How to Feed Kentucky Birds in the Winter
One of the best sounds in nature is the sound of birds chirping and singing. When cooler temperatures and winter roll around, not all birds migrate to warmer weather, some birds stick out the harsh elements of winter. Food becomes scarce in the winter for birds, so many birds will flock to feeding stations, A.K.A bird feeders!
Bird feeders are a fun, affordable, and easy way to bring wildlife and the sounds of nature right into your backyard during the heart of winter. Birds especially stand out in a leafless and snow blanketed white winter landscape.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to feed Kentucky birds, especially in the winter..
Over 360 species of birds are reported in the state of Kentucky, of those, 71 are considered to visit bird feeders. Some of these birds you might see are:
- American Tree Sparrow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Purple Finch
- Rusty Blackbird
- Snow Bunting
- Fox Sparrow
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
There are many different ways to feed birds, here are some easy ways to help these feathered friends!
Spread the Feed Across Your Lawn
Or spread a variety of nut butter directly onto tree trunks (please only feed birds nut butter with nuts as the ONLY ingredient)
Bowls
These can easily be set on the ground, slightly elevated, filled with seed for
feeding. If you are worried about other animals feeding at low heights, simply place or tie bowls onto trees or perches!
Bird Feeders
There are several different bird feeders you can purchase, including tube feeders, which are great to keep the seed safe from weather elements such as wind and moisture. Hopper feeders, while needing more maintenance against weather elements, are very attractive to most feeder birds.
How & What to Feed Kentucky Birds
When picking what to feed birds, there is a variety of options that will keep the birds coming back for seconds! Stick to options with high fat and proteins that are crucial to a Kentucky bird’s diet. These options include mixed seed, oil sunflower seed, suet, mixed nuts, mixed fruits, insects, pure nut butter, cracked corn, mealworms, and thistle seed.
When feeding birds, you have a responsibility to feed them correctly. Please never feed birds bread, popcorn, cereals, cookies, dairy, or any other type of processed food. “Human food” has no nutritional value to birds and can cause severe harm to them. Make sure to finely chop any food you supply and never feed them anything they could not easily swallow. When possible, place food out of harsh elements way, especially watching out for high winds.
When temperatures dip below freezing, know it is especially difficult for birds to find water. Large bowls of water, standing birdbaths, and hanging birdbaths are easy to empty and refill as they begin to freeze. Although this task requires more regulation due to water freezing, the extra effort will not go unnoticed and will make any feathered friend beyond grateful. Purchasing a heating element to prevent water from freezing is sure to keep your yard filled with happy birds.
Once spring rolls around, Four Seasons Landscape Management provides a number of
landscaping services, including spring yard clean-up. Visit our Services page today to see how we can help you get your yard springtime ready to keep the birds returning through every season.
