Spring is near! As nature begins to awaken from its wintry slumber, there's an undeniable sense of excitement in the air. The trees are budding, the flowers are blooming, and the birds are returning from their winter migrations. It's a season of renewal—a time to celebrate the beauty of the natural world and embrace creativity.

The Environmental Importance of Birds

Birds play a crucial role in Earth’s ecosystems, contributing significantly to their balance and vitality.

As birds search for food, they simultaneously disperse seeds far and wide, facilitating the growth of new plant life, new habitats, and enhanced biodiversity. Additionally, birds serve as essential pollinators, particularly for flowers with tubular shapes or vibrant colors. For instance, hummingbirds, with their long, slender beaks, reach into blossoms to sip nectar, transferring pollen from bloom to bloom as they feed. This contributes to the reproduction of flowering plants that support various wildlife species.

Furthermore, birds help to regulate insect populations, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and promoting ecological balance. In agricultural settings, birds act as natural pest controllers, offering valuable services to farmers and encouraging sustainable farming practices.

All in all, birds are sensitive indicators of environmental health, often signaling changes in ecosystems long before they are noticeable to humans. Declines in bird populations can signal broader environmental issues such as habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and ecosystem degradation. By monitoring bird populations and behaviors, scientists can glean valuable insights into the health of ecosystems, guiding conservation efforts to protect biodiversity.

Wisconsin Birds

This time of year, you can expect to see a wide variety of bird species, including:

American Robin
Killdeer
Redwing Blackbird
Chickadee
Cardinal

As birds migrate back up north, the spring season represents a critical period of nesting, breeding, and raising their young.

Providing Water for Birds

Providing birds with a clean source of water is not only a simple act of kindness but also a crucial element in supporting their wellbeing. Especially in urban and suburban environments, natural water sources might be scarce or polluted. Though birds do get some hydration from their food, most birds drink water every day. They also enjoy bathing, which helps them remove dust, dirt, and parasites, keeping their feathers in optimal condition for flight and insulation.

Setting out a birdbath doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Use a birdbath that you already own, find one at your local thrift store, or make your own!

This DIY birdbath utilizes garden pots stacked on top of one another. This setup provides birds with shallow water that's easy to access and navigate, reducing the risk of drowning. To enhance its appeal to birds, consider adding decorative elements such as bright colors, floral designs, or even natural materials like stones and branches. These touches not only make the birdbath visually appealing but also help attract birds by mimicking natural features they associate with water sources.

Placement of the birdbath is also crucial for its effectiveness. Ideally, position it in a quiet and sheltered area away from potential predators, such as cats. Additionally, placing it near vegetation provides birds with perches for observing their surroundings, increasing their comfort and safety while visiting the birdbath. Regular maintenance is essential to keep the birdbath clean and safe for birds. Ensure that you clean and refill it frequently to prevent the buildup of algae, bacteria, and debris.

Facilitating Nesting Success

Nesting materials are the building blocks of avian homes, providing essential insulation, protection, and structural support. By offering materials such trigs, bark, dried leaves, dried grasses, fluff (cottonwood down, milkweed seeds, feathers), moss, and pine needles, we can empower birds to construct sturdy and secure nests where they can safely raise their young.

It’s also important to know what NOT to offer to the birds as nesting matierals. Please, don’t set out dryer lint, hair, string, or yarn. While these materials may seem ideal for cushioning delicate eggs or weaving sturdy nests, they can actually be very dangerous.

Dryer lint can get wet and moldy and break down. Furthermore, the compounds found in detergents and the microplastic particles from synthetic fabrics have the potential to cause harm.

Hair/string/yarn can get wrapped around the legs and necks of birds and baby birds, cutting off circulation and even resulting in death. Furthermore, hair can be infused with unsafe shampoos, and yarn sometimes contains harmful dyes.

