5 Fall Bird Feeding Must-Haves

As the seasons change, wild birds' needs change, too. Nesting season is over and wildlife are preparing for the cold months ahead. Some by migrating south, and others by building fat reserves, caching food, and scoping out the best winter roosting zones. Here are five of our top must-have products to make your yard the go-to place for the birds this fall.

White-breasted Nuthatch with peanut (out of the shell)

1. Peanuts
Many birds including nuthatches, chickadees, and blue jays, are spending their fall days caching (storing) food for winter. Peanuts, both in and out of the shell, and the perfect caching food. Birds are constantly seeking high-calorie foods to fuel their high metabolism and keep them energized to survive and thrive in the wild. This is especially true the fall and winter seasons. Depending on the species, a birds' caloric intake need can be as high as 10 000 calories in a single day - that's equivalent to a human consuming 155 000 calories! One of the best foods to offer birds to help them meet their caloric demands is peanuts. High calorie, high protein, and highly desired. Click here to learn more about peanuts & which birds you can attract with them.

2. Bark Butter
Bark Butter is a highly nutritious, palatable, and spreadable suet created with the intention of attracting the shy and feeder-weary Brown Creeper. It is made of pure rendered beef suet, peanut butter, corn, and added calcium for an extra boost. This high-calorie food perfect for fueling up migrating species, and those who are putting on some winter weight to stick out the cold weather. Since it's easily spreadable, Bark Butter essentially turns your surroundings in to bird feeders. Grab your tub of Bark Butter & a fork, smear a generous amount on to a tree and crosshatch with fork prongs, and watch as the birds investigate and chow down. Keep a close eye on the Bark Butter patches in your yard, you may see some unique visitors such as Brown Creepers, warbler species, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and more.

Northern Cardinal drinking from WBU Heated Bird Bath

3. Bird Bath
Providing a consistent source of drinking and bathing water is one of the most important elements you can incorporate in to your regular backyard birding regime. Water is a requirement for all birds year-round, and is a great way to invite a wide variety of species into your yard. As the freezing temps creep in, open water will be in short supply and snow will become the primary source of hydration for most of our backyard birds. It takes a lot of energy to convert snow to water, and during the cold winter months birds need to conserve as much energy as possible. You can help the birds in your yard stay hydrated this fall and winter by installing a heated bird bath. Heated bird baths keep the water temperature just above freezing which gives birds to opportunity to drink as needed throughout the colder months, and can help attract species not particularly known to visit feeders such as American Robins, Northern Flickers, and even some birds of prey.

Downy Woodpecker feeding on Seed Character from Seed Cylinder Feeder

4. Seed Cylinder Feeder (& Seed Cylinders)
Fall kicks off the holiday season with Thanksgiving & Halloween, not to mention all of the fun fall activities like apple picking, corn mazes, and so much more. Before we know it we're jumping into winter holiday plans - life is busy this time of year! Don't let the birds down by forgetting to fill the feeders while you are out and about this fall, try a Seed Cylinder Feeder and our long-lasting Seed Cylinders. Seed Cylinders are made of a variety of different seeds packed tightly into a tidy & convenient cylinder, designed to last. They come in a wide variety of blends allowing you to choose which is right for your backyard birds, including Safflower, No-Mess, Nesting SuperBlend, Woodpecker Blend, Hot Pepper varieties, and more. 

5. Window Strike Prevention
Fall migration is an exciting time for Ontario birders with dozens of species leaving for warmer climates, and many species returning to spend the winter in our yards. While it is exciting for us, it is an extremely stressful time for the birds. One of the largest threats birds face today is human made.. buildings & windows. Window strikes kill an estimated 100 MILLION to 1 BILLION birds each year across North America. During migration, many species travel at night, using the constellations to help with navigation. Often times during this nocturnal journey, birds are attracted to our man-made lights, confusing them with stars, and collide with buildings. In daylight hours, our windows reflect the sky or trees, deceiving birds who do not see the glass. Window strike injuries are often fatal, but are largely preventable. There are many successful methods you can practice to prevent window strikes at your home, including: proper feeder placement, keeping blinds down and partially closed, turning lights off at night, and installing window decals such as Feather Friendly Window Markers or Window Alert Decals. Learn more about preventing window strikes here. 

Happy trails!
- Shayna