1 gif to go: Show some love to your backyard birds this winter
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
👋 Hey, it's Chrissy!
I'm once again making my neighborhood birds your business by reminding you that the icy ground and heavy snow can make it harder for some of our feathered folk to find food.
Why it matters: A little extra grub is much appreciated this time of year, especially if you've been part of their rotation during warmer months.
- Roughly 35 bird species can be seen at Pennsylvania feeders each winter, per Penn State Extension.
The big picture: My feeders are prime real estate right now, with a constant stream of the usual suspects: tufted titmice (titmouses?), Carolina wrens, blue jays, mourning doves, dark-eyed juncos, downy woodpeckers and so on.
Yes, but: The northern cardinal captured above is not a good neighbor. He HOOVERS up seed and terrorizes the others during feeding frenzies — forcing me to capitulate and install yet another feeder.
The bottom line: You can buy seed, suet, and specialty mixes for attracting a variety of Southwestern Pennsylvania birds at the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania's Beechwood Farms Nature Store in Fox Chapel, Wild Birds Unlimited, and, often, your local garden center or hardware store.