Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Cold Weather Bird Feeding

The birds need us more than ever in the winter. Much of their natural food is absent or under snow cover. Keeping good food in filled feeders will help our feathered friends get through the winter healthy. Following is a good variety of foods for winter feeding.

Peanuts aren’t just for squirrels. Peanuts in the shell will satisfy squirrels and keep some away from the feeders, which is a plus since they are also a favorite of jays and woodpeckers.  High in protein and fat, peanuts are a great winter staple for birds. Shelled peanuts will attract smaller birds. Peanut butter is also great for birds. Smear a bunch on pinecones and hang from trees. Just make sure to use natural peanut butter that contains no partially hydrogenated oil.

Suet is another excellent food source for birds in the winter. Commercial suet comes in many types from plain to containing seed, peanut bits, and fruit. You can buy fresh, but this form can turn rancid if the weather warms up. Commercial suet is an excellent substitute and widely available. 

Black oil sunflower is one of the best seeds for general backyard bird feeding. It’s high in fat, so it’s perfect for winter. The larger birds can easily crack the shells, and smaller birds will feed on the dropped bits. For a no-mess method, you can feed sunflower hearts, but they are expensive. Safflower seed is another similar seed high in fat and especially loved by cardinals. There are commercial mixes with black sunflower and safflower.

Thistle seed, also called nyger seed, is loved by all species of finches. It is a tiny seed sometimes fed from a mesh bag. I usually mix some in the regular seed, as thistle can turn bad quickly in a bag feeder if the weather is wet. It is rather expensive, but putting a handful in the mix makes it last a bit longer. 

Birds are very fond of fruit, and it is a necessary staple in their diet. Put out quartered apples, slices of citrus, and even banana slices. If you do raisins, soak them a bit in water before putting out. The birds will love it!

Mealworms sound slimy and gross but are not worms at all but beetle larvae. The usual assortment of birds that come to the feeders in winter loves them since they are high in fat and protein. Check online or at your local wild bird feeding store to find freeze-dried mealworms. 

If you do want to buy a mix of seed, make sure it is a good one that contains mostly the seeds above in addition to cracked corn and white millet. Cheap mixes are not worth the savings. They include red millet, which no birds eat along with other waste.

Follow these winter bird feeding methods to ensure that our feathered friends are happy and well fed during the cold months.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO