Q: I have goldfinch, chickadees, cardinals, bluebirds and, once in a while, cedar waxwings around my home and neighborhood. I would like to start offering them food and shelter now that winter is well underway. What kind of food do they like? Is it too late to buy a house for them? Do I need a special kind of birdhouse for each kind of bird?
— J.O., Florence
A: You are good to think of our feathered friends, J.O. To help me answer these questions I paid a visit to the knowledgeable staff at Hadley Garden Center.
They suggested black oil sunflower seeds as a good place to start as they are the primary seed enjoyed by seed eating birds. There are numerous seed mixes that use black oil sunflower seeds combined with other seed varieties to suit the tastes of specific bird species, such as cardinals and chickadees. Nuts are another good general food. Some species have other food loves. Goldfinch, for example, especially enjoy thistle seeds while bluebirds and cedar waxwings happily indulge in fruit. Bluebirds like mealworms, too.
As for birdhouse installation timing, “It is fine to put out a birdhouse now,” offered a bird-loving staff member. “Bluebirds scout out nesting spots in March for settling in later once they are ready to start a nest. Putting one out now also offers birds shelter during the winter as they will often hunker down in a birdhouse” to wait out the cold and bad weather.
“The size of the hole is what matters most,” they said, when it comes to choosing a species-appropriate birdhouse. Smaller birds, such as chickadees and bluebirds, require smaller holes so bigger birds can’t take over the nest or take their eggs. They also help deter other predators, such as raccoons.
Once winter is over and spring arrives, you can think about continuing to support your local birds by planting native plants and shrubs. The insects that lay eggs on them provide a source of nutritious caterpillars for the young bird families while fruit-bearing shrubs such as Winterberry and Red Chokeberry offer tasty treats for future winters.
Have fun with your new bird ventures, J.O., and thanks for asking a local Master Gardener.
Have a gardening dilemma? Please send questions, along with your name/initials and community, to the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association at AskAMasterGardener@wmmga.org. One question will be selected and answered per week.
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