A Winter Without Acorns
Although most people haven’t noticed, oak trees have not produced many acorns this year. This is most likely due to poor weather conditions during the time of pollination in early spring. Oak trees pollinate by the wind carrying its pollen to the tiny female flowers. If there is too much rain or other unfavorable condition such as a calm and windless spring it will reduce the success rate of pollination and result in a poor acorn harvest. This problem will have no affect on the health or survival of trees and is part of its normal cycle of life.
Not long ago a year without acorns would have been devastating to Native Americans and other humans who depended on acorns as a source of protein during the winter months. In recent times we have stopped eating acorns and switched to other more desirable nuts to eat.
Unfortunately, a year without acorns is tragic for the wildlife that depend on them as a reliable winter food source. Deer, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, possum and white bellied mice are a few of the creatures that will have very difficult winter. Even Black bears include acorns in their diets to fatten up before hibernation. Included in this group are many of our wild songbirds such as blue jays, cardinals and finches. Luckily these birds can fly to backyard birdfeeders to help survive the winter. If you have never fed back yard birds before this winter is a perfect year to start.
Backyard winter bird feeding is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States and Europe. Many people spend a lot of money on birdfeeders and different types of seed to attract various birds to their yards. In this article I am going to discuss a few ways you can supplement this protein and help our feathered friends survive this winter.
Try to keep your feeding areas close by so they easier to maintain, with a good view from your window. The easier it is, the more likely it is you will keep doing it. Birds need our help most when the snow covers the ground and cuts off all other food supplies.
Black oil sunflower seed is perhaps the best food you can use to feed your birds. Black oil is high in protein and attracts a large variety of wild birds including goldfinches, mourning doves and cardinals. Birds use protein as fuel to burn and keep themselves warm during freezing temperatures so black oil seeds are a desirable high-quality food source.
‘Wild bird’ seed mixes are available everywhere and seem like a great value but they are loaded with cheap fillers like corn which has little nutritional value for wintering birds. These fillers also attract bigger more aggressive birds like grackles and starlings that will gobble your seed and chase the smaller more colorful and desirable birds away.
Many people would like to help feed birds during the winter, but for various reasons do not want to get involved with tending bird feeders. When the ground is frozen or covered with snow there is a simple technique you will appreciate and many birds love. Simply sprinkle seed on the ground and your birds will eat it up. I have a mulched area close to my door that I use to sprinkle the seed on. In early spring I simply put fresh mulch over this area to cover up the old seed hulls.
Gleaning is a type of foraging technique where birds methodically pick over an area to collect food, typically insects or seeds. Many species that overwinter in our area use this of feeding method. Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned sparrows, Mourning Doves and even Cardinals will frequent your garden to glean seeds off the ground.
In the early morning I sprinkle some seed, but not too much at once because I don’t want unnecessary and expensive waste. If you have an easily assessable area with a view from a window, that is perfect. If you are enjoying your bird watching you can always sprinkle more. Even if you are a devoted back yard bird watcher, tossing some seed on the ground will give your feathered friends more areas in which to feed.
Birds with diets that depend mostly on insects have the hardest time finding enough proteins and calories in other food sources such as fruit and seeds. For these birds, ‘suet’ is extremely valuable.
Suet is a winter bird food made from animal fat that is easily digested and metabolized by many birds; it’s a high-energy food, especially valuable in cold weather. Suet is particularly attractive to woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, blue jays, tree creepers, and starlings when they visit feeders. Of course, squirrels love suet and will gobble every bite if permitted.
Suet cakes are sold almost everywhere we shop. Garden shops, hardware stores, and even our local grocery stores. I try to find suet cakes at the best price and stock up on them. They can be stored in a cool spot or put in a freezer for long term storage.
Commercial suet feeders are available, and are an inexpensive investment. They have a latch to close them but I also use a twist tie to prevent squirrels from opening the cage and knocking the cake on the ground.
Place the suet in feeders at least five feet from the ground to keep it out of the reach of pets.
Do not put out suet during hot weather as it can turn rancid. During hot weather the dripping fat can damage natural waterproofing on bird feathers causing permanent damage and a shorter life; not what we are hoping for when we feed birds.
Today suet cakes come in a wide variety of ingredients and flavors. Everything from citrus, blueberry or hot chili. The birds are coming for the fat, so the simpler the ingredients, the better. If I find a suet cakes filled with corn, I put it back. Corn is the least nutritional “filler” with only two-percent protein.
It is possible to make your own suet from leftover fat. You can find information on how to make it on the internet and YouTube.
To discourage squirrels and undesirable birds I use a simple trick that helps avoid or limit this problem. Hang your suet cake feeder upside down. When I unwrap the suet, I only take off the top wrapper, leaving the plastic tray on the rest of the cake. Place the suet in the feeder with the exposed suet facing down and the plastic upward. This makes it difficult for the larger birds to hang on for long and they soon search for an easier food supply. The smaller birds are able to cling upside down and have no trouble eating the suet.
Peanut butter is very high in protein. I attached a board on my tree and spread the peanut butter mixed with some black oil seeds in it on that so I don’t harm the tree. Peanut butter will attract many birds including woodpeckers.
Raw unsalted peanuts are beloved by Blue jays. If you put out a cupful every day your local Bluejays will appear within minutes bringing a frenzy of activity to your garden. Many people ring a bell to alert the Blue jays its dinner time.
Lastly, gray stripped sunflower seed are high in protein and the favorite seed of Cardinals. The shells of these sunflower make an unsightly mess. The shells also contain oils that can inhibit the growth of other plants so avoid using them over a flower bed. Many shops sell sunflower seeds with the shells off but they can be expensive. If you have an area where you can easily rake and clean up the shells in the spring they are a welcome addition to your birds winter menu.
As for squirrels I have given up long ago. They need to eat also.
Happy back yard bird watching, James
