Winter Wildlife in Your Garden: How to Attract Birds and Other Critters.

Winter can be a harsh season for wildlife, with food and shelter often scarce. However, with a little bit of effort, you can create a welcoming environment for birds and other critters in your garden. Here are some tips to attract them:

For starters, here are a few birds to look for during the cold months; pine siskins, tufted titmice, goldfinches, downy woodpeckers, chickadees, northern cardinals, blue jays, robins, screech-owls, and red-tailed hawks. 

Now, how can you help them this winter?

1. Provide Food: When the temperature drops, birds and other animals need high-energy food to survive. You can help out by setting up a feeder with nuts, seeds, and suet. Be sure to clean the feeder regularly to prevent the spread of disease. 

2. Create Shelter: Animals need shelter to protect themselves from the cold and wind. You can create shelter by leaving some brush or leaves on the ground, or by putting up birdhouses and roosting boxes.

3. Offer water: Birds and other animals need water to drink and bathe, even in winter. You can use a heated bird bath or add a heater to an existing one to prevent the water from freezing.

4. Plant native species: Native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife, and are adapted to the local climate. Choose plants that produce fruits or seeds later in the season, such as the American Hazelnut, wild bergamot, black-eyed susan, switchgrass, gray dogwood, and purple coneflower. Here at Yard Dudes we offer native garden installation. Reach out in spring to get yours. Show us this article for a 5% discount on your total installation cost. 

For more in-depth information on native plants in Madison, WI check out the UW Extention Native and Naturalized webpage.

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/article-topic/native-naturalize-selection/ 

By following these tips, you can create a winter oasis for birds and other critters in your garden. Not only will you be helping wildlife, but you'll also get to enjoy their beauty and activity throughout the season.