Warm Winter Welcome - feeding birds during winter

Ranger Rick, Oct, 2000 by Ellen Lambeth

Winter is on the way. What can you do to make backyard wildlife still feel at home? Plenty!

FILL UP THE FEEDERS

For many creatures, winter means less food. And less daylight can mean less time for food hunting. Birds appreciate an easy treat, especially if your yard becomes covered with snow or ice.

NATURAL FEEDERS

Let summer flowers go to seed. The seeds will be fast food for seed- eating birds and other creatures.

"NO ICE" IS NICE

If you live where it's cold, add a heater to your bird bath to keep the water from freezing. (Heaters are sold at garden and birdseed stores.)

LEAVE 'EM STANDING

Clumps of dead flowers, grasses, and vines make cozy hideouts for birds, rabbits, and other creatures. Tiny bees and other insects use the stems as winter homes - unless hungry birds find them. Come spring, birds will use the dried plant bits to make nests.

PILE IT ON

Clean up rocks or fallen branches from your yard. Then pile them up, with the biggest stuff at the bottom. Presto - a comfy home for hibernating butterflies, beetles, snakes, lizards, and toads. Birds and other small creatures can find shelter there too.

WARM AND DRY

Birds such as chickadees or bluebirds might snuggle up in a birdhouse for warmth on a cold winter's night. A birdhouse makes a good storm shelter too.

ALL FALL DOWN

Fallen leaves keep the ground warm and make the soil richer. So let them lie where you can. If you rake them up, leave a pile in a protected spot for salamanders, toads, and other animals to hibernate in.