The Wings of Winter
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Ideas to Help Winter Birds Survive and Thrive
The winter season is hard on wildlife, but most of all the birds. Some bird species migrate to warmer climates, but many do not. There is quite an assortment of beautiful birds that are permanent residents of, or that migrate to Louisiana to spend the winter. This lens is about our favorite winter birds and the things that we do to help insure their survival in cold weather.
How we take care of our winter birds helps many birders up north because many of these birds migrate north in spring to nest and to be enjoyed by birders in the northern states.
You will also find some Christmas and holiday gift ideas for the birder on your list. We have listed cameras, binoculars, books, apparel and other things that we birders would love to receive. There is also bird feeders, seed, suet and other items for our feathered friends.
Contents at a Glance
Crumbs on the Snow
When it's winter and the snow
Like a tablecloth is spread,
I remember hungry birds
And see that they are fed.
On their snowy tablecloth
They find my gift of bread.
Lucretia Penny
Birding in Winter

One of our favorite forms of entertainment during the winter is bird-watching and because we also feed the birds and plant winter food plants all around our property, we hardly have to leave our own home to see a variety of interesting and beautiful birds. Because most of the trees and shrubs have lost their leaves during the winter, the birds are so much easier to see and enjoy. All you need is a good pair of binoculars and you can enjoy the fantastic show outside from the comfort of your own home.
Of course, since we are outdoor people, we (and our 2 dogs) walk to the river each day to fill up the many bird feeders that we have all over our 9 acres. We always bring binoculars or a camera because there is usually something interesting to see.
Each December, we participate in the Christmas Bird Count. This is a day in which birders from all over the country locate as many bird species as possible and count the number of individuals for the Audubon Society. Here is a link to our 2008 Christmas Bird count. We observed and counted 36 species, but did not see several birds that we knew lived here.
Northern Cardinals
Cardinals are permanent residents and are one of our most beautiful winter birds. The male's bright red color and the female's soft brown with touches of red always brighten up a winter day. Cardinals are seed eaters and visit our black oil sunflower seed feeders often.

Buy Cardinal in Holly Postcard and Female Cardinal by naturegirl7
Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice
During winter small flocks of Chickadees, Titmice and Downy Woodpeckers travel through the forests and visit feeders, searching for food. It is during the winter that the immature birds in the flock develop pair bonds in preparation for mating in spring. These small flocks love black oil sunflower seed and suet. They also eat many wild seed and berries.

Buy Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse Bath Postcard by naturegirl7
Woodpeckers
In our habitat, here in Louisiana, there are many species of woodpeckers, including: (from largest to smallest) Pileated, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, Red-headed, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a winter visitor that pecks sap wells in trees which in turn attract and trap insects. The Red-headed Woodpecker is seen mainly in spring and summer. All the others are year round residents that eat sunflower seeds, suet and the insects from rotting wood.
Red-bellied Woodpecker

Buy Red-bellied Woodpecker by naturegirl7
Red-headed Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Female Male
Nuthatches
Our resident Southeastern U.S. nuthatch is the little Brown-headed Nuthatch. It is similar to the Pygmy Nuthatch of the west. These acrobatic little birds need pine forests to survive because pine nuts are their primary food. They will also eat black oil sunflower seeds and suet, so providing a bird feeder will aid in their survival.

