Winter weather has arrived and there are plenty of outdoor recreation activities suitable for a variety of ages and abilities that provide a connection to nature without the physicality of hiking in winter. For example: birdwatching. The New York State Birding Trail is not a physical trail, but it “connects” all the best birding locations in regions across the state. For more information and trail locations, visit NYS Birding Trail Locations. Alternatively, folks can opt to watch birds right from their backyards.
For many birdwatchers in New York, this is an exciting time of year—backyard bird feeders can go back up. To avoid conflicts with bears, DEC highly recommends only feeding birds when bears are inactive. There are many natural sources of winter food for birds including birch catkins, spruce and fir cones, dried seed heads from native grasses and flowers, and lingering fruits on plants. Bird feeders can supplement these natural foods and may attract more birds to your yard. A simple tube feeder with black oil sunflower seed is a great place to start. Adding suet is a sure bet to draw in woodpeckers. To provide a source of water, try installing a birdbath heater or bubbler and regularly refreshing the water.
If you are drawing wild birds into your yard with feeders, try these tips to keep birds safe:
- providing nearby cover such as evergreen trees, native shrubs, or even discarded Christmas trees;
- placing feeders away from windows and making windowpanes bird-safe with screens, netting, decals, or vertical tape;
- regularly cleaning feeders to avoid spreading disease;
- securely storing bird seed indoors;
- keeping cats indoors;
- feeding pets inside to avoid inadvertently attracting feral cats, rodents, or other wildlife; and
- taking down feeders in the spring to avoid bear conflicts.
Follow the Seven Principles of Leave No TraceTM to maintain minimal impact on the environment and the natural resources of the Adirondacks.
Photo at top: Adult Common Redpoll female. Common Redpolls breed to our north and move south into the Adirondacks for the winter. Photo by Missy Mandel/Great Backyard Bird Count.
