Giving the Birds a Cold Weather Boost

It was so cold this week! Temps stayed well below freezing until Friday. No real snow or ice to deal with, just bitter, bitter cold. The birds seemed to manage okay, although they were very hungry in the mornings and very thirsty. I think while there was still snow around, they could get moisture from that, but all the snow melted last week. Luckily, even when the bird pond froze up, they could still get water from around the edges. I'm going to look into getting a small heated birdbath or water bowl to have around for next time this happens.
Did everyone spot all the different birds feeding in the yard? I decided there was a little too much activity for me to do labels for all the birds, so I thought this would be something different. I hope you had fun with it.
Thanks for watching! Stay safe out there and I'll see you next week!
#winterbirds #birdwatching #birding #birds #backyardbirds

[@ilknurtuncer1712]

💕

[@shelley2217]

such a wonderful variety of birds.

[@WarblerRidge]

Thanks for watching! 🙂

[@lilykitty111]

Wow, a purple finch! And the robin and the woodpecker.

[@WarblerRidge]

Everybody stopped by for a drink 🙂

[@meglange3595]

Oh how wonderful!! Loved this!! Such great closeups. And Robins!! I do love the Robins. I've never seen one in winter. I get them thru the spring and then they're gone. When I mow the yard they keep me company. They're like old friends😊. Thanks for such a lovely insight into all this birdy activity. I'm still smiling. Have a great week!! 🥰❤️

[@WarblerRidge]

I really, really want to convince some robins to stay through the summer. I think my soil is too rocky, though. Thanks for watching and have a great week!

[@sandrafraser8120]

I think your getting more birds in the winter than in the summer, the Purple Finch is amazing...Thank you again for sharing this wonderful time with us.

[@WarblerRidge]

Could be! They tend move around in flocks this time of year and arrive in numbers.

[@ighconsulting]

Beautiful footage! Thanks for taking such good care of these beauties 🥰🙏🤗💚

[@WarblerRidge]

Thanks for watching!

[@crowbabies]

Love the bluebirds!

[@WarblerRidge]

They’re so beautiful 🙂

[@carynlong1846]

We watch every Sunday morning. Thank you so much for your work and your care for the birds on your property. We enjoyed the challenge to name 9 other birds you caught on film too. We missed the yellow rump warbler. Have a great week.☀️

[@WarblerRidge]

I’m glad you enjoyed that 🙂 The warbler was tricky. It just popped up in the suet log for a few seconds. Thanks for the comment! It’s always nice to hear from people who are watching regularly.

[@beelzibabs677]

Cedar wax wing? Maybe? They are certainly enjoying breakfast 😊❤

[@WarblerRidge]

I don’t think there were any Cedar Waxwings in the mix, although I wish some would stop by. I haven’t seen any in a while. Thanks for watching!

[@abbyW]

13:00 looks like my yard but with house finches instead of goldfinches. They all seem to prefer the seed on the ground and avoid the feeders so I dumped them on the ground too!

[@Ida-s8j]

Beautiful video ❤ Anyone considering feeding birds store-bought peanut butter, please check the label for palm oil, since many birds can't digest it.

[@WarblerRidge]

Good to know! I try to use the stuff that’s just peanuts.

[@abbyW]

Crazy Richard’s, sold at WM, is 100% peanuts. I give it to my dogs too 😊

[@Ida-s8j]

@@abbyW Thanks for the info! :)

[@57June]

Thank you. I didn't know that. I try to avoid products with palm oil, but it can be difficult. Some say from sustainable sources, but are they?

[@57June]

​@@abbyWI give it to me too! 😜

[@BarbaraM-ro3xq]

A wonderful variety of beautiful birds! The purple finch is unusual. And the gold finches are different from the bright yellow ones here in southern Illinois.

[@WarblerRidge]

These goldfinches are just wearing their drab winter coats 🙂 They’ll start molting back to bright yellow in February. Some of these already had some yellow starting to show through. You might have the winter drab version of the Goldfinches there too. They’re very good at hiding in plain sight. Thanks for watching!

[@kristamorgan9178]

What variety! Clearly shows the need for water esp in winter. Loved the nuthatch grabbing a big piece of peanut butter! ❤ My yard birds are very after the 7+ inches of FLORIDA SNOW here near Pensacola Beach. The mockingbirds are happy for the native holly berries! Thank you for the Sunday respite, beautifully edited as usual❤

[@WarblerRidge]

7 inches of snow in Florida! Wow! I hope it all melts away quickly.

