Yes, birds do eat from feeders in winter. Supplemental food can be especially useful during snow, ice, and severe cold, when natural foraging is harder or more energy-intensive. The mix of birds can also change with the season: some summer visitors migrate away while juncos, sparrows, siskins, and other winter visitors move in or become … Read more
Attracting finches can involve more waiting than people expect, especially when a new feeder is filled with seed that local birds are not using. For American Goldfinches, nyjer and sunflower are both strong food choices, but freshness, feeder design, local bird presence, weather, and natural food all affect traffic. Start with small amounts of good … Read more
Attracting hummingbirds does not require a feeder. Native flowering plants can provide nectar, insects, perches, and cover while fitting naturally into the rest of the yard. The strongest plant-based setup uses locally native species with tubular, nectar-rich flowers and a sequence of bloom times across the hummingbird season. A good garden can become a place … Read more
Homemade suet can be a useful cool-weather food for woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, and other fat-eating feeder birds. The important preparation step is rendering plain beef fat so meat particles and other impurities are removed before you make the cake. Rendering improves keeping quality and consistency, but it does not turn a homemade block into … Read more
Winter can be one of the easiest times to notice Northern Cardinals because they remain in their range year-round and often become more social outside the breeding season. In fall and winter they may forage in flocks ranging from a handful of birds to much larger groups, so feeder activity can arrive in bursts rather … Read more