4 replies to this topic

[Tater]

Hey! Is there anything much I can do this winter to help the birds (and maybe squirrels?) at this time? We have lots of wind and cold weather (in the negatives)
I'll put the next part in a spoiler in case it's upsetting to someone:

Spoiler

Is there anything I can do for the other birds at all? Or is this just a lost cause here

Edited by Tater, 24 December 2021 - 11:56 AM.

[lifeofmammals]

I believe you may be able to help them a bit by offering suet, I think it gives them a lot of energy quickly which helps them when it is cold. You can buy it either as pellets to go in a bird feeder, or. as blocks which you hang from a bird feeder. It may take them a while to trust the bird feeder enough to approach it - when I used to have a garden with a bird feeder it took months/years for it to become really popular. Make sure you position it a good distance away from your windows so they don't get confused by the reflection and go flying straight into your window. 

 

Squirrels will help themselves to whatever food you put out for birds - I have even known them to gnaw their way through squirrel proof bird feeders. I personally don't mind, but be aware that if you put out sunflower seeds squirrels may eat them so quickly that you are refilling every day.

[lil BIG dwarf]

We have multiple feeders out, as well as some bird houses stuffed with different warm materials. We've seen like 6 different birds (varieties), so that seems to be working here

[nebit]

High fat food will help them keep warm. That includes sunflower seeds and suet.

[Tater]

Spoiler

I believe you may be able to help them a bit by offering suet, I think it gives them a lot of energy quickly which helps them when it is cold. You can buy it either as pellets to go in a bird feeder, or. as blocks which you hang from a bird feeder. It may take them a while to trust the bird feeder enough to approach it - when I used to have a garden with a bird feeder it took months/years for it to become really popular. Make sure you position it a good distance away from your windows so they don't get confused by the reflection and go flying straight into your window. 

 

Squirrels will help themselves to whatever food you put out for birds - I have even known them to gnaw their way through squirrel proof bird feeders. I personally don't mind, but be aware that if you put out sunflower seeds squirrels may eat them so quickly that you are refilling every day.

 

 

We have multiple feeders out, as well as some bird houses stuffed with different warm materials. We've seen like 6 different birds (varieties), so that seems to be working here

 

 

High fat food will help them keep warm. That includes sunflower seeds and suet.

 

Thank you guys for your responses! I'll try to talk with my parents to see if they are willing to do any of this.