Feeding the Birds this Winter

Beautiful wild birds can brighten even the dreariest winter days.  When warm temperatures begin to drop and abundant food sources thin, your outdoor feathered friends will need to find a welcome habitat to soften the blow of those blustery winter days.  There are several things you can do to make sure your yard remains a sanctuary for birds this winter.          

Water is one of the most important things you can provide birds during the winter particularly because most natural water sources freeze.  You can purchase a heated bird bath or add a heater to an existing bird bath to ensure a constant supply of water throughout the winter.    

In addition to water, natural food sources such as berries and insects grow increasingly sparse during the winter months.  Providing suet, or animal fat, is an excellent way to feed birds during the winter because it offers a very high concentration of energy.  Suet is known to attract woodpeckers, finches, chickadees, and many other varieties of birds.  In addition to suet, black-oil sunflower seeds make an excellent food source for birds.  Thin and easily broken by small beaks, black-oil sunflower seeds contain an extremely high quality protein and are meatier than most other seeds. The seeds’ high oil content is particularly beneficial during the winter months because it provides birds with instant energy.    

Stein Gardens & Gifts has everything you need to create a comfortable environment for wild birds this winter.  Visit our store and let our experts help select the items that are right for you.