Our Minnetonka Store Manager Shares How She Adapts Her Backyard Feeding Stations To Accommodate Seasonal Changes

The early days of a new year are a time of reflection and evaluation. Looking back over the last year, I’ve come to appreciate a pattern of seasonal changes in the way I feed the birds in my backyard. Rather than approaching the set-up of my feeding stations with a “one and done” frame of mind, I consider my backyard habitat as fluid; changing as needed with the seasons and the movements of bird populations. Here are some examples.

Deep Winter

In deep winter, I stock my feeding stations plentifully with suet, including cake suet and suet plugs, as well as with an abundance of peanut pick-outs and in-shell peanuts. Without spring’s and summer’s greedy grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds that gobble up my suet and peanuts, I can freely offer these fat, protein and energy-rich foods to birds that tend to enjoy them in more moderation! It’s a joy to watch the Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, woodpeckers and White-breasted Nuthatches relish the peanuts and suet. Blue Jays appreciate these special winter offerings, too. I welcome their blue splash of color, brilliant against the white landscape, as they swoop in to snatch in-shell peanuts— their favorite!

Another adjustment I make to my feeding stations in the deep winter is offering suet nuggets for the cardinals. I provide the nuggets in a tray feeder or a dome-covered dish feeder because they have wider perching areas for cardinals than those of suet cake or plug feeders. I’m motivated to keep my cardinals healthy because—really—is there anything more beautiful than a Northern Cardinal in the snow?

Early Spring

In the early spring, I shift the offerings at my feeding stations again to accommodate spring migrants. By late April, I set out my oriole feeders and fill them with grape jelly, mealworms and nectar. These additions replace some of the suet or peanut feeders from winter. Later, I hang my hummingbird feeders.

Late Spring and Summer

I continue to adjust my feeding stations throughout the spring and summer as different migrating flocks arrive. If crows, grackles or Red-winged Blackbirds begin devouring suet, I replace my traditional suet feeder with an upside-down variety. This clever solution makes it difficult for larger “nuisance” birds to land, while easily accommodating the more nimble chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers— including the Pileated Woodpecker. Another spring and summer adjustment: keeping my main feeders filled with only golden safflower. This seed variety is unappealing to feeder robbers like starlings and grackles, yet is inviting to cardinals, chickadees, goldfinches and other favorites. Golden safflower has more oil, protein and fat than regular safflower and its thinner hull means less mess around my feeder.

Seasonal Changes to Water Features

I change my water features seasonally too. During the winter, I provide a heated birdbath so winter birds have fresh water to drink In the spring and summer, I add a mister (a hummingbird favorite!), a dripper and birdbaths in more than one location to accommodate the increased number of visitors to my yard.

Each season brings blessings and challenges. Whatever the season, our staff can help you to explore creative approaches to seasonal changes in your birding habitat to bring in the birds you most want to see! ■

Adapted from the January/February 2013 Bird’s-Eye View Newsletter

By Minnetonka Manager CAROL CHENAULT