Over 55 million people in the U.S. feed wild birds and I’m one of them. Why do it when there’s usually plenty of food for them in their natural habitats? It turns out there are multiple benefits to doing so.

When I was growing up I saw chickadees, robins, mourning doves, blackbirds, and sparrows all the time, but I rarely saw anything else. No one in my neighborhood fed wild birds. I knew there were hundreds of varieties, but I never had a chance to experience most of them.

My parents first started feeding birds when my boyfriend, now husband, gifted them with a bird feeder. I was skeptical that it would ever be used. But to my surprise my dad hung it up and filled it with sunflower seeds. It took less than a day for the birds to find it. He was hooked.

Feeding wild birds gives you the opportunity to take a break from today’s busy life and observe the wonders of nature. Children learn to identify bird species, and it teaches them the importance of caring for nature. If you keep your feeders filled you’ll have birds in your backyard year-round. Homes with bird feeders obviously attract more, and more varied, birds than those without.

Watching birds in my yard is one of my favorite things to do. For me, spring starts when the first red-wing blackbirds come back with their noisy cacophony. It can actually get almost deafening once all the species are back singing away in their attempt to find a sweetheart. Coming across a nest with eggs is like finding a treasure and watching the chicks hatch and grow is a gift.

I also like feeling that I’m helping the birds, and according to studies I actually am. Bird feeders give birds a steady food source supply. The more you feed them during nesting season the less time birds need to stay away from their nest and newborn chicks while they’re foraging for food. Bird feeders supplement natural food sources, providing birds with reliable, plentiful food to keep them, and their chicks, thriving.

Studies have shown that birds in areas with backyard feeders are in overall better health than those without. Birds’ stress levels are lower when feeders are available, making a big difference for their future. Because birds consume a huge number of calories, they spend most of their day foraging for food. Bird feeders help supplement their natural food sources and provide reliable, plentiful nutrition to keep them and their chicks thriving.

We feed the birds year-round, and different varieties require different diets and different feeders. Along with regular tube feeders we have flat feeders, cob feeders, suet feeders, jelly feeders, and nectar feeders. We also have a fountain and birdbaths, including one that’s heated for winter. Nothing brings in the birds more than a birdbath full of warm water when the temperatures are freezing. 

One of the most interesting things I’ve noticed over the years is how birds’ diets have evolved. When I first started hanging out suet it would attract mostly woodpeckers. Today nearly every bird that stays here though the winter partakes of it. The same thing happened with the jelly and nectar feeders. When I first started offering them only hummingbirds and oriels were attracted to their sweetness. Today it’s just as common to see woodpeckers drinking the nectar and finches eating the jelly. 

I’ve also noticed some of the birds’ habits evolve as well. It’s no longer uncommon to see robins all year round, and this year there was a group of bluebirds who would come to our heated birdbath throughout the day through most of the winter.

The trees and bushes on our property also attract a huge number of birds. One of my favorite times of year is when the cedar waxwings stop by during their winter migration to spend a few days gobbling up all the berries on our cedar trees. 

The slough brings in an even greater diversity of species, including ducks, geese, and cranes. The red-wing blackbirds spend most of their days out there perched on the cattails.

We’ve continued to discover new bird species stopping by our property as well, some come to stay, others just make a quick stop and aren’t seen again. To date I’ve counted nearly 70 species.

One of the most relaxing sounds you can experience is the joyful singing and chirping of wild birds all around your backyard. People enjoy feeding birds as a soothing source of natural beauty and entertainment just outside their windows.

In a world overwhelmed with technology, feeding the birds offers an escape and a chance to unwind from daily stress. What more could you ask for?