Help the birds wing the weather
Lisa Carter Waring
Wild birds add color and music to our surroundings. They are also interesting and fun to watch. That is why I, like so many others, enjoy feeding the wild birds that visit our yard throughout the year.
Feeding wild birds during the cold winter months is especially important. In the winter, wild birds have more difficulty finding sources of food. Their natural diet of insects and bugs, abundant during the warmer months of the year, become scarce in cold weather. Nuts and seeds can get buried deep beneath leaves, straw, snow and ice. Feeding wild birds during the winter time not only supplements their natural diet, it also helps to increase their chances for survival.
You can readily purchase many types of bird feeders and bird food at local stores. Feeders can range from fairly inexpensive tube vessels to more decorative and elaborate models. Likewise, you can purchase simple wild bird seed to fill your feeders or more pricey mixtures of seed designed to attract particular types of birds to your yard.
Feeding wild birds doesn't have to be complicated or costly. Homemade bird food and bird feeders work quite well and can be relatively cheap and easy to make. Creating a homemade bird cafe in your yard can be both rewarding and educational. You will be provided many opportunities to learn more about the different varieties of birds and their habits.
Pinecones make great homemade bird feeders and, more than likely, you can readily find them somewhere in your neighborhood. Larger pinecones, with wide pedals, make the best feeders. To make a pinecone feeder, just stuff the cone with a mixture of finely crushed low-sodium crackers, bread crumbs or cornmeal mixed with crunchy peanut butter. Use a piece of wire or string to hang the pinecone from a shepherd's hook or in a tree about 5 feet off the ground.
The smaller birds, especially the nuthatches, finches and warblers, will love your pinecone feeder. One warning though - you may want to make more than one. The birds can become territorial and will fight over rights to just one feeder.
Another easy and relatively inexpensive way to feed the birds during the winter is to put suet out for them. You can request suet, or animal fat, from the meat department at most local grocery stores. If they have it available, you can usually get the suet free of charge.
Suet is a great source of energy for wild birds during the winter months. Cut the suet into small pieces and stuff it into one-inch holes drilled in a piece of wood or a small log. Attach a wire, string or small chain to the top for a hanger. Cedar works great for this type of feeder because it will not rot.
An even easier method is to place the suet in a mesh bag, like an onion, grapefruit or orange bag, and put it out for the birds. The bag is tied at the top and hung from a tree about 5 feet off the ground.
If you choose to purchase bird seed, one of the best choices is black oil sunflower seed. Nearly all birds eat black oil sunflower seed, so it allows you to feed a wide variety of birds. I like to supplement my homemade bird food with a few feeders filled with black oil sunflower seeds.
Birds have a way of fluttering into our hearts throughout the year. Helping our feathered friends survive the cold winter months is one simple way that we can ensure a brighter spring.
Lisa Carter Waring is a retired educator and consultant who lives in Hope Mills. She can be reached at LCart99@aol.com.