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3 Easy Ways to Support Birds Through Winter

Winter isn't easy for birds that don't migrate. Here's how to help them survive the cold season

Sunset

Black-capped Chickadee. Ed Reschke / Getty Images

Though gardens go dormant in winter, the colder months are actually the most important ones to feed your backyard songbirds, like chickadees, who don’t migrate. Their natural food sources are limited, especially during snow and ice storms, and their energy demands are great during the cold weather. Here are three steps to take to help the birds in your backyard.

These pro tips are from Seattleite Ed Mills, expert birder and co-founder of Audubon Park Wild Bird Food.

Bushtits live year-round in the West. Andyworks / Getty Images

1. Choose healthy foods

Birds need unsalted/unsweetened foods like orange and apple slices, frozen or dried cherries, peanut butter, unseasoned beef fat, sunflower seeds or peanuts, quinoa and millet.

Western Scrub Jay with peanut in mouth. Barbara Rich / Getty Images
2. Grant easy access Put the food on cookie sheets and place them in your yard on top of the snow or on a patio table.

Chickadee on a bird bath. Gord Horne / Getty Images
3. Something to wash it down

Use a plant saucer for drinking water. Refresh it daily to prevent freezing.