Feed the Birds Day is a simple excuse to slow down, notice the wildlife around you, and do something small that genuinely helps. When food is scarce, especially in colder months, a well-kept feeder can be the difference between a rough day and an easy one for local birds. Even when conditions are mild, feeding birds supports backyard biodiversity and turns your yard, balcony, or nearby park into something you actually look forward to looking at.

Here is how to celebrate it in a way that is fun, safe, and meaningful.

1) Start with the right kind of food

Not all bird food is equal. Some options attract a wide variety of species and provide strong nutrition, while others are basically filler.

Best everyday choices

• Black oil sunflower seeds: High energy, thin shells, loved by many songbirds.
• Suet (especially in cold weather): Great for woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees.
• Nyjer seed: Tiny seeds that attract finches.
• Unsalted peanuts: Whole peanuts for jays and woodpeckers, crushed for smaller birds.
• Plain mealworms: Excellent protein, especially helpful during breeding season.

Avoid

• Bread: Low nutrition, can contribute to health issues, especially for waterfowl.
• Salted or seasoned foods: Harmful to birds.
• Moldy seed: Dangerous, toss it immediately.
• Cheap mixes full of red millet and fillers: Many birds reject it, and it rots on the ground.

If you want to keep it simple: black oil sunflower plus suet covers a lot of ground.

2) Choose a feeder style that matches your goal

Different feeders invite different birds.

• Tube feeder: Great for finches, chickadees, nuthatches.
• Hopper feeder: Holds more seed, attracts mixed backyard birds.
• Platform or tray feeder: Easy viewing, but can get messy and attracts ground feeders.
• Suet cage: Best for woodpeckers and winter regulars.

If you only do one: a tube feeder with sunflower seed is an easy starting point.

3) Make it safe from windows and predators

A lot of well-intended bird feeding turns risky if collisions or predators are an issue.

Window safety

• Place feeders very close to a window (within about 1 metre) or farther away (several metres). Close placement can reduce collision speed, and far placement gives birds space to maneuver.
• Consider window decals or visible patterns if birds regularly strike your glass.

Predator safety

• Keep feeders away from dense shrubs where cats can hide, but still near enough to cover that birds can retreat.
• If you have outdoor cats in the neighborhood, put feeders where birds can see danger coming and consider a baffle on poles.

4) Add water, not just food

Food helps, but water is often what birds struggle to find.

• Put out a shallow birdbath or dish with a rough stone for footing.
• Refresh water daily if possible.
• In freezing weather, a heated birdbath can be one of the most helpful things you can offer.

5) Keep it clean so birds stay healthy

Feeders can spread illness when they are dirty or overcrowded.

• Wash feeders regularly with hot soapy water, rinse well, and dry.
• Do not let seed pile up wet and clumpy.
• Rake or rotate the ground area under feeders if hulls and waste build up.
• If you notice sick birds, pause feeding for a bit and disinfect.

Clean does not have to be perfect, it just has to be consistent.

6) Make it a real “day” with a simple plan

Here is an easy way to turn it into something you will actually enjoy.

A one hour Feed the Birds Day plan

1. Set up or refresh feeders and water.
2. Sit near a window or outside with a warm drink.
3. Spend 15 minutes identifying birds by color, size, and behavior.
4. Take a few photos or jot down a short list of what you saw.
5. Do one small upgrade: add a suet block, move the feeder for safety, or clean the setup.

The best part is how quickly you start noticing patterns, which birds show up first, which ones are shy, and what time the busiest rush happens.

7) Try a “bird friendly” treat that is actually healthy

If you want to make it feel special without getting complicated, do one of these:

• A fresh suet cake or suet pellets
• A small dish of mealworms
• A feeder with nyjer seed if you want finches
• Peanut pieces in a mesh feeder for clingers

Skip sticky sweet spreads or anything with salt.

8) Celebrate beyond feeders

Feeding birds is great, but habitat is the long game.

• Leave a small patch of yard less manicured.
• Plant native shrubs or seed-producing plants.
• Put up a nest box if you have the right space for it.
• Keep outdoor lighting lower at night during migration seasons.

Even one native shrub can outperform a fancy feeder in the long run.

9) Make it social

Feed the Birds Day is an easy way to involve family, friends, or coworkers.

• Challenge someone to spot five species in a day.
• Share photos and compare visitors.
• Donate a bag of seed or a feeder to a school, senior center, or community garden.

It is a feel-good day that stays feel-good because it is practical.

10) The key rule: be consistent if you start

Birds will learn your feeder is reliable. If you begin feeding during harsh conditions, try not to abruptly stop during the toughest stretch. Consistency matters more than quantity.

A simple celebration that actually works

The best Feed the Birds Day is not about doing a lot. It is about doing a few things right: quality food, safe placement, clean feeders, fresh water, and a little time spent paying attention. If you do that, you will end the day with more life in your yard and a calmer mind than you started with.

If you tell me what kind of space you have (yard, acreage, balcony, or shop lot) and the season where you are, I can suggest the best feeder setup and seed combo for the birds you are most likely to get.