🔴How do Birds Survive Winter?▶ kzread.info/dash/bejne/dGmoxrJ9ft2ugtI.html

@BirdBath1

2 жыл бұрын

100%

@Alli_Sea

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Lesley, Do you have a video on best way to clean bird feeders and platforms? I would like to know if vinegar and water is best choice? Thanks in advance, Alli

@gypsyrhodescovers

2 жыл бұрын

So sorry but I think you mentioned something about a recipe for suet? I can't seem to find it. Thank you in advance!

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

@@gypsyrhodescovers Yes, they are down in the description, I think it's hard to find because I never had it in caps lock but I just changed it. Hopefully, the links will be easier to spot now. :) Here they are www.almanac.com/suet-bird-food-recipe www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-birds/feeding-birds/make-homemade-suet/

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

@@Alli_Sea At the 5:30 mark in this video kzread.info/dash/bejne/Zo6WyZuynNTbe9I.html I talk about the studies done on the best and proper way to clean feeders. I also show how to do it. Hope this helps

while living in a hand made cabin in the woods I had some winter wrens get into my little home and they were so cute and adorable that I let them stay til the coldest weather was past .. they roosted in my upper ceiling beams and flew down to eat food I left for them and of course water and since my cabin had only wood heat it still got pretty chilly at night after the fire burned out but not anything like the outdoors so we happy few spent the winter I very much enjoyed their company

@lunalove2222

2 жыл бұрын

💗🌿

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

That is awesome!

@seviregis7441

2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful story. They may return the next winter

@woodsmn8047

2 жыл бұрын

@@seviregis7441 they did but that was many years ago ... I no longer live there since I have aged considerably and need medical help to be close

@stephaniedodt2389

2 жыл бұрын

What a great experience!

I've made some new discoveries this year. After 40 years of feeding birds I had to stop last year because of a mouse problem. Missing the birds was depressing but the mice had to move on, which they did. Due to hurting my back I could not weed my backyard flower gardens and during the winter I had flocks of birds come to eat the weed seeds. So this year I didn't do one last weeding and allowed them to grow for winter food again. Next I put some peanuts and black oilers in a limited amount on the deck railing. About a cup a day spread out twice a day. Breakfast and snack before sundown. They watch for me, and clean up every bit. Same time every day. Because the food is limited there's no waste. If it's particularly cold and they want more, they sit on the rail and wait. Name the bird and they are there. I walked to the neighbors house and birds follow me from tree to tree. This different type of feeding them is a more interactive experience since they have less fear of me due to a feeding schedule and limited amounts to be had.

@dianepereira1860

Жыл бұрын

I have problems with squirrels. 😔

@Eyewonder3210

Жыл бұрын

@@dianepereira1860 my motto was "If you can't beat them, join them" I gave them their own feeders. They left the bird feeders alone after that.

@johnlawrence2757

Жыл бұрын

@@dianepereira1860 probably more accurate to say squirrels have a problem with you.

@patriciaann8131

Жыл бұрын

This was very informative thanks for posting, I have been educated. I also feed all the other critters, I enjoy watching them so much.

@LarryDickman1

Жыл бұрын

I do not cut down my flower stalks in the fall. I leave them up so the birds can peck at the seed heads. Come April I cut down the stalks and clean up the beds. I live in Central New England where the snow loves to pile up.

I'm on a 2000' mountainous plateau in Tennessee and I made 3 large brush piles for animals' winter shelter. Come spring, the old brush gets chipped up as there are plenty of fresh branches falling throughout the year. Really helps lots of small critters, too. Watch all your videos, Leslie.

@garycarpenter2932

2 жыл бұрын

michigan here. while not the beautiful views you have.. brush piles help the little critters. i have several, and they are occupied.

@garycarpenter2932

2 жыл бұрын

michigan here. while not the beautiful views you have.. brush piles help the little critters. i have several, and they are occupied.

@LarryCarlin

2 жыл бұрын

@@garycarpenter2932 Very interesting. I put up a critter cam but NOT next to the brush piles. So now I think I'll move it to see the traffic. Thanks for the reply.

@garycarpenter2932

2 жыл бұрын

@@LarryCarlin the yard here boarders a large pond. i keep them next to it, two in. the other day a couple musk rats came out of the ice, and into, what i believe, made their home in.

@LarryCarlin

2 жыл бұрын

@@garycarpenter2932 To a musk rat, you just provided the Taj Mahal.

Wonderful video, Lesley, with many great tips! You might want to remind viewers of the importance of carrying a cell phone when they restock feeders in the winter. Many people walk through snow and navigate icy steps and paths to get to their feeders. Snow around feeders is often slick from footsteps. Many bird lovers are elderly. My neighbor slipped on the ice while filling feeders feet from her house, broke her hip and lay in the snow for over an hour until another neighbor walked by and spotted her. Please folks, always carry a phone when you restock your winter feeders!

