Winter is a crucial time for the birds that remain in our area. They spend their time facing the elements of bitter cold and snowstorms. There are no insects to eat and the natural seeds are covered with snow; the berries and crab apples are gone. Birds need enough food to maintain their body temperatures and must search for food from sun up to dusk. Fortunately, for the birds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 41 million Americans spend $2 billion annually on bird feed and the numbers are increasing yearly.
FATTY FOODS are important for our winter birds. Fat is metabolized into energy much quicker and more efficiently than seeds to help them maintain their 108° body temperature necessary for survival.
The following are excellent sources of quick energy and some protein.
Suet made from hard fat trimmed from veal or beef is widely used because it is inexpensive, provides an excellent energy source for birds and can be mixed with seeds, cornmeal, insect eggs and peanut butter to appeal to a wider range of species.
Peanut Butter is more expensive than suet and is also very popular with a large number of birds. To reduce the cost of feeding peanut butter, you can melt it down and mix it with suet (see following recipe) This also lessens the potential risk of a bird choking on the thick, sticky peanut butter.
Kitchen Fat requires care if you put it out for the birds. Make sure it it si not overly salted or spiced. It is best to mix kitchen fat with cornmeal or flour if you are going to serve it to birds.
SEEDS are very important. Seeds contain high levels of carbohydrates that are turned into glucose to help with the bird's high energy demands. They also are a good source for vitamins and some protein. Make sure the seed you purchase does not have a lot of fillers (milo and wheat seeds) that are not eaten and a waste of money. Buy mixes that have a large percentage of sunflower seed and white proso millet.
Sunflower Seeds are a favorite of many birds. The black oil sunflower seeds have a softer shell than the striped seeds and can be eaten by the sparrows and juncos, as well as the cardinals. The oil seeds have a number of advantages: they are not overly expensive, they appeal to a wider variety of species, and they contain a larger amount of vegetable oil to help supply the energy birds need to maintain their body heat in the winter. They are also a good source of protein.
Millet is quite nutritious, containing approx. 10% protein and 4% fat in addition to starches. White proso millet was rated as the best food for birds that eat small seeds.
Cracked Corn is a good, inexpensive food that appeals to a large number of birds, including doves, sparrows, juncos and cardinals according to this article.
Niger Thistle seeds are expensive but can also be fed. Hulled sunflower seeds will attract finches and is much cheaper than thistle seed.
It is less expensive to buy the individual type of seeds in bulk and mix your own seeds: 50% oil sunflower seeds (unhulled); 35% white proso millet; and 15% finely cracked corn.
NUT MEATS are highly nutritious and provide necessary amino acids and protein the bird's body cannot produce. They also have oil and are energy producing.
Other Year-round Feeding Tips
Dried or fresh fruit and baked goods (bagels, hard rolls, pizza crusts) are liked by many birds. Bird beaks and gullets cannot handle large chunks, so break items into small pieces.
Sand or ground oyster shells are also welcomed to help their gizzards grind food.
The location of the food is also important. Do not put food 'out in the open' away from protection. It makes the birds easy prey for hawks and cats. The best spot is to put the feeder 5 to 10 feet from a bush, shrub or tree. More than one feeder prevents one bird from monopolizing the feeder.
A year round water supply is very beneficial. During winter water is very hard to find and birds need a source.
An Audubon Magazine article on bird feeding.