K-State expert shares way to attract birds to winter gardens

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Outdoor gardening may fall to the wayside in the winter months, but some bird species stick around through the cold weather.

Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham says food is the resource most lacking for birds during the winter, and they will flock to your feeder.

Upham says different bird species do prefer different grains, but black oil sunflower seed has universal appeal for most species.”

Upham also noted that winter’s cold means that water will freeze, making it unavailable to birds. A heated birdbath attracts birds in droves when all other water is frozen.

He says if the heated birdbath contains a built-in thermostat, the energy usage is far less than people expect

Best food for different birds: 

• Cardinals, evening grosbeak, most finches: sunflower seeds, all types.
• Rufous-sided towhee: white proso millet.
• Dark-eyed junco: white and red proso millet, canary seed, fine cracked corn.
• Many sparrows: white and red proso millet.
• Bluejay: peanut kernels and sunflower seeds of all types.
• Chickadees, tufted titmouse: peanut kernels, oil (black) and black-striped sunflower seeds.
• Red-breasted nuthatch: oil (black) and black-striped sunflower seeds.
• Brown thrasher: hulled and black-striped sunflower seeds.
• Red-winged blackbird: white and red proso millet, German (golden) millet.
• Mourning dove: oil (black) sunflower seeds, white and red proso, German (golden millet).