[@kimfisher4111]

God Bless you❤❤❤

[@Lucille-q8e]

Beautiful 😊

[@WarblerRidge]

Thanks for watching!

[@teresabrown3305]

My first time on your channel. I love it. I have all of these birds on my farm and in the yard. I love the close ups.

[@WarblerRidge]

Thanks! And welcome to the channel. I hope you’ll stick around. New videos get posted each Sunday Morning at 6:00 am Eastern.

[@DaveNutter-i2j]

Also Song Sparrow. Lovely fun video! Thank you!

[@WarblerRidge]

I was hoping someone would spot the song sparrow. I noticed it Sunday Morning but had missed it earlier. Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@susanmatako8469]

Beauty in all seasons. Enjoyed it very much. I have a heated bird bath and zi have to keep filling it up with water. I've seen bird's and squirrels just sitting in it without water for the warmth.

[@susanmatako8469]

My cat Wrigley and I approve this video🙂

[@WarblerRidge]

I’ll have to look into getting something like that. Although it only gets cold enough for things to really freeze up here a couple times a year.

[@WarblerRidge]

Hi Wrigley! 🐱

[@verbaiva]

Thank you for a joyful video! At 8:17 it was a beautiful Northern flicker!

[@WarblerRidge]

I love seeing the Flickers. They’re such crazy looking birds, with all their spots. I meant to put an ID tag at that spot and completely forgot. Thanks for watching!

[@gus4cg]

Most adorable video ever! Sweet little birds. ❤ thanks so much. Peace

[@WarblerRidge]

Thanks for watching!

[@lorihavener2647]

You make Sunday mornings even better! You could add a couple Deicers to your extension chord for the winter months.

[@WarblerRidge]

I should to try something. We rarely get really cold days, but I’d like to be prepared for when we do.

[@rebeccacook7924]

Thank you! ❤️

[@WarblerRidge]

Thanks for watching!

[@WOODWORKVEGAN]

Nice! Thank you.

[@WarblerRidge]

Thanks for watching!

[@carolinehan4175]

What kind of camera do you use to get these beautiful videos? Do you have several set up around the feeders and pond?

[@WarblerRidge]

I use GoPro cameras. I have a couple older models that I bought used. They’re not motion activated, so I just set them up, let them record, and check back later to see what I got. I enjoy scrolling through the footage to see who all shows up. I like the GoPros because their small size allows me to set up the cameras close to the ground, at eye level for the birds, plus they’re waterproof, so I don’t have to worry about them getting splashed. And they do a very good job of keeping all the birds in focus as them move in and out of the frame. I have some favorite spots for them but I also like to move them around and experiment now and then.

[@shelley2217]

maybe a white crowned Sparrow in the beginning? That Male Cardinal - wow!

[@WarblerRidge]

I think that was a White-throated sparrow. I have two variations of those this winter. One with darker stripes in the head and one with brown. I’d love to have a White-crowned Sparrow stop by, tho! That’s a bird I haven’t had here yet.

[@lorihavener2647]

I saw a quick visit from a Wren...heard'em too!

[@WarblerRidge]

Good one! Those little guys always seem to be in the mix.

[@Claudias-Coneflowers]

I got a bird bath heater for at least one bird bath, so birds and squirrels have some where to get fresh water. Even went temps are cold but not freezing, the little heater keeps the water warm for the birds and other creatures here in South Texas. So glad to see that the birds got some fresh water after all. Good thinking with the hot water. 👍😊

[@WarblerRidge]

Thanks! I think the bird bath heater is the way to go.

[@IronSights54]

I mix a 40-pound bag of black oil sunflower seed with a 50-pound bag of crushed corn. (Make sure its crushed corn and mix it thoroughly.) I pick three areas around the yard as feeding stations and scatter four cups at each station twice a day. I hang multiple suet cakes. I also go out and toss peanuts to the jays, flickers, and squirrels. Keeps me out of the bars and nightclubs.

[@WarblerRidge]

It sounds like you’re feeding a crowd!

[@IronSights54]

@@WarblerRidge I left out my bluebird feeding... I buy 5,000 live mealworms every 30 days... I feed the bluebirds all year, increasing the feed in winter months. Been doing this for years and they have not become dependent (the live mealworms supplement their natural forage). I have built and distributed 350 bluebird nest boxes across five counties. Thank you for your outstanding videos and support for our bird friends!!!