Buy Brown-headed Nuthatch Poster by naturegirl7
Occasionally in winter, Red-breasted Nuthatches will make their way down this far south. During the winter of 2007-08 several spent the entire winter here. These amusing little birds with their honking call are a delight to watch.
Goldfinches
Each year flocks of American Goldfinches in their winter plumage come from the north to visit our sunflower and Thistle seed feeders. It's best not to fill up the Thistle feeders until the birds arrive, because the seed must be fresh or they won't eat it. By spring, some of the males are beginning to show the beautiful bright yellow breeding plumage like the one below. Before Hurricane Katrina, we used to host flocks of 200 or more Goldfinches in our habitat, but now we are lucky to have 25 to 30 at one time.
Cage Thistle Bird Feeder
Thistle Domed Cage Bird Feeder - $ 87.38Thistle Domed Cage. Extended top- makes refilling easy. Spring Clamp- keeps dome in place and removes for cleaning. Sheltering dome- protects against weather. Stainless steel wire- long lasting and chew-proof. Droll Yankees tubular feeder.
Birds in Winter
Ruby-crowned Kinglets
Ruby-crowned (and sometimes Golden Crowned) Kinglets spend the winter with us. They are tiny, active little greenish gray birds with a white eye ring and yellow-orange feet. The males have a red "crown" that stays hidden under a tuft of feathers except when they are agitated or excited. They love suet and they will pick at the seed on our log feeders, but are probably looking for insects. They will also visit the hummingbird feeders that we leave up year round. Most of the time Kinglets are in perpetual motion as they work each branch, looking under every leaf for tiny insect food.
Pine Warblers
Pine Warblers are permanent residents in our habitat. They spend most of their time high in the mature pine trees throughout our property. But in winter, they come down out of the tree tops to visit the suet and seed feeders. Pine Warblers are the only seed eating Warbler and they make their home in the Pine trees on our property. The males are quite attractive with their bright golden yellow breast and the females, though less showy are also quite lovely.
Carolina Wrens
Carolina Wrens, with their many vocalizations, are evident during every season. They mate for life and usually are seen in pairs, even in winter. They absolutely love suet and will monopolize any suet feeder. They also eat tons of insects, so they are beloved by gardeners. Don't leave your Christmas Wreath up too long, because as soon as the weather warms up, these birds are looking for placed to build their nests.
Eastern Bluebirds
The lovely Eastern Bluebirds spend the winter in groups going through the woods and forest, eating winter berries. Bluebirds also like suet, but we have never seen them eating any from our feeders. Water is an important feature for Bluebirds, so an unfrozen feeder or pond will be appreciated by them. Many times we have seen pairs checking out nest boxes in December and January. They also use nest boxes as shelters in which to roost during the really cold nights of winter.
Thayer's Gold Edition Birds of NA
Thayer's Gold Edition Guide to Birds of North America - $ 169.95
This top-rated birding software covers 957 species found in North America. See over 2,800 color photos. Songs for 708 birds. Includes range maps, 500 videos and 700 quizzes. Import your own photos. Download songs to your iPod. For Windows.
Birds of Winter on Zazzle
Birds of Winter Designs by naturegirl7

Winged Christmas Ornaments on Amazon
Add your favorite to the list
Cardinal Bird Bell Ornament
Cardinal Bird Bell Ornament. Plush squeeze bird wh more...1 point
Wild Republic Ornament Game Bird Box Set
Game Bird w/ Sound Audubon Plush 6pc Ornament Box more...0 points
WHISPERING WINGS - HINGED PORCELAIN BIRD ORNAMENT W/ SENTIMENT - FLY
These graceful, beautiful porcelain butterflies and more...0 points
Holly Berry Vine Red Cardinal Bird Christmas Ornament
Holly Berry Cardinal Bird Christmas Ornament By Pacific more...0 points
Food Plants
Plants that provide winter native nuts, berries and fruit are important to all wildlife. Certain groups of plants like Hollies, Oaks, Hackberry, Beech, Pine, Magnolia, etc. are vital to many birds' survival. For more information about winter food plants, consult our Planting for Birds and Wildlife Lens.

Bird Treats

4 Pack Seed Wreaths
2.6 lbs. CS Seed Wreath is the perfect gift for the wild birds that provide enjoyment year round. Made the same way as our snack products- it is a great gift idea for the bird lover. Seasonal availability.
Hi Energy Woodpecker Seed RingOur easy-to-feed, hanging wreath is chock full of delectable seeds, nuts and fruit. This chunky, wholesome mix includes peanuts, dried cherries, sunflower hearts, golden raisins and more-all the foods your woodpeckers, seed and fruit eating birds love. Hang it anywhere you want to see lots of bird activity! Jute hanger, 8 inches diameter.
Christmas Ornament
Birdhouse Personalized Christmas Ornament - $ 10.50This decorative bird house is waiting for feathered friends to inhabit it, taking shelter from the cold winter nights.
Binoculars
Fury 8 x 42 Binocular - $ 349.99Put this full-sized Vortex Fury to your eyes and experience its WOW factor. Why does the Fury perform beyond expectations? Because it is designed with the perfect formula for bright, crisp details-phase corrected and silver-coated prisms.
Binoculars and Cameras at Amazon
Add you own favorite to the list
Good binoculars make all the difference in bird identification. If you want to take good photos of birds, you need a camera with a minimum 12X optical zoom. The Canon S5IS is what we used to take many of the photos that you see in this lens.
Swarovski SLC Binocular 8x30
Handy, ergonomic and exceptionally versatile - the more...2 points
Nikon Action 8x40 Binocular
Nikon 8x40 Action Binocular - Precision aligned sh more...0 points
Nikon Action 10x50 Binocular
Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwid more...0 points
Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 Waterproof Binocular
Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwid more...0 points
Bushnell Image View 8x21 Binocular w/VGA camera
A good binocular can enhance your view. ImageView more...0 points
Nikon Action 10x50 EX Extreme ATB Binocular
Where there's life, there's action. Are you ready more...0 points
Canon 10x30 Image Stabilization Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries
10x30 binoculars with image stabilizer0 points
Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)
For photography with point-and-shoot ease, look no more...0 points
Canon PowerShot Pro Series S5 IS 8.0MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
The ultra-powerful 12x optical zoom on the PowerSh more...0 points
8MP Camera with 12x Image Stabilized Optical Zoom and 2.5" Vari-angle LCD
Image resolution up to 3264 x ,448 allows high quality more...0 points
Backyard Birds in Winter
Suplemental Food and Water
Many types of supplemental food can be provided. We use Black-oil Sunflower Seeds, cracked corn, Thistle seed and homemade Suet. We also leave our hummingbird (sugar water) feeders up all year long. Here in South Louisiana, we often have western species of Hummingbirds such as Rufous, Calliope and Buff-bellied spend the winter in our habitat.

