Helping the Wild Birds
During this time of year, the bird feeders at my farm are filled with chirping hungry wildlife.
Winter is a difficult time for wild birds, especially here in North America - days are short, nights are often cold and long, and natural food supplies are scarce or hidden by snow. I have a number of feeders at my farm, and all the birds love to come by and feast on the seed I provide. I also set out fresh water and cut holes in the burlap covers over the boxwood, so birds are able to shelter safely. Helping the wild birds is important to sustain local wild bird populations, especially during the harsh winters and challenging migration periods.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Behind my carport I keep a long row of bird feeders for the visiting wild birds. During these winter months, I hang 20-feeders under the eaves – in spring and summer, about half that amount. It’s important that I feed the birds all year long – they depend on it.
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- Feeders should be set up where they are easy to see and convenient to fill. They should be placed where seed-hungry squirrels and bird-hungry cats cannot reach them, and if near a window, no more than three feet from the glass to prevent possible collisions.
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- My bird feeders are refilled every morning – sometimes midday as well, if the birds are extra hungry. This is a black-capped chickadee. These birds are highly curious about everything, including humans. Its black cap and bib, white cheeks and gray back, wings and tail make it an easy bird to distinguish and identify.
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- Many birds prefer tube feeders – hollow cylinders with multiple feeding ports and perches. Tube feeders attract small perching birds such as finches, goldfinches, titmice, and chickadees.
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- When not eating, some birds will remain on perches to watch all the activity around the farm.
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- These birds are getting the seeds that fall on the ground below.
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- When filling the feeders, we use a pole with a hook on one end. Each feeder is carefully removed from its hanging location and refilled on the ground.
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- Here is a closer look at the pole with the handy hook at the top – it works very well and makes filling these feeders very easy.
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- The seed is stored in galvanized metal cans and kept inside my generator room next to the carport.
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- This is a wild bird seed mix. This includes white millet, black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds and cracked corn. The birds love this seed.
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- These tube feeders allow the seed to flow only when birds peck at it, which helps keep any spillage to a minimum.
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- On this day, the temperatures rose to the mid-30s. Ice was melting off the roofs. I shared lots of photos of the interesting icicles that formed from this storm on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48.
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- Some of the birds perch patiently in nearby trees until they’re ready to feast.
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- Here is a sparrow sitting on one of the branches of the apple espalier. Sparrows are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, where they eat most kinds of birdseed, especially millet, corn, and sunflower seed. Sparrows also enjoy eating small insects. Though they are not flashy in color, and may often be overlooked or considered common, the sparrow is a very melodious bird.
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- I also feel it is important to make sure all the wild birds have access to fresh water. I use one of these double wall metal chicken waterers on top of a heater to prevent freezing. Made of galvanized steel, these waterers are clean, durable and can hold a couple gallons of water.
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- If you follow this blog regularly, you’ve seen the holes cut out of the burlap here at the farm. I purposely create these holes for the visiting birds. They love to go in and out, especially when it is windy.
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- When starting to feed birds, it may take time for new feeders to be discovered. Don’t be surprised if the feeding station doesn’t get birds right away. As long as feeders are clean and filled with fresh seed, the birds will find them. Just remember, once they do, they will depend on them as a food source.
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- Here’s a downy woodpecker – the smallest woodpecker in North America. Even if your bird visitors are not entirely dependent on your food supply, try not to leave them without food. If you plan to be away, fill extra feeders, or ask a willing neighbor to continue feeding your birds until you return.
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- Best of all, I always enjoy watching the variety of birds that gather and feast outside my window. According to our Audubon Society, more than 125 bird species visit my farm – and in summer, guess what? They take care of all the bugs – I never see any pesky flying bugs near my home.
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- I have long been feeding the birds that visit my farm. It is quite a commitment to keep the bird feeders filled all year long, but it is comforting to know I am helping our wild bird populations survive and thrive. What birds frequent your yard? Share your comments with me in the section below.
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