Fall & Winter Bird Feeding

When the rolling November clouds turn dark and gray, and the snow starts to fly, the birds that remain here in Lake County will need your generosity to survive the colder months ahead. If you want to attract these birds, begin by filling your bird feeders in early autumn… before the birds establish their winter feeding routine.

When feeding birds in winter, feeders are most efficient when placed at sites where birds already visit. In all seasons, wild birds are especially attracted to water for drinking and bathing, so a heated birdbath can encourage birds to stick around all winter. The Audubon Society suggests that by “keeping feeders full, it’s a wonderful way to help birds get through the winter, and they can be a lot of fun to watch… Many people of all ages find this hobby to be an enjoyable way to interact with nature, and the birds can certainly benefit from a well-tended feeding station.”

Native birds that overwinter in the Chicago area include blue jays, cardinals, black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches, juncos, as well as many types of owls and woodpeckers. For every one of them, surviving winter means getting enough food to offset the energy they must spend just to keep warm.

Birds commonly seen at backyard feeders in fall & winter…

-House finch

-House sparrow

-American Goldfinch (In winter, their bright yellow plumage fades to a duller yellow-gray or brown for camouflage.)

-Woodpeckers (Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Red-headed)

-Black-capped Chickadee (Details at Chicago Botanic Garden)

-Northern Cardinal

For ID info and bird sounds, check out the All About Birds website from The Cornell Lab at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_cardinal

Staying Warm…

How does a bird stay warm in the freezing temperatures and brutal winds? The concept is simple. Think of yourself in a puffer coat. The down traps our body heat into little pockets of comfy warmth. The same is true with birds. To create insulation, these warm-blooded birds fluff u their feathers to create their own little warm air pockets between their bodies and the feathers. To keep up this warmth, birds must eat a great deal of fat-rich foods to generate the heat needed for survival. Backyard feeders provide this important source of food. Your consistent offerings of oil-rich seed and suet will keep birds healthy and alive through the most challenging winter months.

Top Foods for Winter Bird Feeding…

-Mealworms

-Cracked corn & peanuts

-Safflower seed

-Nyjer/thistle seed

-Oil-rich seed mixtures with peanuts, sunflower meats and dried fruits

-C&S Suet cakes & Mr. Bird suet cylinders

-Black oil sunflower seeds

Check out our selection of birdseed that we carry in the Wild Bird Department.

PASQUESI 4 SEASONS No-Waste Wild Bird Food

A superb mix of sunflower meats, white & red millet, peanut pieces and clean, cracked corn. It is designed to tempt songbirds and reduce waste around the feeder (no hulls).

DELCO PREMIUM MIX

Wild birds love quality ingredients, and you’ll appreciate the low waste mixture of black & striped sunflower seeds, safflower, white & red millet, sunflower meats, cracked corn, peanut pieces, Nyjer (thistle) seed and grit.

DELCO WILD BIRD MIX

Attract all types of colorful songbirds at a moderate price with black sunflower, safflower, white & red millet and clean, cracked corn. No milo.

CARDINAL FOOD

Invite bright red cardinals, blue jays, nuthatches and other wild birds with black oil sunflower, safflower, white millet, peanut pieces and striped sunflower seeds. 

WILD FINCH PLUS

This blend of Nyjer seed, sunflower meats, hulled sunflower seed, red millet, canary seed and canary grit is perfect for goldfinches, and other small songbirds.

PEANUTS

Whether in the shell or not, peanuts are an excellent high calorie, fat-rich food that appeals to many backyard birds such as nuthatches, blue jays, woodpeckers and chickadees. Since peanuts don’t freeze, they are a good source of energy for winter birds.

WHY CHOOSE PASQUESI BIRDSEED?

We purchase fresh seed from local, reputable sources. FAQ at https://pasquesi.com/faq-why-choose-pasquesi-bird-seed/

For more information on birdseed, birdhouses or other bird-related items. Please speak with our experts at our Lake Bluff store or visit our blog at www.pasquesi.com. We would like to offer you every opportunity to create a bird-friendly habitat for your favorite backyard birds.