Buy Sharing Seeds Poster by naturegirl7
Most years, for Christmas, we string popcorn and cranberries and put peanut butter suet on pinecones and in orange rinds and decorate a small tree for the birds. We call it our Singing Christmas Tree.

Water is vital for winter survival. If you live in areas where it freezes for long periods of time, you may want to invest in a heater for the bird bath. We only have a few freezes each year, so we just pour boiling water in our bird bath near the house. Of course, we also have a large pond and a river which have never frozen, so water is always available.

Buy Carolina Chickadee Drinks by naturegirl7
Popcorn for You or for the Birds
Nostalgic Holiday Popcorn Tin - $ 32.00
Our beautiful keepsake tin features a nostalgic winter scene. They'll all gather around the fire this year and enjoy this big tin of the finest, freshest gourmet popcorn. It's available in 3 sizes ...
More Bird Feeders

Feed your birds-not squirrels! Seed, suet, mealworms, fruit -- this sturdy cedar platform can offer all of them to your birds! You'll love the curved wrought iron columns that support the roof. Durable perforated powder coated metal screen provides excellent drainage to keep feed dry and fresh. Steel baffle wraps around 6 ft. sectional pole to deter squirrels. This deluxe feeder is 14 x 9 x 12 inches. Our package includes: feeder, pole and baffle
Birds in Winter in Kerrville, TN
Winter Birds Books and Things
Buffalo Games Audubon: Winter Cardinal III
Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natur more...1 point
Winter Birds by Jamie Langston Turner
Plain and dutiful, Sophia Hess has lived most of h more...0 points
20in.Heated Bird Bath Helps Them Survive Winter
Provides vital drinking water for your feathered f more...0 points
Snow Chickadees Winter Magnetic Mailbox Cover
These MailWraps are first quality and MADE IN THE more...0 points
Birds at Your Feeder: A Guide to Winter Birds of the Great Plains (Bur Oak Guide) by Dana Gardner, Nancy Overcott
A guide to nature's favourite visitors, this book more...0 points
Birds in Winter Morning Framed Art Poster Print by Wanqi Zhang, 24x20
Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, more...0 points
Backyard Birds in Winter, Set of 4 Ceramic Coasters
This is a set of 4 absorbent square ceramic coaste more...0 points
ArtisanStreet's Cardinal Design Soap or Lotion Dispenser. Features Bright Red Bird Perched in a Green Pine Tree in Winter. Hand Painted on Clear Glass & Signed By Artisan. Made To Order.
Versatile hand painted winter design dispenser. Bo more...0 points
A birds nest sits in a leaf-less apple tree during winter Animals Framed Art Poster Print by Roy Gumpel, 29x21
Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, more...0 points
Birds in Winter (Collins Watch Guide) by Liz ed Bourne
Darker skins not only tend to be shiny and blotchy more...0 points
Winter Birds by Jill Barton poster print,27 in. x 31.5 in.
Artist: Jill Barton Title: Winter BirdsFrame: NoneImage more...0 points
Feeding Winter Birds
Voices of Owls

