Despite the frozen birdbath I posted yesterday (see me "Birds Can't Ice Skate" post), I did have heated birdbaths out when sub-zero temps moved in Tuesday night. So yes, I DO follow my own birdfeeding advice.
I'm always talking about how important it is to provide the birds a source of open water during the winter. I have a heated birdbath out all winter, and even added a second one this year. The baths are visited regularly throughout the winter day. Busiest at the birdbaths are Blue Jays, American Goldfinches, Mourning Doves, and Black Capped Chickadees.
Goldfinches and a chickadee share the heated birdbath
The other advice we provide for winter birdfeeding is to provide lots of high-energy, high-fat birdfood in a variety of forms and locations. So in the morning I refilled all the high-fat food options I offer the birds.
I spread Bark Butter on 4 feeders, added more to a space between two Stackables and even put a little dab on my birdseed wreath. I refilled all the suet plugs in my 2 suet log feeders. I added Bark Butter Bits to the Tree Nutty Feeder, and put more sunflower chips on the window tray feeder. Then I broadcast some Deluxe Blend (with black oil sunflower, white millet, safflower, and striped sunflower) on the ground especially for the Dark-eyed Juncos.
Hairy Woodpecker eating Bark Butter Bits from Tree Nutty Feeder
Hairy Woodpecker on suet log feeder
Blue Jay feasting on Bark Butter
Birds will spend the entire day feeding, just to replenish the calories burned keeping warm on freezing winter nights. I just want to make that replenishment process as easy as possible for the birds to help them survice the long, cold winter!!
Rohrerbot - more different feeders, more different birds!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | January 06, 2012 at 11:55 AM
I'm starting to build my collection of bird fun and all these little gadgets add up fast:)
Posted by: Rohrerbot | January 06, 2012 at 12:30 AM