Every autumn, most gardeners using pruning shears clean up their yards and destroy the most incredible bird feeding stations designed by nature. Their garden destruction eliminates free food for many months for the cardinals, finches, and chickadees who depend on the gardeners for their survival.
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Check PriceMost people don't realize that different plants produce seeds at different times which attract different bird species. Building a winter bird buffet isn't about leaving a space messy, it's knowing what plants to keep and when.
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1. Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Goldfinches love to eat the seed heads of these spectacular perennials and can be seen dancing on the flowers. The snow tolerant stems also provide food from October until February as the seeds ripen in stages and are left on the stems to be eaten throughout the winter. For bird watching, leave at least half of your coneflower stems uncut.
2. Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)
Even after tough freeze-thaw cycles that can damage some plants, these wildflowers provide some of the most reliable seed food for hungry animals during the winter months. The tough seeds are rich in oils and contain easy-to-access nuts that chickadees and cardinals can not resist.
3. Sunflowers (Helianthus)
The competitor post correctly states that sunflowers attract birds. But here’s the insider scoop: plant a variety of sizes. Bigger sunflowers will attract cardinals and blue jays. In contrast, smaller varieties like Maximilian sunflowers have seeds that are the perfect size for chickadees, and ripen later in the season.
4. Wild Bergamot (Monarda)
Hollow stems of this native mint provide insect housing, and small brown seeds are loved by siskins and finches. The dried flower heads are excellent landing pads for small birds, and the seeds are viable all winter.
5. Tall Goldenrod (Solidago)
Don’t be fooled by allergy myths! Goldenrod produces protein-rich seeds that over 100 bird species rely on. Its feathery seed heads catch and hold seeds from surrounding plants and create natural bird feeding buffers that attract mixed flocks.
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6. Wild Asters
These native late bloomers create small seeds which are great for smaller birds like the chickadee and nuthatch. The branching seed heads give multiple feeding opportunities on one plant, and the seeds develop protective coverings to keep them fresh through the winter.
7. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Because of the large quantities of seeds that this ornamental grass produces, sparrows, juncos, and towhees are particularly attracted to them. The grass also gives clumping shelter during winter storms, providing complete habitat bundles that birds come back to throughout the season.
8. Little Bluestem Grass
The coppery seed heads of this native prairie plant feed ground-foraging birds like sparrows and juncos. The tiny seeds rattle out slowly and provide a consistent food source for birds, instead of the feast or famine occurrence that many other plants provide.
9. Elderberry Bushes (Sambucus)
Elderberry bushes attract many birds as they provide protection and perching spots. While most people think about the edible fruits of the bushes, the small dry flower heads also attract finches as they enjoy the seeds in them. Additionally, birds like to use elderberry thickets as staging areas when they are about to feed at different plants.
10. Wild Columbine Seed Pods
Birds such as siskins and finches are attracted to the shiny black seeds found in the star-shaped seed pods that develop on these plants. The seeds are produced in the pods, and the pods are made of shiny black materials that are impossible for siskins and finches to resist. The seeds are available to migrating feed birds continuously from summer to fall.
11. Cup Plant (Silphium)
Cup plant has an amazing ability to create mini natural bird baths within its leaves. Rainwater collects in the leaf cups, while the plant produces large seeds that are loved by cardinals and blue jays. Because of the combination of food and water, wintering bird flocks can't resist visiting the cup plant stands.
12. Wild Ginger Seed Capsules
Towhees and similar ground foraging birds seek out ant-dispersed seeds from the capsules of wild ginger. Although these seeds may not seem as appealing as the flashy seeds of sunflowers, they serve as a great source of fat which can be very beneficial for birds during cold snaps.
Timing Strategies In Your Business
Various seed types mature and stay viable at different times. For example, oil-rich sunflower seeds offer rapid energy but go bad quickly. In contrast, the smaller and longer-lasting grass seeds offer more consistent energy, albeit less intense than the former option. When you conserve different types of plants, you create a cafeteria system that meets diverse nutritional needs throughout the winter.
Smart Cutting Strategies
You don't have to decide between tidy gardens and feeding the birds. You can leave some coneflowers and sunflowers for the birds and cut the rest for a tidier garden. Leave ornamental grasses at a height of 12 inches instead of to the ground so you keep some seeds for the birds and some structure to the garden.
Creating Feeding Zones
Group the seed-producing plants to form concentrated feeding areas birds can easily find. Position these areas close to shrubs or evergreens where birds can quickly hide from predators. The best bird buffets include food, water, and shelter all in a small zone.
This winter, instead of spending money on bird feeders that take a lot of time and energy to maintain, focus on creating food sources that are more natural. As a result, you will keep local bird populations healthier, gain natural beauty in the garden, save money, and support the ecosystem that balances your garden all year.