Supporting Birds’ Nutritional Needs

During early spring, birds require a steady supply of nutritious food to meet the increased energy demands of nesting. Providing supplemental food sources such as seeds, nuts, fruits, and insects can help alleviate the strain on birds as they work tirelessly to feed themselves and their offspring. By offering a diverse array of food options, we ensure that birds have access to the essential nutrients they need to thrive and maintain optimal health. Here are some foods that birds love:

Seeds, Nuts:

Sunflower seeds

Black oil (easier to crack)
Striped (harder to crack)
Shelled

Millet seeds
Flax seeds
Thistle seeds
Shelled and cracked corn
Peanuts and peanut butter

Berries:

Cranberry
Rose Hip Berries
Winter Berries
Crabapples
Serviceberry
Chokeberry

Other:

Mealworms
Fresh fruit (apple slices, grapes, melons, berries, oranges)
Dried fruit (softened by water)
Jelly (in small amounts because it’s sticky)
Egg Shells (sterilized by hard boiling or baking to remove potential salmonella)

Crafting Birdseed Wreaths

So, what’s the best (and most beautiful) way to combine these nesting and food resources and offer them to the birds? Homemade wreaths are always the answer!

Step 1: Create Your Base

For the base, we like to use grape vines, but if you don’t have access to these, any vine or straw that is thick and pliable should work. When foraging, you want to cut from the bottom near the root. Then, slowly tug and pull down. It will be easier to unravel this way! Don’t forget your clippers or gloves, and make sure they are not tied around power lines!

Once you have a few yards gathered, start forming the vine into a circle. While one side of the grapevine will be the start of your circle, the other side should be weaved in, out, and around the circle — adding layers and securing the form together. Freshly harvested vines should be pliable enough to do this straight away, but if the vines are older and more dried out you can soak them in water for about an hour first. If you run out of length on your first vine, add another vine and continue wrapping in the same direction.

Step 2: Add Nesting Materials and Food

For this step, just let your creativity shine through! Add in whatever materials are readily available to you. The most important advice we can offer is to know what you’re gathering and ensure that it isn’t toxic to you, the birds, or other wildlife. If you stick to the lists of nesting materials and food that we provided above, you should be just fine! Below, we will include some examples that we created!

This wreath features a variety of dried florals, seed pods, leaves, twigs, and other plants.

This wreath is coated in peanut butter, seeds, and fruits. This was a bit messy to make, but the birds love it! Start with your wreath base, slather natural peanut butter over the entire surface, and then press a thick layer of seeds into it.
Another option for peanut butter is to gather pine cones, roll these in peanut butter, cover/roll in seeds, and place in your wreath.

This wreath takes a more minimalist approach, focuses on readily available nesting materials, such as moss, small twigs, dried grasses, and pine needles.

Step 3: Gift to the Birds

Once you wreath is complete, set it outside for the birds to enjoy! Keep an eye on your wreath. For example, if you’re using peanut butter-covered pinecones, when the birds have eaten all the seeds, just throw on some more peanut butter and seeds! If you notice that most of the moss is gone, gather some more. Your wreath will serve as a valuable resource and allow the birds to feel supported throughout the season.

Birdseed Wreath Workshops

We recently held our first birdseed wreath workshop of the year, in Appleton. We had an amazing turnout, and it was so fun to spend the afternoon creating wreaths and being inspired by one another. Each participant created a unique and beautiful wreath and got to take it home. Here are some of the wreaths that were created!

If you missed out on this workshop (or want to make another wreath) join us at our next workshop on Sunday, March 24th. This will be located at the Jensen Community Center in Amherst, from 3-5pm. Supplies will be provided, and the focus of the workshop will be as follows:

WI birds and how to identify them
The types of seeds, berries, and other foods that WI birds eat
How to located grapevine and use it to make a wreath
How to decorate your wreath, assuring that no harmful materials are used
How to safely store, display, and eventually dispose of your wreath

We will be there to provide you with hands-on support, and you’ll be surrounded by other bird-loving members of the community. What fun!

Click here to reserve your spot.

Embrace Spring by Supporting the Birds