Winter is beginning to overstay its welcome. The barren landscape at this time of year in Nova Scotia can seem so void of life. However, with just a fistful of sunflower seeds, you can liven things up by attracting a variety of birds to your backyard. You never know who’s going to fly in for a nibble.
Blue jay fluffing its feathers to stay warm
Blue jays, chickadees, finches, nuthatches and mourning doves are all potential visitors at this time of year. Despite the February cold, I’ve often noticed several species of birds waiting nearby for their turn at the feeder.
Mourning dove patiently waits for its turn at the feeder
The black oil seeds are easier for birds to crack open than the thicker-shelled striped ones and provide more nutrition for their weight. All you need is a fistful. If you put out too much at a time, it may not be eaten and get moldy or attract rodents. A fancy bird feeder isn’t necessary. Just a flat surface that is easily cleaned is ideal.
Black oil sunflower seeds are also a favorite of red squirrels. If you don’t want them to get the lion’s share, you might want to put seeds out for the birds before mid-morning when the squirrels begin to make their rounds.
- Finch eating sunflower seed
Some of the birds you attract to your feeder in late winter may decide to nest nearby come spring. In the meantime, you never know who’ll show up to take advantage of your hospitality and add some color to your backyard landscape.
Ring-necked pheasant looking for breakfast
Flandrum Hill 
These pictures are fantastic, so much color highlighted in the snow… The red squirrel is a fantastic shot – so adorable! And I love the way the mourning dove is tilting its head. I have a couple of them that keep me company when I’m gardening. Last year I saw chicks for the first time. I’m thinking I might find a stump and put out some seeds later… thanks for the inspiration!
Barbara, over the years I’ve realized that the stumps make the best feeders. Apparently, plastic feeders (which should ideally be washed out on a weekly basis) can spread disease and do more harm than good.
The snow and sunshine do show the plumage of the birds to best advantage. Though mourning doves are common here, I’ve never seen chicks. Lucky, lucky you!
That’s a good thing to know about plastic feeders, thanks for the tip. I was tossing around the idea of using a clay saucer for a feeder on the balcony, I wonder if that would also be a disease spreader or would it be cleaned naturally? It doesn’t have a finish on it.
We’ve lived here 17 years and it was the first time I ever saw mourning dove chicks. At first I thought they were a smaller kind of bird. Of course I was up to my elbows in garden dirt and the camera was inside, but I enjoyed the moment anyway!
Barbara, I think the problem with the plastic feeders is the way birds will often brush their heads on the surface as they attempt to get some food out of a hole. The more ornate feeders also have many nooks and crannies where bacteria can hide and grow. The smoother the surface the better. I would think the clay saucer would be ideal.
It is always a pleasure to read your blog and see photos of the wildlife around you. We have had a little snow today, but winter is hopefully in its final stage. Our garden had been occupied by a single bird, a very aggresive “Sjagger”, Fieldfare. It use to come in great numbers in wintertime and leave again, but it seems that this one has decide to stay here…hopefully it changes its mind, I´d like to have more than one bird in the garden.
Thank you Giiid.
Your Sjaggers are in the same family and genus as our North American Robins.
I do know that different birds will visit a garden depending on the type of food that is available. Sometimes it takes a while for new birds to realize that they can find something tasty at your feeding station.
Hopefully you will enjoy more visitors soon.
The dove looks so shy and coy (Lady Di), the squirrel so innocent, but I think my favorite image is the first. Coming in for a landing! All that movement! You have beautiful neighbors.
Pamela, yes she does look like Shy Di, and similarly seems to know how to work it for the camera to her best benefit. That squirrel seems to have mastered the innocent look. I like the first photo too as it seems so uncontrived. I do indeed have beautiful neighbors 🙂
You have a wonderful assortment of friends! It is so special to be visited by wildlife no matter how you attract them.
You’re right Cindy. The challenge is to get them close enough to observe, but not too close. I used to put seed out on the back deck but found that the squirrels were getting too close for comfort. The pheasants already act like they own the neighborhood. Their crowing can be pretty loud early in the morning if they start the day out in your yard.
That they wait to take turns is another sign of just how smart birds truly are. Great images!
47whitebuffalo, I’ve even seen different species of birds waiting in the branches to take turns having a splash in the bird bath in the summer time. They’re not just smart. They’re well mannered too!
You’re right. Humans could learn a lot about how to treat each other from birds–and other animals.
I’m not going to pick any favorites–just look at all of them all over again. What a nice late-winter post!
Thank you Gerry. Looking forward to sharing some early-spring images of my winged friends soon 🙂
Amy-Lynn, how I wish I had such marvellous birds flitting down to my feeders.
I really like the first picture of the bird cruising in for a landing.
Can’t wait for those first heady days of spring.
Sybil, could all the ‘bird-watchers’ on your deck be a deterrent to the more timid types of birds coming to your feeders?
