Feeding birds from a bird feeder at home is a highly rewarding activity that provides hours of entertainment. You will be able to attract a wide variety of birds, including nuthatches, chickadees, sparrows, and blue jays. Partridges and pigeons may even come to eat the seed dropped on the ground. Plus, you’ll be helping all of these birds survive and thrive over the cold months of the year.

To get the most out of the experience, here are some tips and tricks on feeding, feeders, and keeping those pesky squirrels at bay.

What to Feed Birds Over the Winter

During the winter, you’ll want to offer your local birds food with higher fat content, as fat is used by birds to move around and stay warm in the freezing temperatures. One of the best seed varieties is black oil sunflower seeds, as they are high in fat and will attract many different types of birds. The thin shell is also easy for smaller birds to handle and crack. Suet slabs are also a fantastic choice for feeding birds, as they combine ingredients like seeds, oats, fruit, cornmeal, peanut butter, and mealworms and suspend it all in fat.

You can find bird food in pet stores and grocery stores, but your best bet for a high-quality mix and a large selection is a specialty bird store.

Bird Feeder Types, Placement, and Maintenance

Bird feeders come in a selection of designs, including tube feeders, open tray feeders, mesh socks, and suet baskets. The type you choose should depend on factors like the kind of bird food you plan to use and how you plan to keep squirrels away.

In terms of placement, bird feeders are best positioned within five feet of your home. This provides shelter from the elements, makes for easier bird watching, and can help prevent window collisions. Natural shelters like trees or shrubs can work as well, but try to keep the feeder a distance of at least 10 feet away so that squirrels can’t easily jump from the tree to your feeder.

Bird feeders should be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis. Simply scrub the feeder with warm, soapy water and leave it in the sunlight to dry.

How to Deal with Squirrels

In addition to placing your feeder far enough away from trees, there are a few other strategies you can try. Some bird feeders, for example, come with an outer cage that will allow smaller birds to pass through but will keep squirrels out. Or, if you are using a suet basket, use a thick tie or even a metal chain to secure it so that a squirrel can’t run off with it. All feeders should be made of metal or durable plastic to resist chewing as well.

One of the most effective ways to keep squirrels from raiding your bird feeders is to invest in a feeder pole. Designed specifically to squirrel-proof your feeders, these poles prevent squirrels from climbing up and reaching the food with a special baffle that impedes their way.

Bird watching is an activity that everyone can enjoy. Get some free entertainment this winter by setting up a bird feeder in your yard and taking the right steps to make sure it is a resounding success.