@heidid3661

Жыл бұрын

Until last winter I would've chuckled at this comment but unfortunately that very thing happened to me and I got a concussion. I was running late for work, tried to hurry up and feed the birds before I left but then I slipped on the ice, fell, and hit my head super hard. So, I would very much recommend having a phone on your person when doing backyard stuff in the winter 😊 happy birding!

@birdgirl2623

Жыл бұрын

I did a face plant onto the concrete porch step with the side of my face slamming into the door frame. There was no snow or ice. I managed to trip on a bunch of fallen leaves.

@dmm29

Жыл бұрын

Great advice! Thank you for caring for the precious birds. ❤️

@dbyers3897

Жыл бұрын

More important is dressing for the job. As an ER nurse & former firefighter, I can tell you many winter falls can be prevented by taking a moment to put on sturdy boots, coat & gloves. Ice creepers are the way to go if you're older or not sure-footed. They slip over boots & shoes & have studs or cleats to grip & prevent slip-sliding away. You can find them online as STABILicers & IceTrax, etc. Not the Creeper Shoe brand. That's something totally different.

@henryottis295

Жыл бұрын

Very good advice.

Thank you Lesley. My husband and I have worked on making our two acres into a place where birds would come and find what they need and be safe. Trees, bushes, housing, roosting nest, brush piles, feeders…. Many of the things you’ve mentioned. Sadly, my husband passed away earlier this year, but I am determined to keep up with looking after the birds. He was more diligent than I with keeping the feeders topped up, but seeing your video and suggestions is encouraging. Thank you for the inspiration.

@dmm29

Жыл бұрын

So sorry for the loss of your husband. I am certain he is pleased that you're still caring for the birds. You will be with your husband again in God's Time. ♥️✝️♥️

@tweir2973

Жыл бұрын

@@dmm29 Thank you Donna.

I live in a mountain town where Winter lows are low teens to single digits, or below. I offer peanuts and sunflower seeds of course but the clear favorite choice is walnut pieces. I love all my visitors but I’m charmed most by the Jays and Chickadees who Clearly say thank you with a sweet trill as they fly off with a treasure. I am blessed. 😊

I am in the city and recently dragged a dead deer several yards away from the road so the black vultures could eat it safely. And they did!

Helping corvids is an act of enlightened self-interest: many studies have shown that they remember who has done them a good turn, or a bad one, and will communicate this information to socially or genetically related birds. Being nice to corvids pays dividends in unexpected ways.

@billysolhurok5542

2 жыл бұрын

Arch, Where have you been? Was wondering if The Good Lord took a likin' to ya...

@archenema6792

2 жыл бұрын

@@billysolhurok5542 Thank you for the kind concern. I'm the "shorts and boots only" outdoorsy type, but I live in Pittsburgh, so it's "stare longingly out the window" season for me.🤣 I hope to remedy my severe allergy to cold weather by beginning a biennial migration to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Maybe on a bicycle.😁😅

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

lol

@skizdawn9679

2 жыл бұрын

So that’s why every time I put out peanuts the amount of blue jays multiplies… they tell their friends! I also feel like they watch my every move because they know I’m the one feeding them

Thank you so much for reminding me of the fact, birds can take care of themselves. We love our backyard birds and feed and water them year round., and have been doing this for 12 years, we'll be moving next Autumn to another state, and I have been feeling guilty for leaving them. I pray that the next family to live in our home will be bird and animal lovers! You're the best Lesley!

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

I would feel that way to. Rest assured though that they will be fine

@sbffsbrarbrr

2 жыл бұрын

I wonder if it might help if you gradually stop feeding the birds over the spring and summer. They'll get used to the fact that food is not longer available in your yard during a time of the year when other options are plentiful. And you'll enjoy your new home without feeling guilty about leaving your feathered friends behind 😊!

@orlangatan8060

Жыл бұрын

THANKS BLESS YOU

@janetannerevans2320

Жыл бұрын

I have moved several times and certainly know the guilt. Have found if I decrease the amount of food I offered slowly they do move on. Also I have learned that birds are constantly looking for food sources aware that things change.

@tundrellaCat68

Жыл бұрын

@@sbffsbrarbrr that is what you are supposed to do, not just stop cold turkey, pun intended.

I picked up a fresh buck fawn off the highway this week, took it back behind the farm and left it for the critters and birds, the crows have been big fans so far but even the little guys get in on the action. The boss runs feeders at the house, both suet and sunflower so we have that covered. Had a Pileated getting after the suet during this latest cold snap so it was fun seeing that.

