How To Attract Birds During Winter

5 Helpful Tips To Attract Birds To Your Yard

By Richard Worden

When winter kicks in, it's tougher to find avians because many have fled the country. While everyone is basking in the holiday spirits, it can get really gloomy for birders. However, there are ways to lure the few birds available to spend their Christmas and New Year Eves just outside your window. So let's learn how to attract birds during winter...

You can attract birds during winter by placing bird feeders in your yard. Regardless of the frigid conditions, birds need food to survive, so they’ll track it in no time. Ensure the feeders are clean and safe. Moreover, bird shelters and heated baths also draw birds to your home during winter.

There's no cause for alarm if you don't see more birds than usual during the Christmas holiday, but you’ll need to put in more effort if you want to see them. Continue reading this article to learn the proven ways to attract birds quickly and easily.

1. Prepare Bird Feeders

During winter, many trees wither, insects aren't as ubiquitous as before, and even humans who would have unwittingly provided some crumbs are near warm fireplaces at home. So, birds generally don't find much to eat, which is detrimental to their survival.

If you strategically set up a bird feeder in your yard filled with enough feed, birds will never leave your home. You'll enjoy their non-stop chirping all day, all winter, provided their feast never runs out.

Droll Yankees Big Top, 7-inch Specialty Feeder on Amazon is highly recommended if you don't yet have one. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing to complement other holiday decorations in your yard, but it is highly functional. 

Multiple birds can feed at once in the 7-inch (17.78-cm) feeding dish that can hold up to 0.5 lbs (226.79 grams) of seed. Moreover, unlike most feeders, it deters ants from competing for feed with birds.

Tips For Preparing Bird Feeders During Winter

Just setting up feeders won't magnet all the birds in America to your yard during winter. There's still a lot to research and consider, so take heed of these tips to get it right:

• Place the feeders nearest to shrubs to make birds feel secure, especially from predators. Doorbell sounds, car honks, or other loud sounds can scare birds.
• If you have more than one feeder, set them at different heights to attract more species.
• Know the birds in your area to determine the best type of seeds to buy.
• Select the most nourishing feeds, rich in fats and oil, such as thistle seeds, hulled peanuts, or black oil sunflower seeds.
• The feed should also be high-quality and free from pests or diseases.
• Be consistent in refilling the feeder when their meal is finished if you want to keep your new friends around longer.
• Isolate your feeder up to 8 feet (2.43 meters) from the ground and 5 feet (1.52 meters) from any other direction. You planned to feed birds, not squirrels.
• Keep the feeders clean and germ-free always. Getting birds sick from poor hygiene essentially defeats the aim of having them around throughout winter.
  
  

2. Build/Buy Bird Shelters

Just as humans need to remain sheltered and warm during snowstorms, birds try to ensure that. And your assistance with a shelter near your home can quickly turn them into new neighbors.

You can simply buy a bird box from Amazon. I recommend Nature's Way Bluebird Box House, but it depends on the species you plan to attract. Different sizes, shapes, orientations, and holes lure various birds, so do your prior research.

However, Nature's Way Box Houses are suitable for bluebirds, finches, and other similar-sized or smaller birds. They are sturdy with proper air vents and predator guards, all proven to attract birds for nesting.

If you're more of a DIYer, there are simple and practical ways to build them. Building your own allows you to decide the size of birds that'll settle in them. Follow this extensive guide on wikiHow.

When your birdhouse is ready, mount it on a pole at least 10 feet (3.04 meters) from the ground. It should be safe from ground predators at that height, but camouflaging them near plants will also conceal them from avian predators. how to attract birds during winter

Your work isn't done yet.

Provide natural materials for nesting close by, depending on the species you're attracting. The items can include:

• Hair
• String
• Yarn
• Straws
• Pet fur
• Twigs
• Sticks

More often, the chances are high that some species will fancy your bird box, especially if they've been attracted by your feeder. Just research to be sure that they are around and nest in such artificial bird houses during winter.

