Why Feeding Birds in Fall and Winter Matters
As the leaves begin to fall and the days get shorter, the birds visiting our backyards start facing a different challenge. Many of the natural food sources they enjoyed during spring and summer begin disappearing. Insects become harder to find, flowers stop blooming, and berries and seeds are gradually picked over.
That makes fall a great time to get those bird feeders cleaned, filled and ready.
Handmade red glass bird feeder with finches feeding in a colorful autumn backyard.
Fall Is an Important Time for Backyard Birds
Birds don't suddenly start looking for food when winter arrives. They're looking for dependable food sources throughout the year, and fall is an important transition period.
Keeping your feeders filled during autumn gives your backyard visitors another reliable place to find food as the seasons change. And once they discover your feeders, don't be surprised when they become regular customers!
When Winter Arrives, Food Becomes Even More Important
Cold weather creates another challenge. Birds need energy to maintain their body temperature, and winter also brings shorter days—meaning fewer daylight hours to search for food.
That's when a dependable backyard feeding station can really help.
Black oil sunflower seed, sunflower hearts, peanuts and suet are all good high-energy choices for colder weather. Offering more than one type of food or feeder can also attract a wider variety of birds to your backyard.
Royal blue glass bird feeder with birds feeding on a snowy winter day.
Don’t Forget the Water
And don't forget about water. A clean source of fresh water can be especially valuable during colder weather, particularly when natural water sources are frozen or difficult to reach.
A Little Maintenance Goes a Long Way
Fall is also a good time to give your feeders a thorough cleaning and check them for damage before winter arrives.
During the colder months, continue removing old or wet seed and cleaning your feeders regularly. A feeder full of good seed isn't much help if the seed has become wet, moldy or spoiled.
And if snow or bad weather is headed your way, filling the feeders beforehand means one less trip outside when the weather turns nasty!
Keep the Birds Coming Back
One of the best things about feeding birds during fall and winter isn't complicated at all.
You get to enjoy them.
There is something pretty special about looking out the window on a cold winter morning and seeing chickadees, finches, nuthatches, woodpeckers and other backyard visitors gathered around your feeders.
They get a dependable place to find food.
And you get the show.
Tube bird feeder with WeatherDome and finches feeding in a colorful autumn backyard.