@volvo09

2 жыл бұрын

Good, make use of it rather than the town or county throwing it in the compost pile, or whatever they do... I broke my Thanksgiving turkey carcass into bits and let the Ravens haul it away bit by bit. Within a few days everything was gone. They love finding scraps, my driveway is on their watch route :)

@BirdBath1

2 жыл бұрын

Wow

@trinalittlefield6294

2 жыл бұрын

My neighbor put his deer remains in the field behind our house this year. The crows, ravens and jays really like it, but he got it during hunting season so I've been scared to death about lead poisoning 💔. Good idea about getting the road kill for them!

@repetemyname842

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Trina. Growing up we had 4 or 5 old neighbors, guys in their 70s and 80s, and they hung deer carcasses up in the trees after they took the meat off. Birds aplenty, they call it a Lumberjack Feeder and it works great.

@elbmcook

Жыл бұрын

One of my joys in life is watching & hearing the birds with their beautiful songs. We were ecstatic to look outside & see a pilated woodpecker on our picnic table in the yard. It was enormous & beautiful. That was about 3yr ago & saw him only twice. What a wonderful gift from mother nature.

I am not a bird watcher but a bird listener. This winter first time I hang a feeder on my balcony and many tiny birds are coming to eat. They are always saying thank you by singing for me in the morning. Thank you for the tips I learned a lot.

I got that exact heated birdbath you showed in the video this winter. I was excited when I saw my Jays drinking from it finally the other day 😍. I didn't know about the dangers of them bathing in it in cold weather tho, so I'm glad I watched this because it's been EXTREMELY cold here in Maine this past week. I spend probably $100 a week in the winter feeding my birds and it's the best investment I've ever made ❤. My Jays follow me literally everywhere and I carry peanuts in my pockets for them lol. I have around 50 Jays that come for food everyday and I sit outside and throw unshelled peanuts to them individually. I have some that get REALLY close but none that will hand feed yet. I got the idea from your videos so thank you ❤

@smallhouseinthemeadow6131

2 жыл бұрын

I wish that I could spend that much because it gives me (and them) so much joy, but my pets have cost me about fifteen grand this past year(three cats have since died) and I just can't afford it.I have downsized to six suets and three feeders.

@birdgirl2623

Жыл бұрын

I understand how much joy it brings to see the different bird visitors. You are very lucky to be able to really pamper them. The price of bird food has skyrocketed during the last two years, and I struggle to be able to afford a decent mix (nothing, even the squirrels, will eat milo). These birds definitely won't starve. Besides natural food sources--we live in suburb! Many neighbors also have bird feeders. The birds here are spoiled and picky!😂

@JeanetteFaith

Жыл бұрын

Did you put stones, bricks, or whatever in your birdbath??

@trinalittlefield6294

Жыл бұрын

@@JeanetteFaith I put a pie plate upside down in the middle of it in the winter to keep them from getting to wet in the cold weather.

@trinalittlefield6294

Жыл бұрын

@@birdgirl2623 yes I feel very fortunate. I'm a recovering drug addict (I've been clean 3 and a half years) so this is FAR cheaper than my last my habit but still expensive. My husband does ok and we have used vehicles with no car payments so that definitely helps keep the expenses down. I try to do good in the world when I can for the bad karma I created during my using. Connecting with nature (especially birds) has really done wonders for my sobriety! I had to move to another state for a year for a federally mandated drug court program (as an alternative to federal prison so obviously way better but still really hard) and having the birds to watch kept me sane. Being away from my family and pets was really tough, plus a lot of other stuff that was going on- it's a miracle I didn't relapse and die or end up in prison. So in a way the birds saved my life. It's cool that your neighbors feed the birds in your area as well! I live in a rural area but my neighbor about a half mile away has a feeder so we will compare what we're getting when we see each other.

My previous apartment had a small garden in which I had placed a feeder and water bowl. I always kept the feeder stocked and the bowl filled with fresh water. Countless birds visited my garden for the roughly 20 years I lived there and brought me pleasure. I'd also sit on the porch and watch many feathered friends drink water and bathe without fright of me sitting quite close. I miss them now that I moved and no longer have the opportunity to offer them food and drink.

I live on a third floor apartment and feed my birds on feeders. The lady on the first floor called the office and Complained my bird seed was falling thru the slats on to her deck. SHE feeds birds too. I really wanted to put a note on her door and tell her she needs to go to Church and ask Jesus why she REALLY is mad. SMH. Love your videos Lesley.

