The Wings of Winter - Helping Wild Birds Survive
Ideas to Help Winter Birds Survive and Thrive
The winter season is hard on wildlife, but most of all the birds. Some bird species migrate to warmer climates, but many do not. There is quite an assortment of beautiful birds that are permanent residents of, or that migrate to Louisiana to spend the winter. This lens is about our favorite winter birds and the things that we do to help insure their survival in cold weather.
How we take care of our winter birds helps many birders up north because many of these birds migrate north in spring to nest and to be enjoyed by birders in the northern states.
We have included two excellent videos which have wonderful shots of feeding birds in winter and give a wealth of useful information as well.
Crumbs on the Snow
When it's winter and the snow
Like a tablecloth is spread,
I remember hungry birds
And see that they are fed.
On their snowy tablecloth
They find my gift of bread.Lucretia Penny
Birding in Winter
One of our favorite forms of entertainment during the winter is bird-watching and because we also feed the birds and plant winter food plants all around our property, we hardly have to leave our own home to see a variety of interesting and beautiful birds. Because most of the trees and shrubs have lost their leaves during the winter, the birds are so much easier to see and enjoy. All you need is a good pair of binoculars and you can enjoy the fantastic show outside from the comfort of your own home.
Of course, since we are outdoor people, we (and our 2 dogs) walk to the river each day to fill up the many bird feeders that we have all over our 9 acres. We always bring binoculars or a camera because there is usually something interesting to see.
Each December, we participate in the Christmas Bird Count. This is a day in which birders from all over the country locate as many bird species as possible and count the number of individuals for the Audubon Society. On the 2008 Christmas Bird count we observed and counted 36 species, but did not see several birds that we knew lived here. Here is the list of the verified sightings on that day:
Here is our CBC list:
2 Red-shouldered Hawk
6 Mourning Dove
8 Red-bellied Woodpecker
3 Downy Woodpecker
6 Blue Jay
3 American Crow
9 Carolina Chickadee
7 Tufted Titmouse
4 Brown-headed Nuthatch
7 Carolina Wren
9 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 Eastern Bluebird
19 American Robin
1 Northern Mockingbird
2 Brown Thrasher
6 Cedar Waxwing
9 Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler
7 Pine Warbler
4 Eastern Towhee
5 Chipping Sparrow
9 White-throated Sparrow
11 Northern Cardinal
24 Red-winged Blackbird
8 Common Grackle
29 American Goldfinch
2 Wood Ducks
1 Cattle Egret
1 Great White Egret
7 Pine Siskin
2 Catbird
2 Eastern Phoebee
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
3 White eyed Vireos
4 Black Vulture
3 Pileated Woodpecker
1 Brown Creeper
Male Cardinal in Holly
Northern Cardinals
Cardinals are permanent residents and are one of our most beautiful winter birds. The male's bright red color and the female's soft brown with touches of red always brighten up a winter day. Cardinals are seed eaters and visit our black oil sunflower seed feeders often. Visit The Cardinal's Nest to learn more about this beautiful bird.
Female Cardinal
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice
During winter small flocks of Carolina Chickadees, Titmice and Downy Woodpeckers travel through the forests and visit feeders, searching for food. It is during the winter that the immature birds in the flock develop pair bonds in preparation for mating in spring. These small flocks love black oil sunflower seed and suet. They also eat many wild seed and berries.
Tufted Titmouse
Woodpeckers
In our habitat, here in Louisiana, there are many species of woodpeckers, including: (from largest to smallest) Pileated, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, Red-headed, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a winter visitor that pecks sap wells in trees which in turn attract and trap insects. The Red-headed Woodpecker is seen mainly in spring and summer. All the others are year round residents that eat sunflower seeds, suet and the insects from rotting wood.
Winter Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red Headed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpeckers
Nuthatches
Our resident Southeastern U.S. nuthatch is the little Brown-headed Nuthatch. It is similar to the Pygmy Nuthatch of the west. These acrobatic little birds need pine forests to survive because pine nuts are their primary food. They will also eat black oil sunflower seeds and suet, so providing a bird feeder will aid in their survival.
