Attracting birds to a newly placed feeder during the winter requires understanding their survival instincts and energy needs. Cold temperatures demand a strategic approach, as birds are naturally cautious of unfamiliar objects. Their time spent feeding must be highly efficient to conserve body heat. By focusing on safety and high-calorie resources, a new feeder can quickly become a reliable, busy stop for local avian populations.
Strategic Feeder Placement for Visibility and Safety
The placement of a new feeder must balance high visibility for discovery with safety from predators. Positioning the feeder near natural cover, such as evergreen trees or dense shrubs, provides birds with a quick escape route from raptors or neighborhood cats. The feeder should be placed approximately ten feet away from cover to prevent squirrels and other predators from easily launching attacks.
A major concern is preventing fatal window collisions. To mitigate this, the feeder should be placed either very close to the window, within three feet, or far away, at a distance of 30 feet or more. Placing the feeder within three feet ensures that if a bird flies into the glass, it will not have built up enough speed to cause a fatal injury. This strategy avoids the dangerous zone that exists between three and 30 feet from the window, where birds can gain momentum for a deadly strike.
Selecting High-Energy Winter Feeds
Winter conditions significantly increase a bird’s metabolic rate, requiring them to consume high-fat, high-calorie foods to maintain their body temperature. Birds have fewer daylight hours to forage, making the availability of nutrient-dense food a matter of survival. Black oil sunflower seeds are widely regarded as the best single-source feed because their thin shells are easy for a variety of species to crack. They contain a high ratio of fat and protein, which helps fuel the constant shivering necessary for warmth during frigid nights.
Suet is another excellent food for winter, as it is a pure fat substance that remains solid in cold weather and provides concentrated energy. Suet is particularly attractive to woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees, who need the extra fat when insects become scarce. Offering shelled peanuts or peanut granules also supplies significant protein and fat, which is especially popular with blue jays, titmice, and juncos. Avoid inexpensive mixed seeds that contain filler ingredients like milo or flax, as birds often discard these less nutritious components, leading to waste and potential ground contamination.
Immediate Attraction Techniques for New Feeders
Birds are instinctively wary of new objects, so a new feeder often requires initial coaxing. To help birds discover the food source, scattering a small amount of the preferred seed mix directly on the ground beneath the feeder provides an immediate visual cue. Ground-feeding species, such as doves and juncos, will find this scattered seed quickly, and their presence will signal to other birds that the area is safe and contains food.
Sprinkling a few sunflower seeds or peanut pieces directly onto the feeder platform or perches also makes the food highly visible to flying birds. If the yard lacks established bird traffic, temporarily placing a small, familiar feeder near the new one can help redirect birds to the new station once they feel comfortable. Patience is needed, as it may take a new feeder several days or even a few weeks to be fully discovered and accepted by local flocks.
Maintaining the Station and Encouraging Return Visits
Once birds begin visiting, consistent maintenance is important to ensure the feeding station remains a reliable and healthy resource, especially in the cold. Feeders should be cleaned approximately every two weeks, or even more frequently during periods of heavy use or wet conditions. This hygiene prevents the spread of diseases like salmonellosis, which can occur when birds contact droppings or spoiled seed.
Cleaning involves disassembling the feeder and scrubbing it with a mild soap or a dilute bleach solution of one part bleach to nine parts water, followed by a thorough rinse and complete drying before refilling. Continuous refilling is necessary, as birds quickly learn to rely on the consistent availability of the food source in winter. Providing a source of open, unfrozen water is another strong attractant, as drinking and bathing water can be difficult to find in cold weather. A heated bird bath is particularly effective, as birds need clean feathers for insulation and require water to prevent dehydration.