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. hopefully things iron out for you

What an excellent and very detailed video, you covered everything one would need to know as a birder in order to help our little friends get through the winter. All important tips, some even life saving, for birds and humans!! Thanks Lesley 🐦💙

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@micahbirdlover8152

2 жыл бұрын

thank you ☺️ Lesley

@micahbirdlover8152

2 жыл бұрын

great job 👍 Lesley

@micahbirdlover8152

Жыл бұрын

@@LesleytheBirdNerd i really like Birds 😊

@deeb2021

Жыл бұрын

@@LesleytheBirdNerd I really enjoyed the video too. I love birds. 😊💙👍

This was a really helpful video! I've been feeding birds for a while, and it got into my head that they depend on my food. Thank you for reassuring and reminding us that birds can find food elsewhere. Also, I have a platform feeder, and it does get covered with snow. I will use your suggestion of not putting out so much food on snowy or rainy days. I fill up the bird feeder right before sunset because my cardinals come at dusk and dawn, and I want them to have a good meal at least twice a day before the doves and sparrows eat everything. Lol. The doves and sparrows are a little piggish, but I love watching them; they are such characters!

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you got something useful from the video. Wish I had Cardinals here, such nice birds

@sbffsbrarbrr

2 жыл бұрын

That's interesting, about the cardinals. I have the same issue with the sparrows being piggish and noticed that the cardinals only come to the feeders when the sparrows aren't around. I fill my feeders in the morning but will now top of at least one in the evening for the cardinals. Thanks!

@susana.954

2 жыл бұрын

​@@sbffsbrarbrr I'm glad my comment was helpful to you! If you are trying to discourage House Sparrows from your feeders, you could try just offering large striped sunflower seeds and Nyjer, two seeds of which House Sparrows aren't very fond. In the springtime, (I hope) the House Sparrows will disperse to nest in separate territories.

@micahbirdlover8152

Жыл бұрын

@@LesleytheBirdNerd Birds do amazing things to survive☺️

@JeanetteFaith

Жыл бұрын

I now will also follow the suggestion of less food in rain and snow. I never knew that!

Love my heated birdbath. So do The Juncos and cardinals. The tip for discouraging winter bathing using rocks is a good one! Thank you!

@Suntan38

2 жыл бұрын

I just got one from Amazon and was worried about the birds tryin to bathe. Good tip with the rocks 🪨

A froend I visited one winter had a bird nest next to her front window. The birds were fun to watch while I was visiting. Nature is amazing! 🐦

Costco has the best bird seed. It has two kinds of sunflower seed safflower raisins and cranberries. My sparrows love it. Great video Leslie.

My aunt feeds magpies in Idaho and has for years, they know her and trust her, I have see it with my own eyes. Love our birdie friends🦆🦅🦉🕊

As I was watching this, saw a red-bellied woodpecker at the hanging feeder out the front window. Just came in from shoveling and filling the feeders up. We received 2+" of snow last night here in Chicagoland, so the birds are looking for a handout if they can get one. Heard a cardinal calling this morning, so days are getting longer...

@BirdBath1

2 жыл бұрын

Sunny 🌞 here

My cat is not allowed out and can only window shop. Some of the blue jays look like small chickens. Great video as always and very educational

@Donna-cc1kt

Жыл бұрын

Window shop! That caused a big smile and a little giggle. Good for you. I have a small old dog and she just stares at them - thank goodness. I feed my seed on the patio in 4 trays. At night I gather the remainder, cover it with a big flowerpot and a couple heavy rocks so the mice can’t get in them. Hanging them causes scatter on the ground and doubles my work.

@johnlawrence2757

Жыл бұрын

Why keep a cat in the first place?

It's amazing truly amazing how they survive the harsh winter seasons!!!!

Loved this so much! My family and I just recently moved to Maine and I’ve been able to feed some Chickadees by calling to them! We’re working on developing our land and my plan isn’t to keep as many feeders as I used to on our property since we have acres of trees. I want to keep the birds in their natural habitat as much as possible but provide just enough help that it won’t be detrimental either. This information was so helpful! Thank you so much! ❤️

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

Thats awesome that you are doing that, best of luck to you.

I feed the crows to keep hawks away. It works where I live, because while it does get cold, the humidity is such that it doesn't snow much. Even those that do migrate come back. When I lived further south there were no crows. Now I have these guys and while they do keep others away when they are here, they know what time of day to come look and generally don't harass anyone all the rest of the day. Same time, same place every day they know to look for food. I don't give them goodies every day but I do it often enough that they keep patrolling and running off any hawks that come around.

@susana.954

2 жыл бұрын

My crows are also good "patrollers". I had a huge hawk problem the other day, but the crows did not tolerate the hawks and got rid of them fast. I always say that crows are welcome at my bird feeders. Crows are wonderful birds to have around! I admire their bravery and perseverance, traits that people should learn from crows rather than believing them to be harbingers of evil.

We have two stray cats that come to torment the birds that visit my deck feeders. We keep a Nerf gun (the type that shoots the yellow balls) at the deck door. The balls travel fast enough to scare the cats away without harming the cats.

