To attract birds year-round, provide their three basic needs of food, water, and cover, collectively called habitat. Cover includes shelter from harsh weather and enemies, plus a place for reproduction or nest building. Bird feeders, bird houses for cavity nesters, a source of water, and various plant materials can help provide habitat needs for backyard birds. When to Feed You can start a bird feeding program anytime, but results will vary with the seasons and with which birds are nearby at the time. Some birds are seed-eaters, others eat fruit, some eat insects, and some flower nectar.
Some birds prefer feeding on the ground, and others prefer higher up.
Some are winter visitors, some are here during summer or migration only, and others are year-round residents. For winter feeding, it is good to have feeders in place by mid to late September. This will be in time for birds such as chickadees, downy woodpeckers, and others that are looking for winter feeding areas. And the food will be available to birds that are migrating through. The number of birds that come to your feeder may be low at first but will pick up with the first cold spell, especially if your feeders are in place and ready.