?Often during the long winter, birders will feed the local birds that hang around their house to help them survive the wet, snowy, or icy conditions. Bird enthusiasts enjoy the company of the birds too. Often in the morning, I will sit at my dining room table and watch the birds at the feeder, eating the seeds and the other goodies that I have left for them. By keeping a birding journal, I can keep track of the species that visit the feeder. Some of the species will stay all winter, while others pass through, grabbing a quick snack.

Many of our local birds, such as our humming birds, robins, and warblers migrate to a warmer climate during the winter, but several species stick out the cold weather, and seem to thrive upon it. Our Stellers jay, juncos, chickadees, and varied thrushes, for example, will hang around as long as there is plenty of feed. Just like any active animal, birds use up more energy in cold weather, so it is important that they get a good supply of grains, seeds, and other foods in order to survive.

According to the Portland Audubon Society, our local birds in winter get about one-fourth of their food from people who feed them. This can be more in places where the snow covers the ground for a considerable time. The type of food birders put out for their feathered friends varies, but it includes black sunflower seeds (sometimes called oil seeds), niger seed, safflower, and white millet. Most birds especially love the black sunflower seeds, because of its high fat content. Knowledgeable birders do not buy the mixed birdseed, as it usually contains a lot of cheap filler that the birds dont like.

It is also good to put out suet for birds, especially if there is an extended cold spell. Suet is a good replacement for the insects that many birds like to feed on. Suet is the fatty tissue around cattle and sheep and can be fed to birds from wire mesh feeders, onion sacks, or on a typical bird feeder. Insect eating birds such as chickadees and nuthatches particularly love suet.

Keep in mind that not all birds eat at the same level in a forest. Some like to feed off the ground, others prefer to feed on trees, others like covered feeding trays of varying height. For example, woodpeckers prefer suet that is attached to trees, chickadees and sparrows like to eat off the ground, and finches and grosbeaks like raised feeders.

When placing a bird feeder, consider the prevailing winds, and put the feeder in a sheltered spot. One handy way to feed birds is to spread peanut butter in and around pinecones and hang these from eaves or next to a tree. Peanut butter is rich in fat and birds love it.

Even though obtaining water in not usually a problem for birds in the Seaside area, in colder climates water can be difficult for birds to come by in winter. In such climates, many friends of birds use a heated birdbath they have purchased in a pet shop or home improvement store.

Sometimes birders have problems with squirrels stealing bird food. While it might be a nice gesture to feed the squirrels as well, wrapping some sheet aluminum around the post of the bird feeder can sometimes keep the squirrels away. Usually what works best though, is just to give the squirrels some shelled corn (some birds will eat this too). The squirrels will prefer the corn to the bird seed and will, hopefully, leave the birds food alone.

Take care of your birds this winter. Remember that the food and shelter you provide them will help them survive the cold, stormy weather we have been having.