National Bird-Feeding Month

First posted on 02-18-2011

Today is the start of the Great Backyard Bird Count, which runs through February 21 this year. But, lest we miss it entirely, the entire month of February is designated as National Bird-Feeding Month. Put out some seed and suet blocks for our feathered friends, grab the binoculars and a guide book, then see who shows up for the feast you’ve prepared.

In winter, we get to see birds that range further north most of the year but find that Ozarks winters are just about right for a vacation from the colder climates back home. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a great web site that makes it easy to identify and learn more about birds migrating to and living year-round in the area.

National Bird-Feeding Month is sponsored by the National Bird-Feeding Society to publicize bird watching as well as feeding wild birds. The event began in 1994 and each year, the society promotes a theme. This year’s is “Most Wanted - America’s Top Ten Backyard Birds.”

Over a hundred different bird species stop by backyard feeders and the society came up with two lists, one for residents of states east of the Rocky Mountains and another for people living in and west of the Rockies. Compiling the lists meant selecting birds that “are all widespread throughout their region, are easy to attract, and live in urban, suburban, and rural environments,” according to the National Bird-Feeding Society web site.

The picks for those of us in the Ozarks and other points east of the Rocky Mountains include: American Goldfinch
Chickadee (Black-capped/Carolina)
Dark-eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
House Finch
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch

Pick up a little food and a couple of feeders this weekend and make it a point to set them out, then see if any or all of these species show up. You’ll be surprised at how quickly birds discover the food and frequent the feeders. For seed, try black-oil sunflower, a favored variety of most seed-eaters. Plenty of suet choices are available but those made with peanut butter or peanuts seem to do well for woodpeckers and other birds.

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