This is the coldest week we have had so far this winter. But there is no doubt that it will get much colder in January and February. Although we know it will get colder, let's hope we have a relatively mild winter this year. With the current cost of heating fuels, many of us will have a hard time paying our fuel bills if we have to endure a lot of real cold weather.

Winter is especially difficult for our feathered friends. Research has shown that almost one-half of the birds born during the summer do not live past the first year. Some of them are killed by predators, but many of them die during the winter because of harsh weather or the lack of food.

Many of us like to watch birds in our backyard. We see many different species during the spring and summer. Most of these birds are migratory; they move further south during the winter in order to escape the harsh weather and to locate the foods they need to survive. They will return during the spring and start building nests and raising their young.

Although we seem to get more enjoyment from watching and feeding birds during the summer when they are more active, we should devote much more attention to feeding and providing for our feathered friends during the winter. They need our help more during the winter, so let me give you a few quick and easy suggestions.

Since it is time for Christmas, why not construct a Christmas tree for all the birds that might venture into your backyard? This will be an even more enjoyable project if you involve your children, grandchildren, or the neighborhood children.

Cut out one quarter of an orange, and then hollow out the inside. Fill the inside with birdseed and hang on the tree. Other fruits can be used just as well. Assorted sizes of pine cones can be smeared with peanut butter, rolled in birdseed, and hung on the tree.

Use a thin, sharp needle to thread popcorn into sections of assorted colors of cord. Kinda like we used to use on our own Christmas trees, except make the sections of cord much shorter. Stale popcorn strings a lot better than fresh popcorn, and the birds like it just as well. You can also string raw peanuts, cranberries, and dried fruits for high energy treats for the birds. Then, leave the short pieces of cord in the tree for the birds to collect next spring to make their nests.

Use cookie cutters to trace seasonal patterns onto cardboard. The larger the cookie cutter the better. Cut out the shapes, smear the cardboard with peanut butter and either sprinkle with birdseed or press into a platter containing birdseed. Be sure to attach the cardboard securely to the tree so that you don't create a lot of litter in your backyard, or even worse, in your neighbor's backyard. You can also use toasted bread to do this, but the shapes aren't as pretty, and if it rains, the bread will get soggy and fall apart.

Tie wire or stout cord around ears of corn and then hang them from the tree. Even when the corn is eaten from the cob, the cob can be recycled by smearing with peanut butter or leftover kitchen grease and rolling in birdseed.

You can even string a variety of cereals that will provide nutritious food for the birds. Of course, those cereals that are shaped like Os are much easier to string. Most birds even like stale doughnuts and bagels, so if you ever have leftover baked items, use them to feed the birds instead of throwing in the garbage.

Many other items that come from our kitchens can be used to feed the birds. Raisins, nuts, and even potato peelings are treats for some birds. But remember, different birds eat different kinds of foods. Some birds eat primarily seeds, some eat primarily suet, and others still try to find insects even during the winter. So provide a variety of treats for your birds.

Clean water is just as important for the birds as having plenty to eat. Most birds in our area cannot survive more than two days without water. Under most conditions, birds can find water fairly easily. But when the temperatures drop below freezing, they can find only ice, not water.

Tops of garbage cans, pie plates, and other items found around the house make good substitutes for birdbaths. We don't have to be as concerned with the mosquito problem during the winter, so we can leave water in these containers for extended periods of time. If the temperatures do drop below freezing and stay below freezing during the day when the birds are searching for food and water, it is a good idea to remove the ice from the container and replace with fresh water.

You probably have suggestions of your own about quick and easy ways to provide feed and water for birds. If so, share that information with your friends, neighbors, and business associates. The birds will be glad you did.

There are many inexpensive books, and thousands of sites on the web, that provide much more information about feeding birds. I encourage you to make a special effort to provide feed and water for the birds this winter. They will have a difficult time surviving, even with your help.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 12/21/04