Joy for photographers and help for birds during harsh winter conditions.
Winter is a time when feeding birds can bring joy to photographers while providing vital support to birds during the harshest months of the year. Feeding birds during winter offers excellent opportunities for photography but also comes with responsibilities. Jan Södersved, Communications Manager at BirdLife Finland, shares expert tips to achieve this balance.
Consistency is the key
When the ground freezes or becomes covered in snow, it is the right time to begin winter feeding. Once started, feeding must be maintained until spring, when the ground thaws again. Birds come to rely on feeding sites as part of their survival strategy, especially during freezing temperatures. An abrupt interruption can be fatal if birds fail to find alternative feeding spots or natural food sources in time.
If a vacation or other circumstance disrupts your ability to maintain feeding, Södersved advises a practical approach.
If there is another feeding site nearby, such as a neighbor’s, it’s not critical for your feeding station to pause temporarily. Birds can usually shift to nearby alternatives as long as feeding points aren’t too scarce.
BirdLife does not recommend feeding birds in the summer when natural food sources are abundant.
Distribute feeding points strategically
Make sure to ask the landowner’s permission before setting up a feeding station. It’s best to place the feeding station at least 10 meters away from buildings to prevent birds from accidentally flying into windows when startled. Dense trees or shrubs nearby can offer shelter from predators and harsh winds.
It’s essential to consider bird welfare when organizing feeding. Södersved emphasizes that multiple feeding points help reduce competition among birds.
Distributed feeding points minimize stress and fighting among birds, ensuring that more individuals get the energy they need.
Preventing disease and unwanted visitors
The best feeding solutions are feeders that allow food to flow into trays for birds to eat without contaminating it with droppings. Feeders made of durable plastic or metal are hygienic and easy to clean. Models with multiple perches allow several birds to feed simultaneously while keeping larger uninvited guests, such as crows and squirrels, at bay. For squirrel prevention, feeders can be mounted on poles wrapped with slippery plastic tubing.
Maintaining hygiene at feeding stations is crucial to safeguard bird health. Diseases such as salmonella and trichomoniasis are common risks associated with feeding. If you notice lethargic or unusually fearless birds at the feeding site, clean all feeding equipment thoroughly and consider pausing feeding temporarily.
Choosing the right foods
Providing high-energy foods is key during the winter. Black sunflower seeds, peanuts, and fat blocks are excellent options. While birds may eat breadcrumbs, these offer little nutritional value, and salty or seasoned foods should never be provided. Blackbirds can be offered apples, and woodpeckers particularly enjoy fat blocks.
Frozen berries can be thawed for birds and add a colorful touch to the feeding site, making them attractive for photography as well. However, ensure the berries are free of sugar and preservatives.
photographed at Kuusamo Nature Photography’s winter feeding station.
photographed at Kuusamo Nature Photography’s winter feeding station
Scenic arrangements
Winter feeding offers fantastic opportunities for bird photography. Small birds, such as tits, quickly grow accustomed to a nearby photographer. It’s worth planning the layout of the feeding area in advance. Birds naturally perch on branches placed near feeding sites, creating photogenic and natural settings.
In addition to common species like tits, you may encounter woodpeckers, blackbirds, redpolls, bullfinches, and yellowhammers. With some luck, rarer visitors, such as a pygmy owl, great grey shrike, or less common woodpecker species, may also appear.
A Win-Win
Winter feeding benefits both the birds and those feeding them. When done responsibly, feeding ensures birds are in good condition and ready for breeding in spring. Meanwhile, photographers can capture the beauty of winter and the lives of the birds they help support.
Feeding birds isn’t just about helping them—it’s an essential way for people to connect with nature, Södersved concludes.