Austin, Texas

Being Seasonally Savvy: You Can Help Birds Survive

It’s really hard to think of wild birds as being loyal friends.

After all, they are truly one of the freest creatures on the planet, able to fly anywhere at any time with nothing to bind them to any single location.

But birds, like humans, are creatures of habit and bird banding studies have shown that many of our winter birds, such as Juncos and native sparrows, utilize the same wintering location year after year.

With a potential lifespan of over 10 years, it is likely that the Junco gleaning millet off of the ground below one of your feeders has spent many previous winters as your loyal backyard guest. And recent research shows that is only half the story!

These birds are not only loyal to a specific location, but also to a single feeder! The study showed that the only time they abandoned their favorite feeder was during periods of cold weather when the feeder was in a location too exposed to the wind.

So help your birds stay loyal and warm by locating your feeders in a sheltered location out of the wind. The east or southeast side of a house or near a row of trees or evergreens is ideal.

By providing a properly sheltered foundational feeder, one that you keep filled at all times, you can help your birds with the crucial nutrition they need to survive the coldest months of the year. Recent research has shown that a consistent and reliable source of food helps birds to build body fat reserves, reduce their physiological stress and maintain a healthy body condition. 

Stop by our store for more expert advice and quality products that will help your birds to stay true blue and warm, too this winter.