Fall /  winter bird checklist

Checklist For Fall/Winter Birding

With many migratory birds passing through or wintering in our generally mild climate, backyard birding can be even more enjoyable during the colder months. If you don’t already have a feeder, now is a great time to start. We carry a full line of feeders and feeder styles, including Droll Yankees, Aspects, and Brome.

Here are some seasonal tips to help you nourish and protect your local and migrating bird population: 

Clean your bird houses and feeders. 

Clean out your bird houses at least twice a year. Fall is a great time to prepare a clean, fresh home before the spring nesting season begins. Considering a new bird house? We’ve got a wide selection of functional, yet unique and decorative styles.

Feeders, especially, need regular cleaning every couple of weeks to reduce the risk of disease for your birds. Our Bird Feeder Cleaner can make the job easier. You can also take apart your feeder and run it through the dishwasher, or hand wash with soap and boiling water. Make sure the feeder is thoroughly dry before refilling. 

Feed throughout the winter.

Birds don’t need our feeders to survive, but when their natural food is harder to find in the colder months, it helps to have a convenient food source. Offer high-energy and protein-rich food like suet, peanuts, mealworms, and the ever-favorite black oil sunflower seed to attract and nourish your birds. Check out our selection of suet and seed from top-quality brands, including Wild Delight, Cole’s, Lyric, and C&S.

Check your nest boxes for “roosters.” 

If you already have sturdy nest boxes on your property, you are in good shape to provide a sheltered spot for your birds. If not, now is a great time to consider adding a house. Bluebird boxes, for instance, host as many birds in winter as they do in summer. In addition to bluebird houses, we offer “roosting pockets,” also known as “temporary housing,” for use in the winter months.

Provide a clean water source. 

A birdbath for drinking and bathing is a year-round essential. Clean your birdbath two or three times per week and refill with fresh, clean water. When the temperature drops near freezing, consider adding a bubbler or a heater in your birdbath to keep the water from icing over. You can also float a tennis ball in the water to help keep ice from forming -- and the bright color is a bonus that helps attract birds’ attention. 

We’ve got birdbaths in traditional concrete as well as beautiful garden-art glass models. Ask us about our Water Wigglers and solar-powered bubblers. 

And don’t forget the field guide!

Fall and winter is a great time to keep a birding field guide and binoculars handy to help identify and learn more about the birds you are hosting in your backyard.