[@birdwatcher2004]

What a great job!! Thanks

[@WarblerRidge]

Thanks for watching!

[@MeganLoggains]

I really love seeing the birds at my new pond I built. You inspired me to dig my own pond, my soil is extremely rocky but I was persistent and finally manged to get a good pond. The birds found it really fast, so I really thank you for your videos and how to build one! I will try the peanut butter suet blend. Do you buy a specific brand of suet or peanut butter?

[@WarblerRidge]

Yay! Good job! I have rocky soil too, so I know that was a lot of work. I’m glad to hear it worked out well for you and that the birds are enjoying their new bird pond 🙂

[@WarblerRidge]

Not a specific brand but I get the all natural type that’s just peanuts, and I like the no-stir types that stay mixed and the oil doesn’t separate. Someone posted here that Walmart carries a natural peanut butter that’s good.

[@vickyb5935]

I have just become a subscriber…love watching your birds!!! Could you please tell me what the “pale pink/mauve” colored bird is that appears during the frozen pond scenes? I live in Switzerland and am not familiar with this one ….. sooo pretty! Thanks!

[@WarblerRidge]

That is a male Purple Finch. They’re occasional winter visitors here. This has been a good year for them. So nice to have a viewer from Switzerland! Welcome to the channel!

[@vickyb5935]

@ Thank you. I love your channel and it is such a nice retreat from the noise of everyday life!!!

[@ocean8434]

Where is this located? I just moved to SC and I recognized a few birds .

[@WarblerRidge]

I’m in the eastern part of Tennessee, a little north of Knoxville. We should get similar birds.

[@sandiheilman-ry4jt]

I don't get robins in winter as they hide deep into the woods. They come back at springtime.

[@WarblerRidge]

And I live in the woods 🙂 So this is where your Robins are hanging out.

[@Kolibrida]

If you would have newts in the pond it would not be a good idea to poor some hot water in the pond. But very nice Video!

[@WarblerRidge]

There’s nothing living in that water. It’s a very shallow pool designed for the birds to bathe in, not an actual pond. Thanks for watching 🙂

[@ThreeRunHomer]

Today’s lesson is birds really prefer unfrozen water.

[@WarblerRidge]

😄 True 🐦☀️🏖️

[@kimchapman2210]

What bird was beige and brown with red spot on its head? It was in the foreground on the right side of the screen. Rather large bird

[@WarblerRidge]

Northern Flicker. I meant to put an id tag there and forgot.

[@kimchapman2210]

It was a Northern Flicker!

[@va3xj]

Try a submersible heater. I have one, it works great

[@WarblerRidge]

I think that’s a good idea. Thanks!

[@shelley2217]

what are they eating in the field?

[@WarblerRidge]

Some “finch mix” birdseed and some ground up peanuts I scattered in the yard. I think the finch mix was mostly sunflower chips and thistle.

[@danaconstantine7005]

Have you tried using a bird bath heater? I've always had good luck with them.

[@WarblerRidge]

I haven’t tried one, but I think that’s what I needs. Thanks and thanks for watching!

[@vonniebench]

I thought I saw a Juvenile Grosebeak?

[@WarblerRidge]

It’s the wrong time of year for Grosbeaks here in Tennessee. I only see them during migration season. The female Purple Finches have sort of a similar facial pattern, though. Maybe that’s what you saw? Thanks for watching!

[@CWS-h5z]

hmm...dark-eyed Junco, carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, gold finches, cardinals, purple finch, white crowned sparrows, and my guesses: rose-breasted grosbeak (I had to look that one up otherwise I would have named it the "stripey guy", or was that the hermit thrush:/ and that's all I could distinguish. Which ones did I miss or misidentify?

[@WarblerRidge]

You got most of them! The Sparrow was a White-throated Sparrow, White Crowned, and there were no Grosbeaks (Probably the female Purple Finch). You missed the Red-bellied Woodpecker and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

[@Kenneth-x2y]

You need a water tank heater

[@WarblerRidge]

I could do that for the bigger bird pond. It has a reservoir pool. The way, this one is built, though, there’s not really anywhere to put a heater.

[@carolinehan4175]

I’ve heard putting ping pong or similar balls in shallow water helps. Also a flat deicer that works in shallow birdbaths might work?