If you have planted native species in your garden, we hope you didn’t cut them down during fall clean-up. During the winter many native plants provide birds with food and with protection from harsh weather and predators. Be sure to leave seed heads on through the winter.

Ground feeding birds and finches use native grasses for seeds and protection. Finches also will feed on Rudbeckia (black-eyed and other Susans) as well as Echinacea (purple and pale purple coneflowers).

I hear on good authority that chickadees eat Monarda (beebalm) seeds, and finches use Solidago and
Eupatorium (goldenrod and Joe Pye weed) seeds as well. Additionally, the stalks of native forbs shelter the eggs of insects that adult birds will
feed their nestlings in the spring.

The native grasses and forbs provide a beautiful silhouette for human eyes. There is nothing prettier than the russet color of little bluestem when snow is on the ground.

Provide additional protection for birds and wildlife by using cut or fallen tree branches of all sizes to form a brush pile. Finally, clean out nest boxes so that birds can use them for roosting during frigid nights. I’m about to do that right now as the first snow of the season is falling.