I am so looking forwarding to those first days of spring too. We’ll have to go for another picnic in the woods.
I enjoyed looking at all of your visitors, too. How much seed do you go through during a winter? We go through 2-3 50 pound bags before we quit feeding, I think. Do you feed through during the summer, as well?
I have tried to get a picture of a blue jay, but the fellows move so quickly! Congratulations on getting so many winged and furred creatures near your feeder.
Kathy, over the years I’ve realized that the trees in my yard provide enough seeds/berries/insects to attract birds, so I don’t put out half as much seed as I used to. I’ve never provided as much as you do. At this time of year I also put out a ‘suet ball’ that’s just bacon fat that I freeze in a plastic mold and then hang in a recycled onion bag. The woodpeckers and chickadees like it a lot.
Except for the coldest winter months, I usually just rely on my bird bath to attract visitors. In the summer I’m amazed at how many birds are drawn to it. The location of my bird bath – just on the edge of the woods away from dense foliage – makes birds feel safe enough to give it a try.
A nice and busy day in your garden ! Such a variety of birds you see and hear around you. The photos are great, I never seem to be quick or silent enough to take pictures of our little visitors. This year we had birds stopping in our area that were never seen here before. Exotic looking. Your blog is a pleasure to visit, Amy-Lynn. Thank you.
Isa, some of the birds are so skittish. For all the photos that you see, there are many that turn out blank because the birds are faster than me. I’m sure some of them hear me running for the camera in the house. Glad you enjoy visiting here 🙂
I love that pheasant! And I am totally overrun with squirrels – gray and red – but they have to eat too. I have a piece of slate that works great for throwing seed onto. I do also use feeders which help feed everyone during the storms.
Millhill, a piece of slate sounds excellent. It would be so easy to keep clean. It occurs naturally around here, so I should try to get a chunk of it to use.
A pheasant would surely keep those squirrels of yours in check 😉 They are the ones that overrun our neighborhood and act like they own the place.
WOW! It is true heaven if u get such beautiful visitors… another lovely photo report! Thanks Amy 🙂
swaps, it was an especially heavenly day when I took these photos. The sun was shining and the snow was so bright. But even without that, the diversity of these visitors always put a sparkle on the day. A woodpecker was also flitting from tree to tree looking for insects but I didn’t include his photo as he wasn’t eating the seeds.
Lovely images, and a great reminder of the hunger we share with our fellow creatures towards the end of winter. Thanks…
Julian, yes, we all are hungry at this time of year. Despite the presence of evergreen trees, I am looking forward to the light greens of springtime. It will be so nice to be able to open the windows to let in the fresh outdoor air. The indoor air can get so stale with winter heating. I’m sure the animals are looking forward to eating some fresh food too after all the dried seeds.
So much here… I’ll need to stop back. Wonderful balance of information. Thanks…
Nice to see you here wolfrosebud. I hope you’ll be back to prowl here again 🙂
Amy, I am sure the woodpecker could have appeared in a cameo role… never mind, u will post it at a later date 🙂
Talking of heaven, we are having our ‘Indian summer’…that is, balmy evenings with bright sunshine and a cool breeze.
swaps, I never thought of a cameo appearance for that woodpecker…
Your REAL Indian summer sounds perfect. Here, if the weather is extra warm in September we call that an Indian summer. For many, it is a favorite time of year.
Look at all those bird visitors! I’m sure they appreciate all the extra nibblies.
It’s incredible to read that you’re still experiencing winter weather – meanwhile, we’re melting away into little puddles with temps in the high 30s (celsius) and even 40s (higher up the west coast).
I’ve been kept busy for the last few months, making sure that our various bird baths are cleaned and filled with fresh water. I love all that activity in the garden!
Reggie, a report from Environment Canada yesterday mentioned that spring would come to Nova Scotia and the Maritime provinces much earlier than the rest of the country. They are still in the grips of a cold winter that is not keen to leave any time soon.
If you grow up with long winters as I did in Northern Ontario, the cold is sometimes easier to tolerate than extreme heat. Yet many Canadians travel south to Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean at this time of year in order to avoid the worst of it. These Canadians are often called ‘Snowbirds’ especially if they spend a few months of every year down south.
I’m looking forward to maintaining the bird bath once the water in it thaws. Many birds find fresh water difficult to resist. Lucky us 🙂
Lovely!
Our birds are all beginning to court each other now, as the weather became somewhat better… it’s getting a bit chilly again now and I’m hoping we’re not going to be suddenly back to snow. As well as the birds, Bruce counted 127 frogs (also courting, but in the pond) the other night. That’s up seven on last year!
Val, that is a lot of frogs! The birds here are not quite at the courting stage yet. And the frogs are still lying asleep. The squirrels are another story altogether, chasing each other round and round the tree trunks and wrestling in the snow.