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February 2002 Webnotes
February Birdfeeding Tips
It's never too late to put up a birdhouse. Some birds—such as chickadees, titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and bluebirds—roost in birdhouses at night during winter months. This protects them and helps them stay warm when temperatures drop.
You can plug up the ventilation holes on your birdhouses in winter to make them warmer for nightime users. Unplug the ventilation holes in spring and the boxes may be used by the birds for breeding as well.
February is National Bird Feeding Month. Keep feeders filled and make sure there is plenty of seed available for the birds, especially in the mid to late afternoon, when birds eat heavily. The fuel they store helps them survive when temperatures plummet during the night.
Birdwatching Tips
Bundle up in winter, grab your binoculars, and look for birds. You may see Red-tailed Hawks sitting by the sides of roads hunting for voles. Cedar Waxwing flocks wander widely all over the United States in winter, searching for berries. In coastal areas look for wintering sea ducks, such as scoters.
Juncos: The Snowbirds Have Arrived
 | Dark-eyed Junco
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Have the snowbirds arrived at your bird feeders? Dark-eyed Juncos are one of the most abundant species at winter bird feeders all across the country. They are called snowbirds because their dark gray and white plumage reminds people of a winter landscape—dark sky above with snow below. Attract junco flocks with mixed seed scattered on the ground or on platform feeders. To learn more about their interesting behavior at your bird feeder, click here.
Who Gives a Hoot: Finding Owls
Owls are fascinating, mysterious hunters of the night. To find out where, when, and how to get close to an owl, click here.
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