How to Attract Birds During Winter: Heated Bird Baths and More

Many birdwatchers out there focus their bird watching during spring and summer. This isn’t surprising as this is when the most birds flock to your backyards. However, winter can be a great time to continue seeing our feathered friends. It can also greatly help the birds that winter in your area to thrive during a tough season.

Here are some of Birdertown’s tips on helping birds during the winter.

Invest in a Heated Bird Bath

Water is an important source for birds year-round. However, it can often be harder to locate during the winter. This is particularly the case in more northern areas where popular natural water sources may freeze over. Why not help solve this issue by providing a safe water source in your own backyard?

Heated bird baths are a great way to provide a valuable resource for birds during the winter. Most backyard bird species will be attracted to them, with some using them to bathe. For example, this red cedar deck bath is popular with many species including cardinals.

You’ll also benefit from having more birds to watch. Providing a water source will attract far more birds than just food during winters. Many birds will note the location and become frequent visitors. This is one of the most helpful things you can do to help birds survive rough winters.

Focus on High Energy Foods

As you can imagine, food tends to be much scarcer during the winters than in other seasons, particularly in areas covered in snow. Birds are much more able to thrive in winter if they can quickly gather lots of energy.

We tend to recommend that you focus on providing things like peanuts, suet, and sunflower chips. These are all high energy foods that can be consumed fairly easily. During harsh conditions, birds prefer to minimize their time feeding, something promoted by these options.

For those wanting to offer nutritious foods, we have a wide option on our website including suet. By providing nutritious foods, you’ll help keep your backyard visitors strong enough to make it through even the more difficult winter days.

Put Out a Ground Feeder

A great way to help birds during the winter in snowy climates is to put out a ground feeder or two. There are many species of birds that are not comfortable dining from elevated spaces. Species like sparrows, doves, and juncos are all ground-feeding birds.

However, during the winter, birds that prefer to eat on the ground find it more difficult to harvest food after snowfalls. Ground feeders like this eco-friendly option are great for helping these species to continue to forage for food during the winter.

In fact, one of the most helpful things you can do to help birds during the winter is to improve their access to food. Birds are creatures of habit that will return to food sources, so make sure your feeders are filled on days with very cold temperatures or harsh winds.

Provide Shelter from the Weather

Aside from food and water, shelter is likely the next best thing you can do for your backyard visitors. This provides our feathered friends with protection from the elements. There are several different ways you can go about creating shelter for birds.

One of the most useful things anyone can do is create a brush pile in the corner of your yard. Setting aside a pile of fallen sticks, limbs, and branches can provide birds with shelter from predators and storms. Adding some evergreen shrubs or trees is another thing you can do to enhance protection.

If adding trees is a bit too big of a task, another easy thing that can be done to provide shelter is putting up a few nesting boxes. Many types of birds like bluebirds, chickadees, and nuthatches may seek shelter in these options.

Enhance Your Bird Watching All Winter Long

If you need a few supplies to make your winter yard more hospitable for birds, look no further than Birdertown. We carry all the critical supplies including the best heated bird baths, nesting boxes, feeders, and a wide variety of different types of food.