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Occasionally in winter, Red-breasted Nuthatches will make their way down this far south. During the winter of 2007-08 several spent the entire winter here. These amusing little birds with their honking call are a delight to watch.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Goldfinches
Each year flocks of American Goldfinches in their winter plumage come from the north to visit our sunflower and Thistle seed feeders. Occasionally pine siskins are mixed into the flocks. It's best not to fill up the Thistle feeders until the birds arrive, because the seed must be fresh or they won't eat it. By spring, some of the males are beginning to show the beautiful bright yellow breeding plumage like the one below. Before Hurricane Katrina, we used to host flocks of 200 or more Goldfinches in our habitat, but now we are lucky to have 25 to 30 at one time.
Droll Yankees tubular feeder with cage and protective dome keeps larger, problem birds and squirrels out, but lets the little birds in. The extended top makes refilling easy and a spring clamp keeps the protective dome in place and removes for easy cleaning. The sheltering dome protects against weather and the strong chew-proof stainless steel wire cage keeps out bothersome squirrels.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets
Ruby-crowned (and sometimes Golden Crowned) Kinglets spend the winter with us. They are tiny, active little greenish gray birds with a white eye ring and yellow-orange feet. The males have a red "crown" that stays hidden under a tuft of feathers except when they are agitated or excited. They love suet and they will pick at the seed on our log feeders, but are probably looking for insects. They will also visit the hummingbird feeders that we leave up year round. Most of the time Kinglets are in perpetual motion as they work each branch, looking under every leaf for tiny insect food.
Pine Warblers
Pine Warblers are permanent residents in our habitat. They spend most of their time high in the mature pine trees throughout our property. But in winter, they come down out of the tree tops to visit the suet and seed feeders. Pine Warblers are the only seed eating Warbler and they make their home in the Pine trees on our property. The males are quite attractive with their bright golden yellow breast and the females, though less showy are also quite lovely.
Pine Warbler on Seed Feeder
Carolina Wrens
Carolina Wrens, with their many vocalizations, are evident during every season. They mate for life and usually are seen in pairs, even in winter. They absolutely love suet and will monopolize any suet feeder. They also eat tons of insects, so they are beloved by gardeners. Don't leave your Christmas Wreath up too long, because as soon as the weather warms up, these birds are looking for placed to build their nests.
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebirds
The lovely Eastern Bluebirds spend the winter in groups going through the woods and forest, eating winter berries. Bluebirds also like suet, but we have never seen them eating any from our feeders. Water is an important feature for Bluebirds, so an unfrozen feeder or pond will be appreciated by them. Many times we have seen pairs checking out nest boxes in December and January. They also use nest boxes as shelters in which to roost during the really cold nights of winter.
Eastern Bluebird Male
Southern Magnolia Cone
Food Plants
Plants that provide winter native nuts, berries and fruit are important to all wildlife. Certain groups of plants such as Hollies, Oaks, Hackberry, Beech, Pine, Magnolia, etc. are vital to many birds' survival. For more information about winter food plants, consult Planting for Birds and Wildlife .
Suplemental Food and Water
Many types of supplemental food can be provided. We use Black-oil Sunflower Seeds, cracked corn, Thistle seed and homemade Suet. We also leave our hummingbird (sugar water) feeders up all year long. Here in South Louisiana, we often have western species of Hummingbirds such as Rufous, Calliope and Buff-bellied spend the winter in our habitat.
The narration on the two videos below provides excellent information and the photography is beautiful.
How to Attract Birds to Your Yard in Winter: Part One
Sharing Seeds
Most years, for Christmas, we string popcorn and cranberries and put peanut butter suet on pinecones and in orange rinds and decorate a small tree for the birds. We call it our Singing Christmas Tree.
Christmas Decorations for the Birds
How to Attract Winter Birds: Part Two
Drinking Water is a Necessity
Water is vital for winter survival. If you live in areas where it freezes for long periods of time, you may want to invest in a heater for the bird bath. We only have a few freezes each year, so we just pour boiling water in our bird bath near the house. Of course, we also have a large pond and a river which have never frozen, so water is always available.
Male Cardinal at Bird Bath
Voices of Owls
Winter is the best time to go owling because the leaves have fallen from the trees which makes it easier to spot the birds. Recognizing the various calls will also help you identify the different owls which inhabit the woodlands in your area.
© 2008 Yvonne L B
Please Peck Out a Note
Beautiful photos here! We enjoy a singing forest each morning -brought to us by various species (that I can't always identify), love watching the hummingbirds at our feeders during the daytime and enjoy listening to the owls at night. Thank you for sharing!
