December marks the start of bird-feeding season
November 30, 2023 | By Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department 
Bird feeders offer an easy and safe way to interact with wildlife. Installing them after Dec. 1 limits the possibility of attracting bears. L to r: female purple finch, black-capped chickadee, male purple finch. Vermont Fish & Wildlife photo by John Hall
December 1 marks the start of wild bird-feeding season, the time of year when bears are likely to no longer be on the move and attracted to feeders near human homes.
Jillian Kilborn is the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s bird project leader. She says winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and learn about year-round avian residents in Vermont such as black-capped chickadees, nuthatches and blue jays. “It’s also a great time to learn about winter visitors such as evening and pine grosbeaks,” she said.
As winter sets in, find a comfortable spot inside where you can watch the birds visiting your feeders. Figure out what birds they are, observe how they interact with each other, and see what they prefer to eat. It’s a perfect way to get to know the birds around you better.
The department shares some basic bird-feeding tips:
Make your own feeding mixture to maximize the number of species visiting your yard. Black oil sunflower seed is a favorite of many birds, but when mixed with “thistle” (or “nyjer”) or cracked corn, you will be sure to attract a wide variety of species. Don’t forget the suet to attract woodpeckers and even chickadees.
Mix up the type of feeders you use. Hopper feeders are great for large birds such as blue jays, while tube feeders are best for smaller birds. Elevated tray feeders will attract birds that usually feed on the ground including juncos and larger bodied winter visitors such as evening grosbeaks.
Place your feeders near natural habitat, or even add a habitat for birds to hide. A Christmas tree is a great addition to a snowbank next to your feeder to provide quick cover.
Keep feeders clean. Only put out enough food for a day, and wash feeders every couple of weeks in a 10% bleach solution and let them dry before refilling to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease.
With bird-feeding comes some important considerations. For example, feeding can expose birds to hazards they might otherwise avoid. The risks of predation are higher close to people, especially from domestic cats – the leading cause of bird deaths in North America. Keep cats inside and take feeders down if predators become frequent visitors.
Also, keep an eye on the calendar and winter temperatures to avoid feeding birds when bears are active. Most bears are in dens from December 1 until about April 1, but some will delay hibernation or re-emerge to feed during periods of warmer weather. Remove bird feeders immediately if you see signs of bears or know a bear is active in your community. Bears that learn to associate food with a house will continue to return, potentially leading to property damage and dangerous encounters with people. Further, it is illegal to feed bears in Vermont.
Once you’ve started feeding the birds, keep your feeders stocked. Although wild birds are not entirely dependent on feeders, they can become accustomed to this easy food source. If you wish to stop feeding during winter months, gradually taper off the amount of food you provide rather than stopping abruptly, giving the birds a chance to find other food sources. This is especially important when food is scarce in late winter or during periods of extreme weather.
Finally, report your observations. While watching your bird feeders, you can participate in one or more bird monitoring projects by looking up the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the Great Backyard Bird Count and Project Feeder Watch and eBird – all collect important information for understanding bird populations.