January 2025 Wild Bird Update: Surviving Winter's Worst

January is generally the harshWe willest stretch of weather each winter and it is a challenge for wild birds to simply survive. We will talk about all things birds and things we can do to help them survive.

#marksbackyardbirds, #winterbirds , #backyardbirds

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Cover photo of Snowy Owl by Mary Nemecek
0:00 Welcomes and Introductions
13:00 Feeding High Value Seeds - Boardwalk Blend Photo
15:04 "Regular Bird Seed"?
17:36 What is a Quality Suet Cakes - High Value
19:14 Spreadable Suets photo by Brian Voorhees
23:13 Providing Unfrozen Water for Birds
33:48 Roosting Sites for Birds - Roosting Pockets
38:50 Separating Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks
Adult Cooper's Hawk photo by Michele Bridgeforth
Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk photo by Brian Voorhees
42:47 Separating Juvenile Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk photo by Linda Williams
Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk photo by Linda Williams
49:50 Snowy Owls
Adult Male Snowy Owl photo by Bruce Clark
Young Female Snowy Owl photo by Mary Nemecek
54:31 General Q&As

[mylittlebirdhouses]

We often get a Coopers Hawk in a tree next to our house. He's definitely hunting our backyard birds.

[jasonvortherms]

Love your videos I learn so much from you

[AngelsAware]

I’ve got a very important question for you. I noticed so many people on UTUBE have a bird feeding “station”. I was always told bird feeders should be kept away from one another. We have eastern bluebirds, nuthatch, titmice, chickadee, snow birds, lots of unwanted sparrows and black birds, flickers, grosbeak, wren, lots of woodpeckers, blue jays, HAWKS 😰, etc. We live in central Indiana and it’s snowing as I write this. I would love to have a bird feeding station if you tell me it won’t scare the birds away. We also have quite a few squirrels we need to keep away from our feeders. We are hopeful our cardinals come back. We enjoy your channel so much. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us! God Bless🇺🇸🙏🏻🇺🇸

[cherriemcbratney]

So sorry to miss the podcast. But love your message and education and reading the comments and questions. We currently are not home but went to get the grand dogs before the storm hit. Bought up the seed from you to get ready for this storm. We live east of you in Carrollton, MO. We have 23 bird feeding stations and run the gambit on types from tub feeders, hoppers, platform feeders, and suet stations. We also have 3 heated birdbaths.
My question is about the platform feeders. They have no covers so when it rains they have to come into the garage until the rain stops. Why? Because the seed rots when it gets wet. Is there a way to cover these platform's feeders outside so they can stay and keep feeding and avoid rot issues.

[debbiegarrett]

Do you recommend feeding straight beef tallow? I live by a river and at a different location a creek. We see and hear the pileated woodpecker and of course other woodpeckers. At the creek location our cabin is very close to the creek and I have a large paddle suet feeder hanging in a tree in front of the cabin. Our cabin is built 14’ high due to flooding. The suet and other feeders are up high also. I make my suet using beef tallow and have read that in the winter the pileated woodpecker love to eat straight suet. What do you think?