You have done wonderful things in your gardens to attract birds, but now it’s winter. How you can keep birds in residence all winter.

We already know that birds need food and water, and of course it is critical for that to remain consistent all winter long for them to stay. It will not be enough to provide food, water is even more essential and hard to come by in winter. Be sure to put out some warm water at least once every single day unless you have a heater in a birdbath. And providing plenty of appropriate shelter for the birds you attract will keep them happily in your landscape. Install a variety of birdhouses but also be sure you leave plenty of dormant plants in place every fall to provide protective cover and nesting places.

You may need to experiment a bit, so start by providing a variety of feeders if you can. For winter bird feeding you will want the feeders positioned for good viewing from inside your home. But do keep in mind that birds will also want quick access to shelter from cats, birds of prey or other predators. Downwind and close to evergreen trees or dense low dormant plantings is helpful, but also be aware of where raptors may be nesting and where the neighbor’s cat hides.

Specific bird species have different preferences for how the like to feed. So you not only need appropriate foods, but they need to be kept in a feeder that suits the bird who wants to eat it. Bird feeders of all varieties can be purchased of course, or you can create your own. Bird feeders are designed to hold and dispense specific feeds as well as accommodate the way specific species like to feed.

• Platform or Tray Feeders are easy way to attracted a wide variety of seed eaters. But this type of feeder will need some routine care. Rain and melting snow will likely accumulate and seeds will be wet and potentially grow bacteria and fungus. So look for one with a fine screened bottom or good drainage holes. Rinse out the tray well routinely. If you position your tray feeder in a low spot it will also attract ground feeders like juncos, jays and sparrows. Of course squirrels, raccoons and deer may help themselves too!

• Hopper Feeders are what we are used to seeing everywhere. Looking very much like a common birdhouse the feed is held in the house under a roof and dispenses out of a bottom slot into a tray. Birds are able to easily perch on the tray base while eating. Seed is fairly well protected in the hopper, reducing the need for cleaning. But larger hoppers may hold several days of seed, increasing the chance of them getting wet which can be dangerous for birds. A great variety of birds will visit a hopper feeder, including Cardinals, Blue Jays, Chickadees, Sparrows, Finches, Grosbeaks, Cardinals and Buntings. Like most feeders a hopper feeder is not at all squirrel proof.

• Tube Feeders are generally best for attracting small birds like chickadees, sparrows, titmice, grosbeaks and goldfinches that easily sit on small perches. Hollow tubes hold the seed with several feeding ports and perches. The size of the ports will determine which birds will feed. Small ports of course will attract small birds and you can use the smallest seeds. These are specifically thistle feeders which dispense tiny thistle seeds. Dropped seed attracts other ground feeders or you may find tube feeders with a bottom tray that would accommodate larger birds. When filling the feeder always dispose of any old seed in the feeder first.

• Suet Feeders are pretty simply constructed wire or mesh containers that hold a suet “cake”. You can hang it, mount it or affix it to another feeder or a tree trunk. Generally there are many birds that enjoy suet and it will commonly attract woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches, starlings and chickadees. Onion bags have been used to suspend suet cakes but be aware that birds’ feet can entable a bit in the mesh. Best to just use a standard suet cage.

Where you position your feeders will also attract different bird species. If you are just getting started with feeding birds, a mix with black oil sunflower will attract a wide variety of birds. This is a great way to start. Once you see which birds are visiting you can provide more custom options. Here is a quick reference list of what feed bird species prefer and how they prefer to access their food:

• A great variety of birds enjoy black oil sunflower seeds and of course seed blend is perfect for ground feeders but also works well in a tube feeder for a variety of birds. Shelled White Millet is also favored by many birds, especially birds that like the tiniest seeds..

• Feel free to put fruits and even nuts out on a platform feeder. Many birds enjoy bits of oranges, apples, berries and raisins.

• Cardinals prefer a tray, platform or perch feeder and love safflower seed

• Chickadees will feed from tube feeders or fly through feeders. They prefer black sunflower but will also eat suet and safflower seed

• Finches (common) will feed from tube feeders or fly through feeders. They prefer blask sunflower and love a thistle feeder for thistle seeds. They will also eat millet and suet.

• Flickers love suet

• Goldfinches prefer a thistle tube feeder and love thistle (Niger seed) but will also eat black sunflower.

• Jays like a platform feeder or ground feeding and they enjoy cracked corn

• Juncos are ground and platform feeders but do enjoy thistle. They love black sunflower and will also eat millet and thisle.

• Mourning Doves are ground and platform feeders

• Nuthatches will feed from a tube feeder or a suet feeder. They love black sunflower and suet. They will also eat peanuts.

• Pine Siskin feed from tube feeders and fly through feeders. They prefer black sunflower and thistle but also will eat millet and corn.

• Robins will feed from fly through feeders and tube feeders. They of course love worms but also fruit. The do enjoy suet, black sunflower and peanuts.

• Sparrows are ground and platform feeders and they like cracked corn

• Titmouse feed from tube feeders and suet feeders. The prefer black sunflower.

• Woodpeckers Will feed from suet feeders or fly through feeders. They love suet and will also eat fruit and cracked corn.

Always keep your feeders filled, in winter the birds depend on the food they have become accustomed to finding in your feeder. Don’t let them starve even for a day, they need constant nutrients. Spend just a bit extra to buy premium seed, inexpensive mixes have a lot of filler seeds that the birds don’t even like. Make sure your seed remains dry to you do not subject the birds to mold, fungus and bacteria. And of course no matter what type of feeder you use and what seeds you offer, you cannot attract birds that are not naturally in your region. Check out the most common Midwest birds.