This time of year, people throw out their xmas trees and I grab them as I know the birds like those. Some people take notice when I'm grabbing the the trees and I tell them that I have a wildlife sanctuary. My water feature is a repurposed satellite dish. I just pour hot water at the backside, and the ice slips right off. For the first time ever, I have a flock that went from over 22 mourning doves in the fall, to a max of 6 mourning doves now. One had her head scratch so her head feathers will never be the same. I make sure she is always set up with food and energy so her little head won't freeze. I was worried about her, but I just seen her hours ago so she survived the extreme cold so far. She has to make it through a few more extreme nights and I won't have to worry about her in regards to the cold.

@susana.954

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking good care of your Mourning Doves. They are an overlooked species, but I find them to be very lovable. For one, they have a pleasant expression on their faces. Also, they can be so amusing to watch at the feeder. And of course, their allopreening courtship is soo special!! I had a flock of forty-six of them in my yard recently. Very sad about the decrease in your Mourning Dove population. I hope some more doves come your way!

@WhistlesToAnimals

2 жыл бұрын

@@susana.954 My absolute pleasure, Susan. And you had twice as many at 46 of them--wow! Thanks for your kindness towards your local birds as well. I love a lot about them. They way I friended them was to just give them a place to be. It used to be they were too big for my smaller birds feeders and just wanted a safe place to hang out. Then I said, I got to treat them too! So I tried out different ways of doing that. Then they started wanting to hang out at my windows, so I treated them there. The decrease in my local group is OK, it means that they found a better place than my place. They can come back when they want to. In two more months in late March, withing one week a lot of different birds will come back. I can't wait to see my 5-6 blue jays again and there was a robin I friended that I hope comes back. I hope you record or take pictures of your local visitors. Many people would love to see them.

@susana.954

2 жыл бұрын

@@WhistlesToAnimals Thanks for your nice reply!! It's so thoughtful of you to provide the Mourning Doves with their own special feeding places. :-) So funny how you mention the doves coming to your windows; I also had that experience! When I used to have a window bird feeder, the doves would come to a different windowsill, and I would sometimes put food out for them. It's almost as if they were asking me to since the windowsill with the feeder was always crowded. I am also looking forward to seeing the spring birds! Winter is nice for a time, but I already wish it were over. I do take photos, and submit them to the ebird/Macaulay Library website. It sounds like you would have some good footage too!

When cats come near my feeders they end up having to spend 3 hours in a maple tree watching a Border Collie dance.

Thank you for the warning about the wet food. I never knew it could make birds sick. Will be watching the food not to get moldy!

I’ve purchased a heated bird bath and it works wonderfully, even at very low temperatures -30. I love feeding my birds and watching them throughout the day, black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts for the blue jays and suet. I’ve never seen the blue jays eat suet though. We’ve had quite a few redpolls come and feed in our yard lately and they especially love the sunflower kernels I put out! It’s too bad the kernels are so expensive because there’s no mess of empty sunflower shells. Another awesome and informative video, thank you Lesley!

@BirdBath1

2 жыл бұрын

Nice....

@wildbirdsinthecity3872

2 жыл бұрын

You could take the roasted peanut ( which is roasted and removed the shells) instead of the sunflower kernels then you crush the roasted peanuts into small pieces.the small birds could eat them easily.this will provide as much energy as the other kinds of seeds.if you feed them the minced dried 🌽 corn .that will be okay too.

Christmas trees thrown on the curb is something I watch for every winter. They make great cover for birds coming for a dine & dash.

We live in Oklahoma, it gets cold here in winter and love feeding our birds from cardinals to chickadees

My neighbor after deer hunting hangs the bones in trees in his back yard it looks crazy , but his back yard is full of woodpeckers all winter. central Minnesota

@BirdBath1

2 жыл бұрын

Frank

@rockjockchick

Жыл бұрын

Some others in comments mentioned something similar.

I have my local wildlife rehabber's number saved in my phone. It saves a lot of time during an emergency. I also have a box, net, and gloves for catching various injured animals. I love seeing all the action at the suet feeder and it's interesting to see the woodpeckers use the tail prop just like you said!

I live in the city and it breaks my heart to see many pigeons starving on the severe cold winters so I start feeding them with the best grains & seeds food, of course I can't possibly to feed all neighborhoods but my birdies (40 of them) are well fed. I do it only trough the winter, in the summer there's plenty of food for them.

PS. Oh and I get a lot of birds hater screaming at me and even warning to call the Police but I ignore them. Wish we'd have more good people. Thx for a great video, hope it will transform some birds haters.

Should you ever read this Leslie, I am a daily bird (and squirrel) feeder for years. I had a regular Cardinal I called George and I fear he is no longer with us. But the other day a VERY STRANGE OCCURRENCE HAPPENED. 15-20 MALE CARDINALS IN MY APPLE TREE!!!!! AT ONCE!!!!! It was nasty weather yes. Upstate NY. 25 miles SE of Rochester. I have black oil seed and also the mix out in feeder and all along my deck rail. They are never going to run out. And peanuts for the Blue Jays. But the Cardinals showing up in that number was a one time occurrence. I see my regular male out there now in the apple tree. A small Ginger Gold. Well, the Blue Jays are calling me so must run.

