The geese have been flying overhead for quite some time but there are many other birds passing through out area at this time of year too. Whether they’re just making a pit-stop or wintering locally, consider turning your garden into a valued rest-stop for food, water and shelter. Not only will it help them immensely, it really is a joy to watch them flit in and out and listen to them chirp away during the darker days of winter!

Trees, Shrubs  & Perennials that Please

A garden planted with certain varieties of trees and shrubs will also provide consistent natural food sources over the winter. Berried plants that fruit, like pyracantha, callicarpa, cotoneaster and ornamental flowering crab apples, are a great source of winter food, as are holly and deciduous holly Ilex verticulata.

The seed pods of alder and certain dogwoods, like ‘Red Osier’, and even winter-flowering Cornus mas, offer a good supply of food and shelter. Believe it or not, the cones from mugo and Scotch pines, spruce and hemlock are food sources too. Rose hips, particularly from some of the old-fashioned roses, and Meidilands like ‘Bonica’ are a real treat for birds. Shelter is a requirement for our feathered friends and many of the above offer wonderful protection to small birds. Colourful twig dogwoods and evergreen leucothoe are good candidates for providing coverage too.

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Should any edible fruits like serviceberries, aronia and elderberries be left on your plants they would be most appreciated by birds, but don’t be disappointed if they have fallen by now or been pecked clean… edible berries fruiting now, like cranberries, lingonberries and gaultheria p. (Wintergreen) will certainly keep them happy!

Some perennials, such as miscanthus, rudbeckia and echinacea, can be left as they are over winter because their seed heads are a fantastic source of nourishment. Miscanthus is meant to be pruned in early spring anyway, so enjoy them all winter long!

For hummingbirds, camelias, hellebores and older varieties of mahonia m. like ‘Charity’ are wonderful options. We’ve seen several zip in for a snack from these plants already!

In addition to the flora that can feed the birds, overwintering insects provide high protein sustenance. Keep some fallen leaves around trees and in beds, and don’t worry about tidying up every nook and cranny… having some hunting spots for birds to go after will often yield good results while still maintaining a healthy balance in the garden.

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Bird Feeder Factors

With regard to bird feeders, according to the Government of Canada site*, the risk of spreading Al through feeding wild birds with feeders is quite low so setting one out should be safe. The really important thing to remember, however, is that to keep them safe you must regularly clean them. Remove old seed before any sign of rot or mould, thoroughly wash the container with a 5-10% bleach solution then rinse thoroughly. Once it is totally dry you can refill it with fresh seed. As a tip, don’t fill it to the very top each time! Fill about half full so that by the time they have eaten through it, it’s time for a clean and restock. The same is true for hummingbird feeders… please clean them regularly, and diligently, and just add manageable amounts of nectar each time.

Secure your feeder in a location out of cold winter winds to protect the birds while they are dining, ideally near thickets or bushy trees they can quickly dart into should a predator suddenly appear. Various species feed at different heights so try providing a range. Keep feeders high off the ground so that visiting felines can’t get the jump on our feathered friends and remember to rake up fallen seed so rodents aren’t attracted to the area. There are many ground feeding birds, so perhaps just scatter small amounts of food daily in a saucer in protected areas. Also avoid placing feeders near windows they might fly into (one site recommends about 3 feet away).

The type of seed you set out will align with which type of bird visits. As a general rule of thumb, the smaller the seed the smaller the bird (and vice versa). Black oil sunflower is one of the most beneficial seeds, but nyjer and other quality seed blends with minimal filler are a great way to go. Suet is especially valuable in the middle of winter when they need the extra fats to keep going. Birds need water too, so if you can keep an open source of water near your feeder, with the help of a heater when temperatures drop, you will attract more than your share of birds and they will be grateful for the drink!

We owe a lot to our pollinator friends so, this winter, consider helping them when food sources are scarce. Your garden will become a more vibrant, diversified and interesting place to be during the colder months, and our local bird population will be stronger for it.

To get more involved check out projects like ‘FeederWatch’ supported by Cornell University (https://feederwatch.org) or the ‘Birds Canada Christmas Bird Count’ (https://birdscanada.org)!  The Vancouver Avian Research Center is a great source for information too (https://birdvancouver.com)!  

*For more information on Avian Flu/Wild Birds, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-game-bird-hunting/avian-influenza-wild-birds.html#toc3