Winterize Your Wild Birds
Topics: bird feede, hummingbird feeder, bird house, bird bath, bat house, decorative bird feeder, mealworms
There’s a touch of fall in the air. The days are shorter and the nights cooler. For those living in places where the leaves put on a spectacular show of color, it’s a sure sign that winter isn’t far away. Wild birds are beginning to prepare for the harsh weather by ‘winterizing’ their bodies.
Backyard birders need to get their feeding stations in order right away to help these beautiful feathered friends find plenty of food. Now is the time when wild birds begin storing body fat that is essential to their survival. As their natural food sources disappear for the winter or become buried in snow, they rely more and more on birders to keep fresh seed in their feeders.
As increased numbers of species gather in flocks for migration, you’ll notice much more activity around your feeding stations. In addition to your resident birds such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers, you will have periodic visits from migrating birds. They are largely insect eaters that need to relocate before the frost sets in killing their staple food. Once they are settled in for the winter, they will rely on bird seed and suet as their substitute food.
Juveniles will hang around with their parents one last time before they fly off to establish their own territories. Of course, they’ll be filling their bellies to sustain them in the search for their new home, so birding activity will be on the increase for this reason also.
Keep binoculars and a bird identification book or device close by to help identify any new species that stops for a fill-up at the feeder. It’s one of the most exciting times to be a birder.
In addition to various types of bird seeds, wild birds need the fat and nutrients provided from suet. There are many feeders that not only hold bird seed but have an attached suet cage as well. Many bird stores also stock suet in pellet form. This is much less messy than suet cakes and the amount supplied for the birds each day is easier to control. And, don’t forget to keep fruit such as oranges and apples topped with either suet or peanut butter for fruit eaters.
Bluebirds and others that prefer mealworms don’t have to wait until spring for their favorite food. Keep them happy all winter by using a mealworm warmer that keeps the worms alive, wiggling and tasty.
Bird feeders should be kept clean and repaired at all times, but particularly in the fall in preparation for the increasing number of birds using the feeders. There are products on the market that make cleaning feeders much easier - often as easy as dunking a feeder in a bucket of water containing the safe cleaning solution. Stale seed or dirty feeders can be a serious health hazard for wild birds.
What’s a sure way to attract birds to your feeders? Provide a source of water, especially in winter! Accessible water in freezing weather will attract at least as many birds as a well stocked feeder. There are a variety of submersible heaters placed directly in the water that are economical and can be safely used in bird baths. Use a high-quality outdoor extension cord to plug the heater into an electrical source. Particularly in winter it’s best to use a plastic rough-surfaced design since ceramic and concrete bird baths will easily crack in frigid weather.
Birds actually use water to stay warmer in winter. By cleaning their feathers and grooming them with natural oils, our feathered friends are able to help insulate their bodies from cold. About 70% of a bird’s nonfat body tissue is water. That needs to be maintained to avoid dehydration. Birds find some water in natural food sources such as insects, berries and even snow, but when those supplies dwindle, the water supplied by bird baths is even more vital.
Just as the leaves change color in the fall, so does the plumage of some birds. The goldfinch, for example, undergoes a plumage change that drastically alters their appearance. The bright yellow starts to fade making it somewhat difficult to tell the male from the female. The purpose is to provide protection from predators when the trees are bare.
Each season brings with it a wonderful new experience as nature continues the same path it has followed for thousands of years. Backyard birders are privileged to witness one such experience when the wild birds begin their winterizing ritual.
Janet Winter loves her wild birds and delights in providing helpful resources and unique products for feathered friends at www.WildBirdGoodies.com. She is a web designer, travel agent and writer on many topics including wild birds, babies and pampered dogs.
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Internet Marketing Strategies That Won't Hurt Your Savings Much (1)
Links to your website could be included in this signature. Email Marketing is the most profitable way to make money on the internet. Discover how to use the internet and turn your computer into a cash gushing machine.
The Litmus Test: Don't Lie, Cheat, Or Steal (2)
Specifically, she relates that her parents told her, "Don't ever let yourself be bullied", and "Think of the consequences of your actions." Three really simple rules can help you negotiate the sometimes treacherous times life thows at us.