I spread red and white millet on the ground in a wide area around the feeders to attract moles, voles, and other rodents to offer other food for hawks and owls. Cracked corn was also good.

@fvulpe9503

3 ай бұрын

Be careful you don't attract rats and mice too. You might want to feed them but they can end up in your house which is NOT good.

This is my _GO TO_ channel when I’m burned out from the politics of the day. 😍❤️

Leslie, I didn't even think about cleaning the bird feeder every week! I've always done that with hummingbird feeders but not seed feeders, so thank you for that information! This is been very informative and very enjoyable! Take care and thank you for what you do!

The more I learn about our amazing feathered friends the more I wish to help, as winter tough as they may already be! Thank you so much for these tips! 🤗 🐦

Hi Leslie, Another thing I do is to let my flowers go to seed at the end of summer. I don't deadhead them and this leaves seeds for the birds to eat. They particularly like coneflower seeds.

They love the bird bath. They drink and in the warmer weather, take a bath. It needs to be cleaned and freshened each day. We have some great bushes for nesting and my dormant Trumpet vine is loaded with them. Several different kinds. I made suet for awhile but it was a pain and it was NOT "no melt" in the summer, as advertised and was a total mess so I buy.

Hummingbirds (Anna’s) that stay in the north and don’t migrate REALLY do need our help in winter. No bugs, flowers, etc makes the need for clean nectar a big deal. And a heated one available, if possible! We get a couple of dozen sweet ones early so happy in snow/ice storms to find nectar that’s liquid early in the mornings! We can tell when neighbors forget this one step (providing one heated feeder) as we are suddenly inundated with overjoyed hummers. And they will begin making nests in Jan/Feb, typically when it’s the coldest!! Love your videos, I’m doing all you’ve mentioned!

My birds love the giant forsythia bush in my yard. It’s probably 10 feet across and 8 feet tall. Summer and winter it’s good protection from the hawks plus it’s not far from the feeders and baths. I’ve noticed also that the sparrows like to use bird houses a lot for shelter in the winter ❄️.

@jenniferhall4880

2 жыл бұрын

We have one too. Right next to the feeder. We have a Hawk try to get at my birds but they hide in bush.

Enjoyed your video. I feed my birds all year round as I live on a farm, I have huge wooded areas and fields for many nesting birds. They live and shelter near my home, which I truly love. I even have a murder of crows showing up this winter. Needless to say I go though a lot of peanuts! I feel so lucky to enjoy all my family of birds. Again thank you for all the helpful info you share. Much love from Kentucky 😎

Love the way you said “ Don’t worry.” Also love the way you say “out.”

I’m pretty low-tech and really don’t know much about birds, so I just throw a handful each of unsalted peanuts in the shell, sunflower seeds, and a birdseed mix onto the ground in my front yard each morning. Have done this for years and love watching the birds and squirrels enjoy the treats. I live in zone 3, so it gets bitterly cold, yet even on the coldest of mornings they show up. It’s amazing.

Thanks for the informative video, Lesley. I have lots of left over lumber from other projects and will use it to make roosting boxes. We have dwarf Alberta Spruce trees that are very dense and the birds have been using them for their winter residence. As you mentioned, we have quite a few hawks hanging around hoping for an easy meal. I don't try to chase them off. They aren't evil. They are simply doing what nature prescribes for survival. Thanks again for the great video.

Love your videos. I have 4 feeders and so enjoy the feathered traffic. I have two of the heated bird baths you showed for 15 years Always busy with birds and squirrels. Blue Jay's come to my side door every morning for peanuts. They sit in the tree by the door and scream till I come out....lol

@timothyh.1460

2 жыл бұрын

It is nice know that you are loved...even if only by the Blue Jays.😄

Amazing how God made these creatures!❤

Helping birds in winter could be tough because of introduced species such as cats and unpleasant garden visitors such as Cooper’s hawks that feed primarily on songbirds and mourning doves.

Love your videos, Leslie! Thanks for sharing!! ❤🐦❤

Hello MY FAVORITE BIRDNERD... been feeding a wild hen that wanders the backyard... She comes in the mornings and other various times throughout the day.... Scraps from the kitchen and cracked corn which brings a selection of our feathered friends... And your favourite... BLUE JAYS!!!

