How to Care for Your Backyard Birds in Fall and Winter
- Rebekah
- 23 minutes ago
- 2 min read
There are several simple steps you can take to care for the birds that frequent your yard this fall and winter. By doing so, you're helping provide everything they need to thrive. You will also, of course, have the added benefit of enjoying their presence in your garden all year long. Below, we are sharing how to care for them over the next several months.
Leave the leaves in your gardening beds.
During fall and winter, songbirds use the leaves to forage through, in search of insects and insect eggs. If you take away every leaf from your lawn or garden, you take away one of their main food sources. Also, leaves left in the gardening beds naturally enrich the soil.
Clean your birdhouses before winter.
Many birds will take shelter from the wind and cold weather in an empty birdhouse. Be sure to clean out birdhouses again in late winter/ early spring.
Plant native shrubs that produce berries and edible seeds that are favorites for birds. Here are some great options:
Add evergreens to your landscape to ensure birds have several places to take shelter.
Evergreens provide an ideal place for birds to shelter from rain, wind, snow, ice, and predators. Ideas of evergreens to add to your garden include:
Wait to prune back perennials and other plants with edible seedheads, such as:
sunflowers
Asters
Grasses, which also provide needed food for birds.
Skip the chemicals. Limit or cease the use of insecticides.
Opt for organic, natural alternatives if you need to use an insecticide this fall or winter. Ask us specific questions about natural insecticides at the nursery.
Keep the birdfeeders filled.
It's also important to keep your birdfeeders near a place where birds can find shelter if needed (quickly, to get away from a predator, such as a cat). You may find you'll need to refill your birdfeeders several times a week during fall and winter. Black-oil sunflower seeds are a favorite of songbirds. Safflower seeds, black-oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet, and unsalted peanuts are just several examples of what attract many types of birds, such as cardinals, woodpeckers, finches, bluebirds, chickadees, and tufted titmice.
Continue to provide clean, drinkable water.
During the fall and winter, we must continue to provide clean water for our feathered friends. You can purchase an inexpensive bird bath heater online or regularly set out fresh water in a dish. Fresh water sources for birds are just as important as supplying food for them during the cold months.
By following these steps, you will increase the likelihood of having many varieties of birds visit you this fall and winter. As always, we are happy to answer any questions you have at the nursery.
