e sse nt i al nonprofit
Wonderful Ways to Welcome
Winter
BIRDS
by Kaitlin Svabek
February is National Bird-Feeding Month, and for good reason! Unpredictable weather means many birds, both year-round residents and winter visitors, can benefit from supplemental sources of food. Plus, taking time to enjoy the beautiful, interesting, frisky birds at your feeder can help minimize the cabin fever that tends to set in this time of year. Whether you’re a seasoned backyard birder or just getting started, there’s no such thing as 24 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s
too much information when it comes to accommodating avian visitors.
Choosing the Right Feeders Choose the right types of food and feeders to entice different types of birds.
Tube Feeders A classic bird feeder, tube feeders are composed of one main compartment with small holes and perches that allow
A bold, black and white downy woodpecker hangs onto the side of a suet feeder. Two popular local birds, downy and hairy woodpeckers, appear similar from a distance, but a trained eye can discern the downy’s smaller stature and shorter, stouter bill.
