If a big snowstorm strikes ...

A cardinal braves the elements

If the weather forecasters are on target and the Lehigh Valley area gets a major snowstorm tomorrow and into Tuesday, backyard songbirds will need your help. A major snowfall will cover naturally occurring seed so birds will be hard pressed to forage.

You might wish to make a mental checklist of things to do before the storm arrives.

Fill your feeder today. Replenish seed late this afternoon just before dark. That way you won't have to trudge through the height of the storm to keep your feeder full. Keep in mind that birds depend on a ready source of fuel early in the morning because they have depleted their energy reserves trying to stay warm overnight.

Don't forget ground-feeding birds. This afternoon offer white millet seed on the ground to benefit juncos and other ground-feeding birds. They usually do not eat from elevated feeders. If you don't have a ground-level feeder, place the seed in a small flat tray such as a dish or the saucer of a houseplant. Or you can toss some seed on the ground.

Use the right blend of seed. If natural seed becomes buried under the snow, birds will find it difficult to obtain nutrition just at the time they need it most. A blend of different types of seed will benefit the most species of birds. In the winter the ideal mix is one high in black oil sunflower or shelled sunflower. This seed is rich in fat and protein which birds convert to energy for flying, foraging and resting overnight. A seed blend should contain about 60 percent sunflower seed, 30 percent white millet and 10 percent safflower seed, split peanuts or a combination of both.

Black oil sunflower is appreciated by most birds, including cardinals, chickadees, House Finches, Purple Finches, Downy Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmice and nuthatches. Millet is the preference for juncoes and Mourning Doves. Cardinals, chickadees, House Finches, Mourning Doves and White-throated Sparrows love safflower seed, which many other birds do not eat. Split peanuts are welcome food for woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice.

If you don't have a bag of mixed seed on hand, use whatever you have available. At least some birds will benefit.

Replenish your suet feeder. The high fat content in suet will be appreciated by birds.

Keep your feeder free of snow. If you haven't cleaned off the area beneath your feeder from Saturday's storm, now is a good time to do so. Shovel or stamp snow from around the feeders. This technique also will be a big help when it comes time to remove any new accumulation of snow.

Clean bird houses. Birds may use your bird house as a refuge from the storm. Make sure that any nesting material from last summer's use is removed. Place some wood chips or similar material in the bottom of the house as a warm cushion for the refugees.

After the storm

After the snowstorm, there are several things you should consider doing to return backyard life to normal.

Clean off the feeder. Snow can turn to ice, which may make it difficult to open the feeder's lid for refilling. The tops of tube-style and hopper-style feeders can freeze under the worst conditions. Brush or shake snow from platform feeders and restock with seed.

Cardinals and Blue Jays share a platform feeder

Clean up around feeders. Again, shovel or stamp snow from beneath the feeder. Don't worry if some birds toss seed to the ground. This seed will benefit juncoes and other ground-feeding birds.

Replenish seed. Birds will devour seed faster than normal. Be sure to have your feeder full so birds will be able to eat while you're out shoveling your sidewalk or driveway. Make sure the feeder is full once the snowstorm ends. Then return to the usual routine of refilling feeders twice a day, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon.

Beware of squirrels. If the snow is really deep, squirrels might be able to jump onto a feeder despite the baffle on your shepherd's hook or pole. Don't give them a launching pad. Shovel or stamp snow in a wide circle around your feeder.

Provide water. After the storm, make sure birds have water to drink. Check your heated bird bath (or the heating element on your summer bath) and refill with water if necessary. Birds prefer to drink liquid water. They will consume snow but it requires more energy because they need to melt the snow. That in turn cools them, which forces them to forage more aggressively. Look at it this way: Which would warm you most on a winter's day—a mug of hot chocolate or a glass of iced tea?

Taking these steps will benefit your backyard birds during the winter. But they also will be a benefit to you. More birds will survive the winter and be able to thrive in your backyard come spring. You'll appreciate their beauty and song just when you need a bit of cheer after a long, gloomy winter!