Bird-Friendly Backyard This Winter with Marigold Granola

As winter approaches, our feathered friends face unique challenges. By preparing your yard as a bird-friendly backyard, you can provide the food, shelter, and resources they need to thrive in colder weather. With a few seasonal adjustments and a touch of care, you’ll be helping birds survive winter while enjoying their presence in your own bird-friendly landscape.

Create a Winter Bird-Friendly Landscape

Before we speak about what you can do this fall and winter, remember to Establish a bird-friendly landscape next spring with thoughtful plant choices that provide natural food sources. Shrubs like winterberry and beautyberry offer much-needed berries that birds can rely on throughout the season. Additionally, evergreen trees such as spruce and pine make excellent roosting and shelter sites, protecting birds from harsh winds and low temperatures. Planting a variety of native trees and shrubs will help sustain birds over winter while beautifying your bird-friendly backyard.

Leave Some Leaf Litter for Natural Foraging

While it’s tempting to rake up every leaf, leaving a thin layer of leaf litter on the ground is beneficial for birds. Leaf litter harbors insects and larvae, which many birds rely on for protein during winter. Ground-feeding birds like sparrows and juncos will forage through this layer, making it an essential part of a bird-friendly backyard. By creating these small foraging spots, you give birds a valuable food source right on the ground.

Add Marigold Granola to Your Feeder

A winter feeder stocked with high-energy food can be a lifesaver for birds. Jerry Baker’s Marigold Granola mix is an easy way to offer birds a nutrient-rich snack during the colder months. To make this custom blend, combine:

• 2 cups of white proso millet
• 1 cup of cracked corn
• 1 cup of marigold seeds or seeds from other plants like zinnias or cosmos
• 1 cup of cracker or bread crumbs
• ½ cup of dried blueberries or pine nuts

Serve this mix in a covered tray feeder to attract sparrows, juncos, and other small birds. The variety of seeds, grains, and dried fruits provides a well-rounded diet that helps birds maintain their energy levels during winter. You’ll also enjoy watching the diversity of species this mix brings to your bird-friendly landscape!

Provide Water Even in Cold Temperatures

Water is as vital to birds as food. In winter, birds often struggle to find accessible water sources due to frozen ponds and streams. A bird bath heater or de-icer can keep water unfrozen in sub-zero temperatures, ensuring that birds have fresh water for drinking and preening. Place your bird bath near shrubs or trees so birds can quickly take cover if needed, giving them a safe and accessible spot in your bird-friendly backyard to hydrate.

Add Shelter with DIY Brush Piles

If you have leftover trimmings from fall pruning, consider piling them in a corner of your yard to create a natural shelter. These brush piles serve as temporary homes for smaller birds, giving them a safe place to escape wind and snow. Additionally, brush piles attract insects, which can provide an extra source of food for birds in winter. It’s a simple and natural way to add shelter to your bird-friendly landscape, creating a winter haven for wildlife.

Enjoy the Winter Bird Activity in Your Bird-Friendly Backyard

With these steps, you’ll create a bird-friendly backyard that helps birds thrive during the colder months. Preparing your yard for winter means providing food, water, and shelter that can be a lifeline for birds when natural resources are scarce. In return, you’ll enjoy watching birds flock to your yard, creating a lively winter landscape. With a little preparation, you can make a difference for local wildlife and enjoy a beautiful winter garden filled with cheerful birds.

Source: Jerry Baker’s Backyard Birdscaping Bonanza