For the Birds

Winter in the Midwest can be impressively harsh (hello Blizzard of 2011!) but there are actually some hearty birds like the Darked-eyed Junco that migrate here from much colder climates up north. There are others like the Cardinal and Black-capped Chickadee that simply stick around by choice. And while birds are expert foragers, with all this snow they have to spend more time and energy looking for food, which leaves less energy for staying warm.

If you thought digging out your car out after the storm was a pain in the neck, consider this: a huge portion of the food source that birds eat in winter is still partially buried under all that snow. The thought of slogging to the store when it’s 11 degrees out only to find our favorite foods gone from the shelves isn’t a pretty picture. That’s kind of how the birds might be feeling these days. So we thought we’d provide simple tips for getting some food out to the birds and a few suggestions for longer term food and shelter sources that not only help our feathered friends, but actually improve the aesthetics of your garden.

Seeds are a crucial protein source for birds and can be difficult to find in the winter. The top seed across the board for putting in feeders is the black oil sunflower seed. Its high oil content packs a protein punch and it isn’t too expensive. Place it in a feeder that has some sort of a cover (so that the snow won’t pile up on it) and is somewhat sheltered from the wind. (Near a window works well for birds and allows you prime bird watching.) For more information on other seeds and grains, check out this informative article over at birdwatching.com.


Suet is another popular food for feeding birds, particularly in the winter, because the fat used to create the cakes is a highly concentrated form of energy essential to maintain body heat. It is typically placed in a wire or mesh cage so birds can cling to the cage and peck at the suet block. Suet can also be chopped up and fed in platform feeder, or it can be hung from trees or feeder poles. A super easy way to provide protein for birds is to go smear peanut butter on the bark of a tree. Yep, that’s it. Just make sure your smear is high enough so that the birds aren’t in danger from potential predators. And don’t worry if your neighbors think you’ve gone a little looney in the winter, the birds will be grateful.

Finally, if you enjoy having birds in your garden, consider adding some native grasses, shrubs or trees to your yard or garden this spring. These will provide the necessary shelter of a safe place--protected from wind and potential predators—for birds to rest, raise and feed their young and sleep. With their seeds and berries, they also provide nutritious and “local” food options. And to make it a trifecta, they will make your garden more attractive to all that visit your garden, including those that get around on two legs. Add grasses like Northern Dropseed and Little Bluestem, shrubs like the Black Chokeberry and Elderberry and our favorite tree for birds, the Juneberry. All are native to the Midwest.

If you think about the magic, movement and color that birds bring to your garden when so many things or dormant or dying, it seems like giving back in winter or year-round just makes sense.