Newark Ohio Garden Club

Taken right here in Newark, Ohio! AKA “Woody Woodpecker”

The woodpeckers enjoy the trees, and since we’ve had numerous storms in the past year, you might consider leaving some fallen trees for them to enjoy.

In addition, enjoy the link to the video about these large members of the bird family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpYsdZ8gUU8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2s

Don’t cut those dried stems! Mature seed pods provide a natural food source for the birds throughout the winter.
Leave the seed heads from your sunflowers, cone flowers, black eyed Susans,salvias, phlox, thistles and ironweed.

Small seed eating birds like chickadees and gold finches will feed straight from the pods. Ground feeding birds like cardinals and sparrows will find seed that has fallen to the ground.

Leaving your seed heads also adds appeal to a garden in winter. Leaving the mature seed pods saves time and work while helping your feathered friends
If leaving the stems is not appealing to you, then cut the stems and make a bouquet and hang it from a fence or tree . The birds will find the food.

By early spring, many birds may have trouble finding seeds left from last fall. They appreciate a reliable food source now which also helps them through the still cold nights.
Feeding the birds now will encourage them to nest on your property. What fun it is to watch mother birds feed their babies at your feeders.
You may even see a male cardinal feed his young.

It’s been a rough winter for birds and predictions are that February may be even worse. Cold temperatures, fewer daylight hours, and
snow -covered ground make surviving an Ohio winter a challenge for the many birds who winter in our area. High fat, high calorie foods such as quality birdseed, peanut butter smeared on a pinecone and then rolled in birdseed, and suet provide the extra calories needed to
survive long cold nights. Birds will be happy with the birdseed that is readily available in grocery and feed stores. Cardinals and many other birds especially love sunflower seeds. Putting food out in mid afternoon enables birds to eat before sleeping through cold nights.

Birds also need a reliable supply of water for drinking and bathing. A clean bird is a warm bird. Consider purchasing an electric heater for your birdbath. Your feathered friends will appreciate a reliable source of clean water. It’s great fun to watch robins and other birds splashing in the birdbath on the coldest days.

Watching the birds attracted to your backyard provides much enjoyment and makes winter more bearable.