Winter is the best time to go owling because the leaves have fallen from the trees which makes it easier to spot the birds. Recognizing the various calls will also help you identify the different owls which inhabit the woodlands in your area.
Voices of Owls
On this 2-CD audio guide you'll hear nearly 200 tracks featuring the hoots, screams, chitters, squawks, squeals, bill claps and barks of 19 regularly occurring species of North American owls and two rarities-the most comprehensive guide to owl vocalizations available.
Add your Bird Lens to the List
Do you have a lens about winter birds or feeding birds? If so, please add it to this link list.
Winged Jewels of Winter
Did you know that some species of hummingbirds spe more...0 points
Holiday Decorations for the Birds
Celebrate this holiday and winter season by adding more...0 points
Red Cardinals on CafePress
Red Cardinal Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Gifts for the bird watcher, nature lover or Cardinals fan including T-shirts and other apparel, mugs, stickers, magnets, cards, posters and bags.
Red Cardinal Rectangle Magnet
Gifts for the bird watcher, nature lover or Cardinals fan including T-shirts and other apparel, mugs, stickers, magnets, cards, posters and bags.
Red Cardinal Cap
Gifts for the bird watcher, nature lover or Cardinals fan including T-shirts and other apparel, mugs, stickers, magnets, cards, posters and bags.
Red Cardinal Denim Shirt
Bright red male Northern Cardinal decorate apparel, mugs, buttons, stickers, magnets and cards. Great gifts for bird lovers.
Red Cardinal Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Gifts for the bird watcher, nature lover or Cardinals fan including T-shirts and other apparel, mugs, stickers, magnets, cards, posters and bags.
Little Tchefuncte Hummingbird Hill Habitat Journal
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWinter Birds on eBay
Please Peck Out a Note
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Reply
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victoriuh
Feb 11, 2012 @ 11:16 pm | delete
- Obviously this lens is a labor of love!
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Reply
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MelonyVaughan
Feb 10, 2012 @ 8:16 pm | delete
- Gorgeous photos! I love bird watching too.
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Reply
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jimmyworldstar
Feb 10, 2012 @ 12:47 pm | delete
- I haven't seen most of these birds, then again I don't live in an area known for snow or really cold winters.
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Reply
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jimmyworldstar
Feb 10, 2012 @ 12:47 pm | delete
- I haven't seen most of these birds, then again I don't live in an area known for snow or really cold winters.
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Reply
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KathieWoolridge
Feb 10, 2012 @ 8:11 am | delete
- Can I borrow couple of ideas? :)
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About Naturegirl7
Blog Posts About Birds in Winter
- Winter Birds Guided Walk
- Join our expert as we take a guided walk around the reserve to see how birds spend their winter at Gibraltar Point. Followed by an optional bowl of delicious soup. Gibraltar Point is an area of sandy, muddy seashores, sand-dunes, salt marshes and fresh ...
- Country Ecology: ASNH backyard winter bird survey
- By David Eastman Each year at this time, I am delighted to open my envelope from NH Audubon for the February Backyard Winter Bird Survey. If you don't have this in hand, you can click on their Afield page now online and quickly download the needed ...
- Winter Bird Watch: Going Owling
- Barred owls, named for the stripes or bars on their buff-colored undersides, have one of the most easily identified calls of the bird world. The eight-part cry ? often very loud ? sounds a little like ?Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?
- Tiny Arctic bird migrates up to 9000 miles for winter
- A tiny songbird that summers in Arctic Alaska and Canada may be the farthest-migrating bird on Earth, Canadian researchers have found. The northern wheatear's annual migrations between the Arctic and sub-Saharan Africa can reach up to 9000 miles and ...
Birds in Winter Links
Add your own to the List
Your Winter Birds: Who They Are, and What to Feed Them
winter in warmer West Virginia. When you see a win more...0 points
EEK! - Critter Corner - Winter Bird Poster
This fun clickable picture will help you identify more...0 points
EEK! -Winter Bird Feeding
Here's a list of common winter birds and how to at more...0 points
Attracting Birds in Winter
One of the chief pleasures of winter in a colder c more...0 points
Davis: Help ID, count birds in winter : Columnists : Knoxville ...
Oct 19, 2008 ... Participants in Cornell Lab of Or more...0 points
Birds Winter
Winter is not an easy time for birds. Not all of t more...0 points
Birds and Winter Woods pictures from birds photos on webshots
Birds and Winter Woods pictures published by inico more...0 points
Wolf Ridge Whats Happening: Birds in Winter
Birds whose winter range is primarily north of Mex more...0 points
Discover a Refuge In Your Own Backyard® | Wild Birds Unlimited
Winter Bird Feeding. As winter approaches, many bi more...0 points
Winter Birds
In recent years, more and more Americans have been more...0 points
Southeast MI Home & Living Examiner: Welcome the winter birds
Detroit Article: Welcome the winter birds by local more...0 points
Welcoming Winter Birds | DoItYourself.com
Choose the right seed and feeders to attract your more...0 points
Help Wild Birds Survive the Winter-Provide Ice-free Water
press release distribution, Help Wild Birds Surviv more...0 points
Help Wild Birds Survive the Winter-Provide Ice-free Water
press release distribution, Help Wild Birds Surviv more...0 points
NNCC Winter Is
Winter is "for the birds". In Todd, C.M. more...0 points
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My husband and I have always loved nature and the outdoors. We currently maintain a 9 acre private wildlife preserve.
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