3. Set Heated Bird Baths

Some bird species may not be interested in your feeders or bird box, but no one says no to some refreshing water.

During winter, it doesn't rain, and ponds and lakes have frozen, so it's harder for birds to find water. With a heated bird bath on your property, you're sure to attract many avians.

These stands ensure that fresh water is always available on the coldest days by keeping it warm in two ways:

• Built-in plug baths: This kind of heated bird bath is the most efficient and comes with a plug that needs an electrical connection. The water will remain liquid for the birds to drink or bathe in if the power doesn't go out.

• Immersion baths: Immersion bird baths are just regular ones that require a device immersed in the water to keep it warm.

Many birders who have used the Hugeneroy Heated Bird Bath testify to its efficiency. The temperature, controlled by a thermostat, ensures that it never freezes, regardless of the weather conditions. Moreover, it automatically cuts off the power supply when there's no more water, saving electricity bills.

As for regular baths, GESAIL Outdoor Bird Bath Heater is a good immersion heater. It can work efficiently in plastic, metal, stone, or glass bird baths, so there's no cause for worry.

If you can't use either bird bath, please turn to other options to attract birds. Never add anti-freeze because it is highly toxic to birds or any animal that drinks it.
How to attract birds during winte

4. Make Your Home More Inviting

Birds may randomly perch on a pole close by or pick up crumbs in your yard and fly away during winter. But to make them stick around longer, your home must be welcoming.

They don't want their safety compromised while benefiting from you in some way, so consider the following for a more bird-enticing home:

Keep Your Pets Out of Sight

Cats are predators to birds, and no matter how "well-behaved" your feline friend is, you won't be attracting any feathered ones with them around. 

Even if you have dogs, many bird species will be too scared to come close, especially when they bark loudly. 

In the same way, ward away wild predators from your yard, including snakes and raccoons. You can buy the most expensive feeders and fill them with the sweetest seeds; no bird wants to lose their lives by coming close to a home with so many predators. how to attract birds during winter

Grow Native Trees

This is a long shot that can be time-consuming and won’t happen overnight. However, if you have trees and shrubs native to your area in your yard, birds will feel more welcomed during winter. They'll serve as natural habitats as they nest on them, reducing the need to provide bird boxes. 

Moreover, if the tree blooms during this season, it can be a good source of food with nuts, seeds, fruits, and insects possibly present. Remember that not all bird species eat the same food.

Add More Leaves and Grasses to Your Yard

Birds like it messy, so try to provide that on your property. If you already have garden beds, place some compost on them. They will attract insects and worms, which are sumptuous meals for birds. 

Also, don't use pesticides for any reason because they could kill what would have otherwise been foods for the birds you're luring. Chemicals inside it could also cause serious complications when birds digest pesticide-contaminated materials.

5. Try Other Locations

If you've done everything possible in your yard and it's still not attracting birds during winter, it may be time to hit the road.

Go to a friend's house, bird parks, mountainous areas, or anywhere else and check if you can find and lure birds to you. If you hold out seeds, audacious birds like the tufted titmouse will gladly feed from your hand if they are around. how to attract birds during winter

Usually, birds are in flocks with a leader guiding them. So, maybe your house hasn't been on their radar yet.

And as discussed earlier, do extensive research to confirm that the birds you're looking for are actually around during winter. Many birds aren't comfortable with the frigid climate at that time of the year, so they leave as it draws closer.

How To Attract Birds During Winter
...Conclusion

You're not alone if you can't find birds during winter because most of them have fled the country for warmer regions.

However, you can attract the few ones using the methods outlined in the sections above. Happy birdwatching! 

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Hi! I'm Richard Worden, the author and founder of We Know Birds.

Over 20 years ago I developed a keen interest in birds and birdwatching, and it has been my passion ever since. I am committed to spreading useful knowledge about birds to others so we might all enjoy them to the fullest.

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