Looking for the Out-of-Towners

 

Have you spotted any new feathered out-of-towners that are sticking around for winter.

Fall and Winter are a great time to look for uncommon bird species. Juncos and other sparrows and finches may be making a repeat appearance in your yard this winter as many of them come back to the same exact location each year.

Keep your feeders full and look for birds associated with “irruptions.” When natural winter food supplies are scarce in northern
Canada, numerous bird species “irrupt,” migrating south in search of food.

The most common irruptive birds are Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, Common Redpolls and Evening and Pine Grosbeaks.

By offering the right food (in the right place), you can better your chances of attracting some of these birds.

Juncos

Lovers of millet, you can attract Juncos to your yard by offering WBU Deluxe Blend in a ground feeder or hopper feeder. They’re
persistent foragers and have been known to burrow through snow in search of seeds.

Pine Siskins, Purple Finches & Common Redpolls

These “winter finches” are attracted to Finch Feeders filled with Nyjer® (thistle). You can also attract them to your Seed Tube Feeders by offering Supreme Blend.

Grosbeaks

If they’re visiting your yard, be ready - they are hungry birds. For best results, offer Supreme Blend in a Hopper Feeder. Before
the 1850s, Evening Grosbeaks were not commonly found east of the Rocky Mountains. Now, winter irruptions can occur across the country.

As you can see, our feathered guests’ tastes and preferences vary, so it’s important to be prepared. Because before
you know it, these out-of-towners will be just that - headed out of town.

Visit us this month, and we’ll make sure you have everything you need to keep your resident birds happy and to attract these winter migrants.