Birdfeeding

[ysabetwordsmith]

Today is cloudy and chilly.

I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows, a large flock of mourning doves, several starlings, a male cardinal, and a male house finch.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 2/11/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 2/11/25 -- I put out more birdseed.

I am done for the night.


EDIT 2/11/25 -- I wrote this in a comment and figured folks here would like it too.

In my observation, nasty weather often does bring out more birds. I think they prefer to gorge at a spot that reliably has food then retreat to shelter, rather than forage when the weather sucks.

Mist to light rain -- often more birds

Light to moderate snow -- usually lots of birds

Thick snow on ground -- often lots of birds

Sun -- plenty of bird activity but less at feeders

Clearer after miserable weather -- often lots of birds

Heavy rain or snow, high wind -- few or no birds

Frigid weather -- birds fighting over suet

My yard has lots of trees and brush, a prairie, and some lawn so there is lots of opportunity for birds to forage. They like to forage when the weather is at least halfway decent. They don't like to forage when the weather is nasty, so they tend to hide or fill up at the feeders as fast as possible.

Comments

[topaz_eyes]

In my observation, nasty weather often does bring out more birds. I think they prefer to gorge at a spot that reliably has food then retreat to shelter, rather than forage when the weather sucks.

This is our observation here too, where we've recently had extreme cold warnings (< -30C air temp, -40C wind chill). Our main feeding and water station is located under a thick spruce tree. Some days the ground is teeming with little birds (sparrows, chickadees, finches). The little birds also seem to make rounds around the city. We have regular flocks of 5-6 pigeons, 4-5 Eurasian collared doves, plus blue jays, Northern flickers, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers come around.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Mine travel in groups too. There are big flocks of sparrows, among others. I think the goldfinches and house finches are rambling this winter, which isn't common. Usually birds shuffle the deck in spring and fall, then what you have stays put until the next shuffle.

[ribirdnerd]

I have seen a lot of birds after our 3 inch storm over the weekend. It's been cold so not much has melted. I've filled my feeders and cleared a spot for the ground feeding birds.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That's helpful.

I find that my bird very quickly clear a spot below the hopper feeder, unless the snow is quite deep. The ground feeders like mourning doves typically eat from there or in the fly-through feeder.