Winter can still be a fun season for us gardeners, but we just move on to different activities with different focuses. As November rolls in and the garden begins to wind down for the season, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about winter bird feeders. Not only will your garden attract beautiful birds but bird feeders can help you get ongoing bird visits during the winter months. Here are some tips to help you with your winter bird feeders.

Setting Up Your Bird Feeder

There are a few options for setting up your bird feeder. You can mount it on a piece of plywood attached to a pole in your garden or hang it from a tree. You can also hang it on your porch. Keep in mind that feeders hung from trees tend to sway in the wind. That could cause some issues during stormy weather.

A simpler and sturdier option might be using a metal shepherd’s hook. These hooks are easy to plant into the ground and provide a good height for filling up your feeders.

Don’t Forget Water

With winter creeping in, birds will appreciate a reliable water source as much as the food. Heated bird baths are an excellent way to keep water available even when temperatures dip. You can use a large, shallow plastic saucer with a rock placed in the middle, allowing the birds to land and drink comfortably.

If you do this, you’ll often be able to see birds around dinner time, taking little baths and enjoying their time at the water source.

A Fun Winter Hobby

Birdwatching can be a year-round hobby, and winter is really no exception. It’s a good idea to have a bird identification book handy, one like A Field Guide To The Birds East Of The Rockies by Roger Tory Peterson, which comes with a checklist to keep track of your sightings. 

With winter storms, you might even see some unusual species passing through your area. This can also be a fun activity to do with family, friends, and children in and around the holidays. Have the bird identification book ready and encourage everyone to keep an eye out on the bird feeder and see if they can identify some interesting birds. 

Leave Seed Heads For The Birds

Don’t rush to cut down all the plants in your garden. Plants like coneflowers and ornamental grasses produce seed heads that small birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, and goldfinches love. These natural food sources provide a nutritional boost to birds when other resources may be scarce.

How To Choose The Right Bird Feed

While stores may offer seed mixes marketed toward specific birds—like cardinals or finches—the truth is that most birds aren’t too picky. A basic seed mix with sunflower seeds works well for attracting a variety of birds. If you want to cater specifically to finches, a nyjer seed feeder can be used. Just be aware that nyjer seed can be more expensive.

Set Up Your Decorations

As the colder months approach, it’s also a great time to reuse your summer urns for a winter display. On a mild November day, take the opportunity to set up your Christmas decorations, including lights around your garden or doorways.

Get everything in place so that when the time comes, all you have to do is plug in the lights and enjoy the festive decor without freezing your fingers. If you set up decor in and around the bird feeders, ensure that you don’t have any holiday decorations that could cause a hazard to the birds. 

Wishing you a wonderful November, and if you have questions about your bird feeders, we’re always happy to help.