I spend a good amount of time outside in my yard. I see the drama and hardship of my feathered friends. Over the years I have adapted to help some of the birds that are here and don't travel south or come in from up north. I often am faced with deep snow on the feeders, like right now, when we have at least 2 feet of heavy wet snow and it is still snowing. I live in Northern Utah. All your tips are spot on. I try to have the patio cleaned. Every morning in the winter the mourning doves flock in to get a bite. They are up before dawn and gone in a few minutes. I am amazed at their numbers. They are one of my favorites. And with the Eurasian doves and pigeons that have found my food, they are outnumbered and are the most hunted. I find a lot of the same issues in the heat of the summer as well, before the fruit ripens. These birds have taught me how to live well and be happy with my warm house and my wonderful food supply that is readily available. You are a joy to listen to and I can tell you love these birds as I do. Thank you for helping me know that I am not so crazy for wanting to see these birds helped out if only just a little.

Thanks for educating me about Suet. Also, I’m so glad you mentioned about the importance taking the feeders down when there’s a sick bird. Your correct, even by keeping the feeders clean, outbreaks and sickness can still happen.

Such great info as always. I didn't realize about the heated bird bath dangers. I've changed my mind about wanting one now. I'll continue just setting out shallow plates throughout the warmer days.

Thanks for putting this together, Lesley! Good info and beautiful video!!❤️💙

I’ve used an aquarium heater in my birdbath to keep the water open. Just make sure you keep enough water in the bath to cover the heater.

Beautiful ... My little garden Angels love the fat balls and sunflower seeds, raisins and fresh water, and a good shelter:)

Thank you for all you do! Our new house should be ready in the next 3 week. I can't wait to get out of our apartment and into the house so I can put my feeders out!

Thank Lesley you for this wonderful information!❤️

I’ve been using a heated bird bath for over 15 years and have never seen one take a bath unless the temperature was +\- 40F or above. I think their natural instincts give them more knowledge than we give them credit for. I’m blessed with a large diversity of species here in Northern Michigan which cost me as much to feed as our own groceries! My wife thinks that we would go hungry before the critters!

My birds are feeding now and I’m glad to help the. I use a heated bird bath. In 2011 it was so cold birds were falling out of the trees frozen. I had two roosting boxes installed abt 50 ft apart but they never went in them. In 2012, the same thing occurred. Both years it was mentioned on the local news.

Thanks for another lovely video. I’ve just got back from feeding my garden birds and cleaning/refilling the water trays. Within half a minute the feeding stations and baths were occupied 😃. This is a great hobby but, as you say, it needs to be done with due consideration and a bit of common sense. Regards from Spain.

Hey Lesley! Another good informational video, thank you. We don't get much snow over here in the PNW, but when we do, like a couple of weeks ago, about 8 t0 10 inches, it only lasts for a few days. Anyway, one of the things I do for the ground feeders is, I have an old card table I have set up with a big rock slab under it that I spread the seeds on. Works really well and the birds seem to know what time of day the neighbor cat will be out, and they keep an eye out.

So nerdy about the birdies, love it. I appreciate the attention to detail down to proper exterior power supply etiquette. 😊

This is so nice! Thank you for putting so much good into the world, Lesley!

I love your videos Lesley! Thanks for all the tips and sending good vibes from Oregon

This video was very helpful. Thank you for the helpful tips.

Thank you for posting this video!

It is so cute to see those little Robins and Great tilts feed in the snowy garden

Here we are over winter again! My cardinals and finches certainly know whose feeding them. It's gorgeous out back!❤️!

@BirdBath1

2 жыл бұрын

: ))

@ginafriend1690

2 жыл бұрын

@@BirdBath1 right on! 😉🐦 Thanks!

@BirdBath1

2 жыл бұрын

@@ginafriend1690 look at my bird

Just ordered our heated bird bath for watering thru the winter... Thank you for the tip to place rocks in so as to avoid placing the birds in danger. ❤

Thank you, Lesley!

I love your video and I do a lot of suggestions already, but very helpful to refresh. Keep up the great work!

Such a great video! I love the thumbnail! Thanks for making this Lesley, have a good rest of your weekend

@micahbirdlover8152

Жыл бұрын

I like your pfp Coby the bird nerd😊

Leslie your videos are amazing I really love them thank you so much !!!!!!❤

My bird feeder has been a highway lately! Very relaxing to watch. Thanks for all the tips Leslie.

Thank you! That was a very informative video. I really appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge.

I've checked most of the suggestions with the exception of the water. It's been so frigid in Upstate NY that I'm certain the water would freeze within a couple hours. I really liked the idea of placing rocks so they don't attempt to bathe in the water. Thanks again!

Thank you for the wonderful winter feeding video. I felt good in that I have already been practicing many of your recommendations. In Michigan, recently it has been very cold and we have had a lot of birds of many varieties at our feeders. However, we have had more squirrels this year than ever before. We have had a variety of squirrels which are also fun to watch, but they monopolize the feeders and keep the birds away. I tried having a separate squirrel feeder, but they still come to the bird feeders.

