By Wild Birds Unlimited
Photograph courtesy of Wild Birds Unlimited
Simply put, March can be a very difficult month for your backyard birds. It’s one of the best times of the year for you to help them. Early in the month, birds' natural food supply is at its lowest point of the year: Insect populations are still low, and the few remaining wild fruits, berries, seeds and nuts are either hidden or undesirable. Unpredictable weather doesn't make life any easier. Sunny, warm, spring-like days can turn into cold, damp conditions that challenge birds' survival skills.
To make matters worse, this is all happening as some birds prepare for nesting season.
Make March less stressful for birds. Counteract the lack of natural insects by offering protein-rich mealworms. They are eaten by numerous species of birds and can be a lifesaver during a sudden cold snap or storm. Food makes a difference. Offer your birds lots of high energy foods, such as Jim’s Birdacious Bark Butter Bits, peanuts and suet. Loaded with fat and protein, these are beneficial substitutes for the scarce insects many birds would eat if they could find them. Nesting SuperBlend™ is the perfect boost of protein and calcium for spring nesting needs.
Nesting birds need help too. Now is the perfect time to clean out established nest boxes by removing old nesting material and by installing new boxes. Birdhouses can make your birds’ lives a little easier. After all, they have already expended a lot of energy establishing territories, courting and looking for scarce food. By offering nesting materials and installing birdhouses around your yard, you can entice bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and more. You can also consider landscaping for the ideal wildlife habitat using native plants ranging in size and density. Native plants can provide safe areas for many species of birds to mate, build nests and raise their families.
If you have any questions on how to help your birds, stop in to your local Wild Birds Unlimited and speak to one of our Backyard Bird Feeding Specialists® today.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
By Delilah Onofrey, Suntory Flowers
Photographs courtesy of Suntory Flowers
Planting annual beds of flowers, especially those that are bred to take the summer heat, thereby extending their glory into fall makes a lot of sense.
Click here for an informative article that discusses an economical strategy along with design ideas that can provide color like - a living highlighter. To learn more click here.
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