Feeding Birds in the Winter
Ever thought about feeding birds in the winter? It is a great hobby, that can give you lot’s of hours of enjoyment. I know in the case of my wife, the hobby has grown to an obsession. It’s sits right next to playing Farmville, Facebook’s version of “The Children of the Corn.”
If you start the hobby now, while the Ozarks are full of snow, the birds will remember you. They will return to visit you year after year. That’s a kind of plus to the deal. In fact, there is research that shows that migratory birds like Juncos and Sparrows often return to the same places to feed each fall and winter. That is not to mention the one’s that stay all year, like the Cardinal.
The plan is simple enough. The birds need a good food source, some water, and enough safety to be able to enjoy the treats you put out. You may also want to do some variety for the birds. Some birds will only feed from a feeder up in the air a bit. You can use corn, thistle for the little guys, and sunflower seeds. Suet is also a good option for birds like Starlings and Woodpeckers. Place some seed on the ground also. Birds like doves will need to eat on the ground, or on a good platform. This winter, we have even been visited by the Meadow Lark. In fact, they brought their whole family to eat in our backyard all winter.
So as you can see, feeding birds in the winter can be real fun. Find yourself some bird feeders, suet feeders, etc. and you’ll be ready to go. If you are in the Ozarks, try stopping by one of the Wild Birds Unlimited stores, or the Orschelin Feed & Trade Stores, that is where we find our supplies.