Food and shelter are the foundation of life for wildlife during the Southwest Ohio winter. Being efficient in finding food and minimizing exposure to the elements and predators are key. That’s why winters can sometimes seem bleak and lifeless. Much like we run to the grocery and then go immediately back inside, animals dash out to food sources and then back to shelter. There isn’t a lot of loafing around when the wind cuts cold.
You can add some action outside your windows by creating or enhancing food, shelter, or both where you can see it. I once hung a feeder outside of an office window that I made from a plastic peanut-butter jar and a promotional Frisbee. If you know me, you’re not surprised by this at all.
https://app.mybirdbuddy.com/media/springfield-united-states/6e2d8371-30b6-4cd4-b6a1-fdc4e88db806
If you want to be selective in what you’re feeding and attracting to your area, you’ll want to be intentional about the style of feeder and what it contains. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers these suggestions for winter feeding:
- Sunflower Seeds
- Peanuts
- Niger Thistle
- Millet
- Corn
- Safflower Seeds
- Suet
Check out the complete column to see what seed might be right for you:
Whatever feed you choose, make sure to periodically clean the feeders, especially in the event of warmer weather. Suet can turn rancid if temperatures climb, and it wasn’t that long ago that that the ODNR requested that feeders be pulled during the summer. https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/area-parks-remove-bird-feeders-ask-residents-to-do-same-as-unknown-bird-illness-continues/FVWPLDTAAJCBFKD3T6WEMGRP74/
If you see wildlife that looks sick or disabled, report it to the ODNR through their reporting portal here: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/987f2ade0037405ea9ff1819aab040a8?portalUrl=https://gis.ohiodnr.gov/portal
Resources
Backyard Wildlife
https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/stewardship-citizen-science/backyard-wildlife
Publications
https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/wildlife/backyard-wildlife/Attracting%20Birds%20in%20Ohio%20pub037.pdf
Read the complete column here: https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/want-to-attract-birds-to-your-backyard-give-them-what-they-need/LG4BVJVUKJGV7BQ2YYSKV4J5AE/
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