How To Attract Birds To Your Yard This Winter

Winter is unquestionably the most colourless of all seasons. Very few plants are still alive, and colors all but disappear from the landscape. In this frigid black and white world, however, there are a few flying glimpses of color. While many birds migrate, others remain in cold climates year-round. If you want to see these beautiful creatures on winter’s coldest days, you need to find ways to attract them into your yard.

To see more birds to your yard during the winter months, consider installing bird feeders in strategic locations. Ensure you constantly replenish feeders with energy-rich food. Learn which birds inhabit your area during the winter and cater to their shelter and food needs. Protect birds from predators, keep bird baths filled, and install additional birdhouses and temporary shelters.

Birds are one of the most elusive animals on Earth. They are easily spooked and prefer to roam free rather than make a single location their home. Therefore, luring birds to your yard in the winter can be particularly challenging. While it may be difficult, it isn’t impossible. Below is a list of practical ways to help attract more birds to your yard in the winter months.

Four Reasons You Want Birds In Your Yard In The Winter

1. They Are A Joy To Watch

One simple but important reason why it’s a good idea to lure birds into your yard is their beauty. Simply put, birds are fun to look at. Watching these beautiful flying creatures amid a desolate winter landscape is one of the few blessings cold winter weather offers.

Bird watching is a fantastic pastime for those living in cold climates who have found ways to attract birds into their yards. Placing feeders near windows will give you a front row seat to the daily show these feathered animals put on.

2. Natural Pest Control

Many birds love eating bugs. While bugs aren’t as plentiful in cold weather, they are still around. As long as the ground isn’t frozen solid, birds will try to find insects to eat. Birds are a great way to control pests in your garden. 

They are invaluable at controlling pest populations in the late fall and in early spring. Spring can be a popular time for garden pests, so having birds already keeping insect populations in check is very beneficial to your garden.

3. Songbirds Are Therapeutic

Winter landscapes can feel lonely, empty, and depressing. The trees are bare, and almost all plants are dead or dormant. There is also very little sunlight. The beautiful sound of songbirds can be very therapeutic. Birds can improve your mood and make you happier on winter’s bleakest days.

4. They Support Your Garden’s Ecosystem

Birds are a crucial component in supporting the overall ecosystem of your garden. In the spring and summer, they are excellent pollinators. In the fall and winter, they disperse seeds to various locations, promoting new growth. Keeping birds on your property throughout the year, including the winter, ensures a stable and healthy ecosystem in your yard.

Nine Ways To Attract More Birds To Your Yard This Winter

1. Know Which Birds Live In Your Region In The Winter

If you want to attract more birds to your yard in the coldest season of the year, then you need to know which birds stick around in your region in the winter. Identifying the bird species that live near you in the winter is the first step in attracting them to your yard.

Different bird species have different specific needs and preferences. Once you know which species you are trying to attract, you can cater to each bird’s specific needs and desires. Since birds come in different shapes and sizes, you can even buy birdhouses and shelters that are designed for the exact bird species you want to attract.

2. Install More Bird Houses

Birds require additional shelter and protection in the winter. The lack of leaves and shrubs leaves them vulnerable to predators and extreme weather. Bird houses will attract birds at any time of year, but they are particularly effective in the winter months.

When selecting a birdhouse, look for structures explicitly designed for the birds you are trying to attract. These houses should shelter birds from the weather and protect them from winter predators.

3. Keep Bird Feeders Full

In the winter months, birds have fewer food sources. This is particularly true in regions with freezing temperatures and significant snowfall. Since birds have fewer food sources, bird feeders are one of the best ways to attract these animals to your yard.

Bird feeders are likely to get a lot of action in the winter. Therefore, you must check on them regularly and make sure they are full at all times. A consistent food source is the best way to keep birds coming to your yard throughout the winter.

4. Switch To Energy-Rich Bird Feed

In addition to keeping your bird feeder filled, make sure you are providing birds with the correct food. The seeds you feed birds in the summer months might not be the best choice in the winter.

Energy-rich feed is typically more beneficial in the winter, as birds require additional energy to stay healthy and warm. Ask your local pet supply store which bird feed is best to use outside during the coldest months.

5. Keep Feeders Near Shelter

You should also carefully consider where you place a bird feeder. While it’s nice to have it near a window, which allows you to watch birds from inside your warm home, you also must consider a bird’s safety. Since these animals are particularly exposed and vulnerable to predators in the winter, it’s smart to keep a bird feeder near a sheltered location. Hang feeders among tree branches, in an evergreen shrub, or close to a birdhouse.

6. Try Ground Feeding

Bird feeders aren’t the only way to feed birds. Some birds prefer to scavenge for food themselves. In addition to strategically placing a bird feeder throughout your yard, you can also try sprinkling feed throughout the yard. If you notice birds picking at the ground, then continue this practice throughout the winter. 

7. Replenish The Bird Bath Regularly

Bird baths are often neglected in the winter, especially when they freeze over. It’s important to remember that birds need to drink water, even on the coldest days of winter. Therefore, it’s essential to provide a consistent water source during the winter.

Keep your birdbath filled and clean. If the birdbath freezes, provide an alternative water source during cold snaps.

8. Create Additional Shelters Using Dead Branches

A birdhouses isn't the only way to provide birds with vital shelter in the winter. You can use dead branches and evergreen clipping to build small brush piles. These piles offer small crevices where birds can hide from predators and rest throughout the day. These brush piles fill the void left by bare shrubs.

9. Find Ways To Keep Winter Predators Away

Predators will quickly scare birds away. Therefore, you should find ways to keep winter predators out of your yard. If you have a fence, keep it closed and inspect it regularly to ensure there are no holes or gaps that could create vulnerabilities. 

If you have dogs, avoid letting them outside while birds are feeding in the yard. The fewer predators present in your yard, the more comfortable birds will feel, making a more permanent shelter on your property.

Summing Up Ways To Attract Birds To Your Yard This Winter

Many birds migrate to warmer climates once the fall arrives, but some bird species remain throughout the winter months. To attract these year-round birds to your yard, install more birdhouses and keep bird feeders full. Know which bird species stick around in the winter, and do your best to cater to their needs.

Related Guides:

• How To Protect Bird Feeders From Pests
• Tips To Stop Birds From Nesting On Your Property
• How Do I Protect My Bird Feeders From The Rain?