With the weather outside cold and the leaves off the trees, it’s a great time to sit inside the comfort of your home and watch the parade of birds flying into your yard to feed. Sparrows, doves and towhees peck seeds and grains off the ground while cardinals and finches forage for seeds, berries and insects from shrubs, and chickadees, titmice and woodpeckers feed in the trees. This winter you can increase the number of birds visiting your yard for your birdwatching enjoyment by providing them with safe bird feeders and food.
The best bird feeder we’ve found is the house-shaped hopper feeder that is filled from the top with birdseed, which is then dispensed into a tray at the bottom via gravity. Many types of birds like the cardinal and tufted titmouse can sit on the ledges to crack seeds for your viewing pleasure. In addition, suet cages can be attached to either side of the feeder to attract the 6 species of showy woodpeckers that live on the Cumberland Plateau and need high energy food to survive the cold winter. It’s best to have feeders made not of wood but of synthetic materials that do not absorb moisture or contaminants and are easy to clean. Also, a dome-shaped squirrel guard below the feeder is a must if you want to feed birds and not just squirrels.
To avoid tragic and unintended casualties, the Audubon Society recommends locating your bird feeders at least 5 feet off the ground and either 3 feet or 30 plus feet from windows to avoid collisions. Put decals on the window so birds know not to try to fly through them. Make sure the feeders are within 12 feet of trees or shrubs for shelter but not right next to trees and shrubs that could provide a launching pad for squirrels or cover for predators. And if you have an outdoor cat, don’t even think about putting up a bird feeder!
What should you feed the birds? According to Master Gardener Pam Barrett, black oil sunflowers are sought after by many species of birds. The seeds come in 40-50 lb. bags at local feed stores. Safflower seeds are popular with nut crackers like cardinals and grosbeaks and no-melt suet attracts woodpeckers. Don’t waste money on birdseed mixes, says Barrett, because most of them have filler seeds like millet that the birds throw on the ground in search of yummier seeds.
Birdseed should be kept fresh in a metal container with a lid for no more than two months, adds Barrett. The most important task for maintaining a bird feeder is to clean it at least every two weeks with soap and water and dry it thoroughly to prevent mold and avian diseases. The last thing you want to do is harm the birds you are trying to help through the winter!
If you want to provide a quick winter treat for birds but don’t want to spend the time or money to set up a formal bird-feeding station, you can buy a bird seed wreath or birdy bark butter log from the Cumberland County Master Gardeners until the end of February. To order the gift-bagged treats, call 931-484-0034 or email jburns35@utk.edu Be sure to specify the date you will pick up the bird treats at the UT Gardens: Plateau Discovery Gardens office, 320 Experiment Station Road, Crossville. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more lawn and garden products and tips, save the date for the 2024 Cumberland County Master Gardener’s Flower, Lawn and Garden Show April 26 and 27 at the Cumberland County Community Complex (fairgrounds). It will be a huge event with educational speakers and a vendor marketplace full of plants, yard and garden items, nature art, and food.
Cumberland County Master Gardeners is a 501C3 non-profit organization. To find out more, visit https://www.ccmga.org.