Article by Kris Wetherbee, The American Gardener, November/December 2018

When it comes to food and shelter, winter holds no worries for most humans, who can make a quick trip to the supermarket or turn up the thermostat. But for backyard birds, winter can be challenging as finding food proves more difficult and shelter becomes scarcer.

Shorter days mean less time for birds to forage. Tasty insects are off the menu in much of the country because most hibernate and are well hidden. Many seed-bearing plants have been consumed; others have been cleaned up at season’s end or are covered in snow. The selection of fruits and berries has dwindled. What’s more, deciduous trees and shrubs leave little shelter to protect resident songbirds facing the winter elements and hungry predators.

But with a little planning, you can keep winter birds healthy and happy by creating a habitat that provides them with a few basic needs—food, water, shelter, and a safe place to raise a family come spring. Designing a landscape with a multi-layered canopy of evergreen and deciduous plants accommodates the preferences of different birds with everything they need.

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