Want more excitement in your yard? Feed the birds!

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all” ~ Emily Dickerson, American poet (1830-1886)

It seems that just as we’re beginning to enjoy the autumn season, fiery colors are replaced with grays and browns; dry leaves carpet the landscape. Meanwhile, many birds have flown to warmer climates in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central and South America.

But not all birds fly south for the winter. These hardy residents bring a splash of color and hours of entertainment to backyards across North Idaho.

Birds are warm-blooded animals and must maintain a constant body temperature as the temperature around them changes. To survive, they must spend much of their time eating so they can generate enough heat. It’s a vicious cycle though; they must eat to keep warm so they can gather more food.

During the warmer months, insects and other invertebrates provide much of their nutrition. Birds that are able to switch from an insect to a seed diet can stay put throughout winter. Finding food and water during the colder months, though, can still be a formidable task. Fortunately for these avian residents, bird-feeding is a popular and relatively easy activity.

Keep in mind that a feeding area should not only provide birds with easy access to food but also offer nearby protective cover from predators. Set up feeding stations near large shrubs, trees or fences. Evergreen trees and shrubs, like pines, and cedars, afford excellent cover and protection, as well as a natural source of food.

By using particular styles of bird feeders and different seed mixtures, you can attract specific bird species to your yard. Mixed birdseed on a simple tray or platform feeder mounted above the ground attracts sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, blue jays and starlings.

A tube feeder filled with sunflower seed is sure to delight some of the smaller species like the American goldfinch, and chickadee. Thistle seed in a tube feeder is a favorite of American goldfinches, purple finches, house finches, chickadees and a variety of sparrows.

Cage-style suet feeders hold square cakes of “rendered” suet. Suet attracts chickadees, nuthatches, brown creepers, and woodpeckers. Remember to hang suet feeders high enough so that dogs, cats and other animals cannot reach it.

Birds obviously benefit from feeders, but they also bring a lot of enjoyment to people. A recent national bird survey found that 81 million people participate in watching, feeding and photographing wildlife and the most popular pastime around the home was feeding birds!

Attracting and feeding birds awakens a lifeless yard, porch or patio. Visiting birds brighten the brief, gray days in autumn and winter. By providing for their needs, we bring sound, color and entertainment to our lives.

Enjoy the colors of fall and all the wild birds in Boundary County.