I just love birds and in the winter I do worry about them. This is a great lens for some ways to help them thrive.
Beautiful job on this lens! Always fun to meet a fellow birder. :-)
Great information and I love it that I learn something today...Great Lens!
So many great images and information...great job! Blessed.
Obviously this lens is a labor of love!
Gorgeous photos! I love bird watching too.
I haven't seen most of these birds, then again I don't live in an area known for snow or really cold winters.
I haven't seen most of these birds, then again I don't live in an area known for snow or really cold winters.
Can I borrow couple of ideas? :)
Can I borrow couple of ideas? :)
Great Lens! I love when I get to see the Red Cardinal in my backyard
Love the Chickadees & the Northern Cardinals! Not quite as fond of the woodpeckers, as they like to move INTO our eaves! Enjoyed your lens!
- AUTHOR
@Shorebirdie: Both Rufous and Allens as well as other Selasphorus hummingbirds spend the winter in Louisiana. We've had both in our Baton Rouge yard, but only Rufous in Covington. A local bander usually comes to identify and band them.
- AUTHOR
@AdaptiveConcierge: Most of the recent photos were taken with either the Canon Powershot S3IS or S5IS. A lot of the older ones were taken with a 35mm Canon AE1.
That hummingbird looks like an Allen's, but I don't know if you have those where you live.
I didn't see which camera you used for your photos.
Great lens! It's got everything I could want in a lens - tons of information, opportunities to showcase your Zazzle products, and links to other items for sale (in a not-so-pushy way!) What a great example to anyone who loves birds, or aspires to create great lenses!
Beautiful photos! John and I are in Florida for the winter - and while the birds are simply astonishing down here, we do miss feeding and watching the northern New England birds for the winter. Incredibly entertaining, and I can watch them for hours! What a great job you did on this lens! :) Kath
Beautiful Pictures. I really enjoyed this lens
Very well done! I passed your lens URL on to a birding friend!
Nice lens.
This is such a soft and tender lens. I love the quote/poem Crumbs on the Snow.. sooo touching! Angel blessed lens.
I really love your bird pictures. A great lens.
Oooooh! You have some great contact shots of birds. Most informative.
Oooooh! You have some great contact shots of birds. Most informative.
Thanks for the lens! I love watching birds. It is so calming to enjoy nature.
Great lens! Thanks so much for sharing. A nature preserve sounds perfect!
So beautiful
So beautiful
poor birds. it is -29 degrees Celsius outside. they are simply noisy, chirping their hearts out inside the evergreen trees where they built their nests . with their thin feathers, i am sure that they suffer a lot. i hope spring will come soon. squidangel blessed.
These are some beautiful birds found in your area. In India we find pied wagtails, shrikes, openbill storks, flamingos and various migratory birds in winter.
Beautiful lens! We don't have many birds here in the winter but what we have, we enjoy.
I love it when the little critters fly back in the springtime. Angel blessed.
I have a much different winter birding experience since moving from the Gulf Coast to the high desert of Colorado. It is pretty remarkable, though, the number of birds that stick around here for the winter. Always enjoy your photos and nature lenses. Thank you!
Lovely to see bird lovers! Thanks!
Lovely to see bird lovers! Thanks!
great post! very informative.
beautiful pictures.... we live in the middle of woods and I am amazed at some of the birds we see even in the cold and snow.
Chirp chirp. Love these photos. Good information on attracting birds to your feeder all winter. Lovely!
really wonderful!!!!
What a wonderful lens, I really enjoyed it.
Love to see bird articles, nice job on this one ... *blessed*
loved your lens,love birds!
loved your lens,love birds!
Great lens. I love drawing TN birds. I have a lens where I have displayed a few of them. However, I am in need of more photos of birds in TN to draw. If anyone out there would like to send me good, clear pics of a few birds in TN, I would appreciate it.
Great info and pics for identifying, thanks! We saw a pileated woodpecker on our land in the mountains, so exciting!
Wonderful lens on "Birds of winter" - featured on my lens - Bird Watching Wiki
I'm a bird lover too. We have 8 Sun Conurs, 1 Green-Cheak Conure and 2 lovebirds. I had no idea birds were so smart until I lived with my birds. Good job with your lens. Very engaging and informative.
What a beautiful fun and informational resource you have created. I found my self pausing many times, I live in Fargo and have bird friends that entertain me on my balcony. They let me know they want something to eat and will even wander in and out my patio door if I let them.
