Your back yard feeders are in an emergency situation when a major snowstorm is occurring in your back yard.  It is important that you keep your back yard feeders free of snow and ice during any weather system, as the local population of song birds can easily perish without new food during a wet and cold weather pattern.  Bird food should be available and offered easily, to ensure your song birds do not die during the evening hours.  Often, a very wet and heavy snow will cause songbirds to be trapped in a new and uncertain area of the backyard.

Snow and Back Yard Feeders

Squirrels, red squirrels, moles and other rodents will frequent your back yard feeders during a snow event, so it is important that you venture outside to ensure that your feeders are active and ready to work for your back yard birds.  If your feeder is encased in ice, chances are, a mouse or squirrel will take full advantage of the frozen obstacles you may use, to keep your birds fed.  Back yard feeders often work with a mechanism that will flip, twirl, or block a fat squirrel or mouse from feeding.  When this mechanism is frozen, it creates a dangerous advantage for your rodent population to explore and realize the opportunity of your back yard feeders.  Do not let the opportunity occur, and be sure to bring all frozen feeders indoors, for cleaning and maintenance.

For this reason, it is always a good idea to have an extra feeder that is clean and stored indoors, empty of food.  The outdoors is a great place for you to find time to unwind and enjoy your back yard feeders, but they will require some down time once and awhile.  However, a snowstorm is a time where you may need some downtime, and as well, a full feeder at the same time.  That is why, having a backup for all your outdoor feeders is a great idea.

Use your back yard feeders that you have given up on, those that are less effective with your squirrel raiders, and give them a good cleaning with vinegar and water.  These will be good substitutes while the best feeders you use are warmed up and dried, cleaned, and all winter snow and ice is removed.

Back Yard Feeders Should be Filled with Protein

During a icy rain, or snow storm, your back yard feeders should be filled with the best sunflower seeds, or even some meal worms for your song bird populations.  The feeders are often very necessary during these events, when normal natural feeding areas are inaccessible.  With the advent of a snow storm, you will see increased activity at your back yard feeders.  The birds will be stocking up so to speak, as they will feel the change in pressure, and know when the storm is approaching.  There are many birds who realize the change before most wildlife, so an accurate weather predictor is your back yard feeders.   If you see increase in activity, you can count on some change to the weather.

Back Yard Feeders Can be Changed to New Offerings

Try to feed your birds something new during the storm, and a great offering during the storm that is new is a kind way to keep your beautiful birds alive and well.  You may find a new suet feeder a fun and good way to offer that protein that they will require.  With the new food, be sure to continue the same food you have offered during the winter, as they will not need too much change during this stressful time.

You may see that the population of birds in your backyard are new and unexpectedly populated.  There could be a surprise to you with a new kind of bird, showing up with a dire situation of hunger and looking lost and uncertain.  The years where a snow storm dropped over a foot of snow in our back yard resulted in new warblers and nuthatches frequenting our feeders more often.  We did take care to ensure that our feeders were in use, and that created new birds visiting our back yard feeders.