Winter is fast approaching and in some areas has already arrived



Birds are busy preparing for the difficult conditions ahead. Cardinals, Juncos, Finches, Grosbeaks and others are forming flocks. Birds do not like to be alone when looking for food so they pool their resources. Providing a feast in your squirrel proof birdfeeders, a place to keep warm in your decorative birdhouses, and heated bird baths for your birds will provide a payback of their presence for months to come.



Bird seed

Best November Seed Mix



50% black oil sunflower

40-45% white millet

5-10% safflower, striped sunflower or shelled peanuts

 

• Cardinals, Chickadees, House Finches and Nuthatches will kick the white millet to the ground. Birds like Juncos Sparrows, Doves and Towhees will find it there which is where they prefer to eat it. If a lot of Juncos find your backyard you may need to add a ground feeder to your yard. White crowned Sparrows will return to the area they found food last year. So feeding consistently helps to ensure birds are in your yard year after year.
   
• Fill your decorative bird feeders late in the day or very early for more activity. Cardinals, Jays, and Grosbeaks will feed on sunflower in the morning and come back late in the day to finish off safflower, peanuts, or striped sunflower in your mix.
   
• Use tube, hopper or tray style feeders for your seed mixes with tube and hopper style being the best in snowy areas. 
   
• November is good time to reposition your feeders so you can see them from your windows
   
• If you have Gold Finches wintering over in your area, you will need to have nyjer seed. This seed always need to be in a separate feeder preferably mesh style nyjer feeders. If you have a birdbath it is a good idea to put the feeder near your heated birdbath.
   
• Don’t forget the Brown Creepers. They are a non-seeding eating bird that you can attract with shelled peanuts. Make sure you hang stainless steel peanut feeder in a tree near the trunk. If you have trouble with squirrels hang it from a disc-style baffle to discourage them.
   
• Jays love shelled peanuts these can be in a tray or on stump
  
  

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