How To Help Birds And Pollinators With Your Yard During Winter
For most wildlife out there, winter is a daily challenge to find food, water, and shelter. Especially since many birds and pollinators don't migrate or hibernate, they stick around, looking for any bit of help they can get. If you have a yard, no matter how big or small, you can make a difference. With just a few helpful choices, your space can become a lifeline during the cold months.
Leave the Leaves
It's tempting to clear the yard once the leaves fall, but that leaf litter is more helpful than it looks. Beneath it, bees and butterflies overwinter in the soil. Moths and beetles lay eggs in it. Birds pick through it for insects. Instead of bagging it up, rake it into garden beds or under shrubs. Let nature use what it already built. Come spring, you’ll be glad you gave it a chance to do its job.
Use Less Mulch
While mulching helps regulate soil temperature, too much can harm overwintering insects. Many native bees nest in the top few inches of soil or under decaying plant matter, so a thick blanket of mulch can suffocate or block them. Try leaving a few patches of bare ground. These open spaces might look unfinished, but for ground-nesting pollinators, they're a warm welcome.
Don't Deadhead Everything
Dead flower heads may seem like cleanup waiting to happen, but they're actually full of seeds for birds. Finches, chickadees, and sparrows all rely on them. Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and goldenrod are great examples. Their dry stalks also provide shelter for insects. Instead of cutting everything back, let the dead blooms stand until spring, then cut them back when new growth starts.
Offer Unfrozen Water
Food is important, but clean, accessible water is just as critical during winter. Most if not all natural sources freeze over, so birds often struggle to find something to drink. Adding a heated birdbath or placing a shallow dish with warm water outside each morning can help. If you use a dish, put some small stones or sticks inside to give bees and other insects a safe landing spot when temperatures allow.
Choose Native Plants with Winter Berries
Some shrubs and trees hold their berries well into winter, giving birds a steady source of food when bugs are scarce. Plants like winterberry, serviceberry, viburnum, and cedar are dependable choices. They also support native pollinators during warmer months. When choosing plants, go local. Native species are better adapted to your climate and offer more for wildlife across the seasons.
Build Brush Piles for Shelter
Cold winds and snow leave small animals exposed. You can help by gathering fallen branches, twigs, and yard trimmings into loose brush piles and placing them in a quiet corner of your yard. These piles create shelter for birds, insects, and even small mammals. Think of them as temporary housing that offers some protection when nature is at its harshest.
Keep Feeders Safe
Bird feeders are a winter staple, but they only help if kept clean and stocked. Black oil sunflower seeds, suet, and nyjer seed are high-energy options that become vital during cold weather. Make sure feeders are protected from snow and wind. Keep them out of reach of outdoor pets. Clean them weekly with a mild bleach solution to prevent the spread of disease, especially if birds are gathering in one particular spot.
Support Native Bees with Nesting Materials
While honeybees live in hives, most native bees are solitary and overwinter in dead wood, hollow stems, or underground. Instead of tossing all your yard waste, bundle up stems from perennials and leave them upright. You can also drill holes in untreated wood blocks or fallen logs. Avoid bee hotels from stores unless they're designed for proper airflow and cleaned regularly. It’s better to mimic nature than to overcomplicate things.
Winter wildlife care doesn't require turning your yard into a pristine nature preserve. It’s often about doing less, not more. Leave things a little messy. Let natural materials stay put. Provide a few essentials like water and safe shelter. These small efforts can mean survival for many birds and pollinators. And when spring finally comes, you’ll already have a head start on a healthy, vibrant yard.