Your pictures and products are amazing. They are really so beautiful and so is this whole lens.
What an absolutely beautiful look at the birds of winter. You have a talent for bringing them to vibrant life life. Blessed by an angel today
Another very comprehensive lens and thanks for reminding us to think of the birds in winter.
- AUTHOR
@indigoj: Thanks so much. What is the name of your new blog. I've looked, but I can't find it.
This is so lovely and your photography is impressive! You certainly get some beautiful birds in your part of the world. I'm delighted to be featuring this lens on my new blog.
Great lens, I love the pictures! 5*
Instant fave, great lens!
Thank you for a beautiful lens!
What an amazing variety of birds! Gorgeous lens and a good reminder to think of our feathered friends.
They would approve of the security word - 'lickworm'!
What a beautiful lens and so packed with information and amazing pictures - well done! Blessed by a SquidAngel :-)
Nice lens, the photos are just beautiful. Different birds to what we have in Australia. Our birds are much noisier.
I love your pictures! Beautiful lense.
I love your lens! I had a Carolina Wren hang out at my house all winter one year (in NH) and he/she loved to eat Smartfood popcorn! It was so fun to look for that little guy every day! 5 ***** and lensrolled.
What a fun and informative lens! Beautiful work! ~ Skye :o-)
Congratulations! You are the first to identify the unknown bird as African Goose on www.squidoo.com/identify-birds lens! That bird had me stumped for 5 years!
Love this lens, too. 5* and lensroll to my www.squidoo.com/birds-at-CafePress.
A female cardinal flew into my garage the other day, wouldn't come out. Had to leave her in there with the door shut for a while, but she later made it out. This summer I caught a male cardinal in there too, flinging himself against the window. He decided to let me help him escape! Thanks for a well presented, indepth lens! 5*, & my faves. :-)
We have a piliated woodpecker that looks like the Red-bellied Woodpecker -- beautiful to watch! Did you happen to hear about what I saw in our backyard this past weekend? A hawk landed on top of our tiny bird feeder and then flew to the top of a bird house in our backyard. It was a majestic sight -- not quick enough with the camera though!
This lens is very nicely done!
This is a great lens with fantastic photos. I appreciate it. I see lots of old friends who visit my feeders, but a few we don't have in New Hampshire. I'd love to see a lens on the waterfowl of your area. I never knew there were so many kinds of ducks until I moved to live beside a river. I imagine that many winter near you after our rivers are frozen.
I love to watch the birds. There are not as many around now, but time goes so fast. Spring will be here before we know it.
Great lens
Bj
lovely cardinals! make me love more the winter.
What a great lens, 5***** I used to love watching the Cardinals when I lived in Indiana. Now in Florida I get treated regularly to Pelicans, Blue Herons, Egrets and many more.
Wonderful lens. I miss the chatter and chirping when I step out my back door in the winter. The Carolina Wrens and Cardinals are all I've seen lately. Both are quiet due to the cold. The birdfeeder is kept full... I look forward to spring but this lens helped. Thanks. And thanks for your kind comments on my Say Something Nice Lens.
5* and favored.
Lizzy
Fabulous lens...the photographs are marvelous! I like the teeny ones myself (like the Warbler :o) 5*
Http://www.squidoo.com/ConnieCrankpot
We love our cardinals here in Ontario, Canada.
Poutine
Very nice lens. I love birds and we feed and watch them all the time. Nice photos. We don't have cardinals around here, but I hope to see one someday.
Well, I knew your avatar was beautiful, but this is amazing! *****
Wonderful lens and beautiful photographs. My favourite winter bird, here in the U.K, is the Indian green ring neck parakeet; now officially a British bird because I has lived in the parks in west London for several decades after escaping and forming a breeding colony. It doesn't seem to mind the cold weather, although London is a surprisingly mild winter climate. I really must make a lens on the subject.
this is a great lens. I used to have a favorite bird when I was a kid - but I forgot what it was!!! but it was soo cute and little!
Beautiful photos. I really enjoyed this lens.
I love feeding and watching the antics of the birds in winter. Thank you for sharing such beautiful pictures.
Lensrolled to Wintertime and Bluebirds.
Fantastic photos and information! 5*'s and favorited. :-)
Beautiful job.
This is one of the prettiest and most beautiful designed pages on Squidoo. A hearty SquidAngel Blessing for this masterpiece!
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