PICKAWAY – Some of the Ohio birds fly south for the winter, the ones that don’t just forage harder throughout the winter to survive. Setting up a simple bird feeder you can enjoy some of Ohio’s most wonderful birds throughout the season and help them survive.
The Mourning dove, Downy woodpecker, Red-bellied woodpecker, Blue jay, Black-capped chickadee, Tufted titmouse, White-breasted nuthatch, finches, and sparrows all stay the winter with us.
Sciotopost asked a local birdwatcher Carla Skinner-Elliot for some tips.
What kind of feeds are best?
“I use wild bird seed, black oiled sunflower seeds, and suet cakes. I started out with 6 bird feeders all placed close to trees. A lot of times the feed will freeze and it’s hard for them to get the feed out so I place it on the ground/snow under the birdfeeders. Moving a bird feeder confuses them because they always go back to the same feeding place. I learned that when I moved my hummingbird feeders and put bird feeders in their place. Also, I buy nut and fruit bells which I place in our handmade birdhouse which has a roof and keeps them out of the weather.”
What kind of Birds do you see?
“I live in a hollow so there are 100’s of acres of trees around me. Keep in mind as long as there is feed out there you will have birds. What kinds of birds depends on your location. The city won’t see as many types of birds as one who lives in the deep woods such as I do.
They eat those things up. Cardinals, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-bellied woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Mourning Dove, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jays. These are the birds I have seen this winter so far. I expect others will come before the cold month’s end. I am a weekend birdwatcher. I work 48-60 hrs. a week so I am sure I have missed some. I have never seen so many different birds in my life until I started feeding them.
These birds are around all year round because I even see them in the summer. All but the Black-eyed Junco. I never saw them in the warmer months. I did see the White-throated Sparrow today. First time I have ever seen one of those.”