How To Repair A Clogged Drain In Your Kitchen Or Bathroom Before You Call Your Plumber (3)
These types of clogs are better treated with washing soda and water. As you can probably see, calling in a professional plumbing company as soon as you have a problem with your drains clogging up is the best way to make sure you are protecting your home and caring for your plumbing system.
Mortgage Loans And Foreclosures - What You Should Know (4)
This seems to be the question on the rise when it comes to stemming mortgage foreclosures, now that there is a continuous slide in the current economic set-up that is changing the financial climate across the globe.
Avoid Compensation In Golf (5)
Most of the time, the bad habits that golfers pick up are to compensate for a flaw in their swing. For example, to correct a slice caused from an incorrect golf swing plane, a beginner golfer may compensate by flipping his wrists at impact.
House Painting: What It Can Do For Your Home (6)
However, if you have let them to on for too long without being addressed, they become harder to resolve. This is why it is important to regularly inspect the outside of your home for problems and to have them fixed as soon as they are noticed.
The Best In African American Skin Care (7)
There are plenty of private vendors in local stores and even online sites where one can get information about African-American skin care products and also where they can buy them.
Golf Swing Diffrences And How To Improve Yours (8)
Topics: improve golf swing, golf swing tip, golf swing improvement, golf swing aids Unlike a mathematics equation, where there is only one right way to get to the correct answer, there are various ways in which people can swing a golf club to hit a golf ball.
How To Know Your Car Alternator Is Bad (9)
If you turn the ignition and the battery fails to crank the engine, the problem may be with the battery itself. However, it is also possible that the alternator is no longer capable of holding a charge.
How Do You Get Traffic? (10)
You are then able to build a down line in the list builder. Your list-building program down line will then build at an exponential rate. At lest that is the theory.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Repairing Your Credit Can Help You Get Approved For Loans (1)
They will begin contacting your creditors if there are any discrepancies. The agency will only work with one creditor at a time. As them to provide you with whatever proof they get, whether it is positive or negative.
Article Marketing; Your Key To Success, Keep On Writing! (2)
Check out any of the writers that have hundreds of articles to their name. You can be sure that they are enjoying a nice income from their efforts. Article marketing provides targeted traffic.
Can You Really Buy Pets Online? (3)
It is sort of like personal ads for people and animals. You answer the ad and the next thing you know you have the four-legged love of your life in your arms.
Become A Millionaire While You Sleep! My Kind Of Work! (4)
The cost of this wonderful opportunity is only $159.95 with a 30 day money back guarantee if I'm not satisfied. I can see where this company wouldn't worry about having to pay refunds; if I've made a million dollars in 30 days, it would be bad form to request a refund.
Business Intelligence -- Tools For All Companies (5)
The financial outlay of a new business initiative should be estimated and the cost of present operations assessed to determine value. What is the risk if the initiative fails?
Wholesale Liquidations, Does The Retail And Closeouts Market Place Need Them? (6)
If a supplier wants to sell a lot of inventory, he can use a these services to ensure that the stock does not get to the wholesale and retail stores.
What Business Travelers Should Know About A Multiple Entry China Travel Visa (7)
With a multiple application, you can return to China several times since it is offered in 12 or 24 months. Business travelers who are working in close partnership with their Chinese counterparts will find the multiple entry China travel visa a welcomed relief.
Home Teeth Whitening - Pros And Cons (8)
Provided by your dentist, and used under his supervision, a prescription strength whitening kit usually consist of mouth trays that you fill with whitening gel. The gel typically contains carbamide peroxide as its bleaching agent.
How Articles Drive Traffic To Your Website? (9)
Promoting your site via the use of fresh, new articles or those from article directories has become very popular and convenient. Search engines want fresh article content because the people who use their search engines demand it.
The Importance Of Footer Drains In Basement Waterproofing (10)
In these cases, simply using a high pressure water jetting system to clear blockages may solve your problems. If you refer to a basement waterproofing company for consultation of how to repair your drains, always have them check to see if jetting your existing drains is the most inexpensive option.