Just recently, I started putting out seeds on my concrete window ledge -- each morning here in Philly. Now it's the first thing I do -- even before coffee That's love.

Thank you 🦅

Great video Lesley. We just had our first winter storm here and I have never seen so many jays around my suet block.

This is how dumb I can be.... I followed the link to find the suet recipe, and I got confused. You see, I have bacon grease and I wanted to know if that's good or bad. I didn't see any one of the different recipes that had bacon grease. One said lard only. I was just about to do a search and find out if bacon grease was good or bad. But then I said to myself, "Bacon grease is lard you dummy!" I felt stupid, but then felt good because my kid loves bacon and I got lots of lard. Oh, and while I'm writing, I will state that I have a vagrant Brewer's Blackbird which is hanging out with the Starlings. I didn't even know what it was at first, but later look at birds and identified it. I live in the Niagara Region so it's not supposed to be wintering here. It must have got lost and now has joined the Starling flock. I thought there was a special name for a Starling flock, but I was mixing it up with a murmuration. That's when they fly in a flock and do those impressive patterns while flying together and turning in unison. Also, a Tree Sparrow has joined the House Sparrows flock. Oh, and I was curious if House Sparrows have a special name for their flocks. Boy, do they. You can called a flock of sparrows, a knot, a flutter, a host, a quarrel, or a crew. I'm going to call them a crew because they remember of the mafia, and the mafia calls their gangs a crew. I love birds.

Exactly what I need to know, thank you👍

Buying a heated birdbath was the best investment I ever made! We get birds who aren't interested in the feeders, but spend several minutes drinking their fill. The squirrels and chipmunks like it too. It doesn't look like much, just a shallow plastic pan with a plug that sits on a metal ring that can be mounted in various ways, or just set on the ground (we have ours on a section of a garden shelf unit we took apart so the unit is actually off the ground). The pan lifts right out without having to be unscrewed or anything. This makes it easy to keep clean. I rinse and change out the water at least 2 or 3 times a day (or more depending on water level and if the starlings have been using the bath as a personal toilet). It also makes it easy to take the pan into the house and really scrub it out with very warm water and dish soap. The unit has a thermostat that will turn on when the temperature drops to freezing, and turns off when the temperature goes up. The water is heated just enough to keep it liquid so you don't have to worry about accidentally scalding your bird friends. The outdoor temperatures here can drop below 0 F (-17.78 C). Sometimes the outer rim will get a bit slushy, but the middle stays liquid providing you don't let the water level get too low. When the last of the winter freezes are over, we unplug the unit altogether. So far, I think we have had the birdbath at least 4-5 years.

Hello and thank you. Really enjoy your videos. I love watching my bird friends at the feeder during this rough time of the year. Have a great day!!!!

@BirdBath1

2 жыл бұрын

Have a warm smile 😃..

You gave me some important information regarding placing enough rocks in the birdbath during the winter months to prevent bathing. I will put this knowledge to use. Thanks!

Thanks Lesley. Good advice and tips are always appreciated.

Great advice. Several 'don'ts' I hadn't thought about, which are just as important as the 'dos'!

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

Thank you Lesley, lot's of great information!

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks for the tip about adding rocks to the birdbath. I just put a heated birdbath in our backyard after the old one was frozen over the past couple of weeks. Fortunately, this week temperatures are above freezing, but should drop by the weekend. Will take care of it today.

Birds are so precious and such a joy to watch.

We have the sweetest couple of wrens that have taken up nightly winter residence on a piece of expandable foam against the side of our house up under our back porch. They ripped the foam off just enough to make a tiny little platform where they hunker down every night. I’m obsessed with them now😂

@BirdBath1

2 жыл бұрын

Elizabeth

@LesleytheBirdNerd

2 жыл бұрын

I think I would be to. That's to sweet

I guess I’m doing a good job with my birdie friends. I love them so much. Lots of bears around, so I only feed late November until March as my feeders have gone missing more than once. Thanks, Lesley!

I love to watch the ravens roll in the snow!! They're such clever birds!!

I live in a second floor apartment (since retirement and selling the house). My wife and I still love watching the birds tho, so we set up feeders. I started with an inexpensive plastic ‘house’ that has clear plastic funneled down walls. I found the openings at the walls too narrow for sunflower seeds or if snow gets in, causing the openings to clog. So I dremeled the openings a bit larger. Next a standard suet cage. Both feeder and cage I mounted to a wooden cutting board. Then under the cutting board I added 2 ‘sides’ of wood to hold the cutting board to my balcony railing. With just a simple hole drilled at each end for a string tie down. We have chickadees, nuthatch, and sparrows in abundance! And it’s always exciting to see a ‘new’ visitor species. *Winnipeg, Canada.