As winter approaches in places like Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana, wild birds face several challenges, including colder temperatures, food scarcity, and shelter limitations. Providing support to these birds during the colder months not only helps them survive but also allows you to enjoy their presence in your yard throughout the winter. Here are several ways to help wild birds as winter approaches.
1. Provide High-Energy Food Sources
As temperatures drop, birds need more energy to stay warm and maintain their body weight. To support them, offer high-energy foods that are rich in fat and protein.
- Suet Cakes: Suet is a great source of fat, which is vital for birds in winter. You can buy suet cakes or make your own using animal fat mixed with seeds, nuts, and berries. These cakes attract birds like woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches.
- Seeds and Nuts: Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite among many species of birds because they’re high in fat and easy to crack open. Adding peanuts or a seed mix with cracked corn and millet can also provide additional nutrition.
- Mealworms: While many insects go dormant in winter, mealworms can offer a valuable protein source for insect-eating birds like bluebirds and wrens.
Regularly refill your feeders to ensure food is always available. Birds use a lot of energy flying to feeding sites, so consistent access to food helps them conserve energy.
2. Offer Fresh Water
Fresh, unfrozen water can be difficult for birds to find during winter. While snow can provide moisture, drinking cold water is more energy-efficient for birds.
- Heated Bird Bath: Invest in a heated bird bath or a bird bath heater to keep the water from freezing. This gives birds a reliable source of hydration and a place to bathe, which is essential for maintaining their feathers.
- Change Water Regularly: If you don’t have a heated bird bath, make sure to break the ice or replace frozen water with fresh water at least once a day.
Placing the bird bath in a sunny spot can also help keep it from freezing quickly.
3. Create Shelter and Roosting Spots
In addition to food and water, birds need safe places to roost at night and escape from harsh winter weather. You can create or improve shelter options around your yard:
- Plant Native Evergreens: Trees like spruce, pine, and cedar provide excellent shelter from wind and snow. These evergreen trees offer cover for roosting birds, keeping them protected from the elements.
- Leave Brush Piles: Instead of clearing all your fallen branches and twigs, consider leaving a brush pile in your yard. This can serve as a natural shelter for birds and small wildlife, offering protection from predators and the cold.
- Install Roosting Boxes: Roosting boxes are similar to birdhouses but are designed to hold multiple birds. Installing one or two roosting boxes in your yard gives birds a communal, insulated place to stay warm.
4. Minimize Disturbances
During winter, birds expend a lot of energy searching for food and staying warm. Minimizing disturbances around your yard can help birds conserve their energy.
- Limit Pets Near Bird Feeding Areas: If you have outdoor pets, try to keep them away from feeding or roosting areas, as their presence can scare birds away and increase their stress.
- Place Feeders and Baths Near Shelter: Place your bird feeders and baths near bushes, trees, or other structures where birds can quickly retreat if they feel threatened.
5. Avoid Pesticides and Chemicals
Finally, avoid using pesticides and chemicals in your yard, especially in areas where birds forage. Insects and plants treated with chemicals can harm birds that rely on these food sources. By keeping your yard pesticide-free, you ensure that it remains a safe habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Conclusion
Helping wild birds as winter approaches is a rewarding way to give back to nature and enjoy the beauty of birdlife even in the colder months. By providing food, water, and shelter, you can make a significant difference in the lives of local bird populations and ensure they thrive throughout the winter season in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana.