In the movie “Mary Poppins” there is a character known only as Bird Woman who sells birdseed at “tuppence a bag” to be tossed to pigeons on the streets of London.
For those who wish to feed the birds in Chattanooga, options are aplenty, according to Tim Holcomb, owner of Holcomb Garden Center.
These days, birdfeeders go beyond the old-fashioned architecture of peanut butter and birdseed on a pine cone. And nature, Holcomb assures, takes care of what humans don’t.
“God has devised mechanisms so they’ll have food whether we feed them or not,” he said.
Still, Holcomb said, winter can be a valuable time to put out birdfeeders as nature isn’t quite as quick on her feet during the cold months. “You actually attract more birds (to feeders) in the winter,” he said.
5 tips
1 Consider a suet feeder. These feeders contain rendered fat, which helps birds stay warmer in the winter.
2 Turn on the heat. Get a birdbath water heater to keep water in birdbaths from freezing. This gives the little flappers a refreshing drink, even if they’re not in the mood to chew on seed.
3 Watch out for thieves. “The biggest thing we have trouble with around here are squirrels. They can chew up a plastic feeder or carry off a pine cone with peanut butter,” Holcomb said.
4 Don’t mix nesting with feeding. A birdhouse can offer some shelter, but don’t keep food in a house, Holcomb said. “[A bird doesn’t] want his friends coming in and eating in his bed,” he said.
5 Look for a high-grade bird seed, which will lead to less waste. Birds, Holcomb said, tend to discard “junk seed” in favor of their preferred types. A common favorite is black-oil sunflower seeds.