Page 18
2013 Fall Home Improvement September 25, 2013
Special edition of LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com
by Nila Smith
BACKYARD
Winter birds bring color and drama to the
the spring and summer months,
birds visiting backyard feeders
DURING
In central Illinois several birds do
overwinter, including the northern
cardinal, the black-capped chicka-
dee, red-bellied woodpecker and the
American goldfinch.
Other birds that may come in just for
the season could include the dark-
eyed junco and pine siskin.
The easiest way to keep a bird in the
backyard is to provide it with a food
source. While birds were created to
forage the woods and be self-suffi-
cient, in the common backyard they
may not find everything they need to
survive without a little human help.
During the winter months, birds re-
quire higher-energy foods to help
are plentiful. As fall approaches and winter is on the ho-
rizon, some of the regulars at the feeder will begin their
migration south. But, that doesn’t mean there won’t still be
a variety of birds that can be drawn to your backyard with
the proper enticements.
them sustain colder temperatures. This type of energy can be
provided through suet. Suet bricks typically are fat products
incorporated with popular seeds. The “brick” can be placed in an
open feeder or in a hanging feeder designed specifically for it.
Suet bells can also be hung from tree limbs.
Another wintertime treat that some varieties of birds will enjoy
is peanut butter. Here is a fun activity you can do with the entire
family:
