>