The colder months are a wonderful time to attract birds to your backyard. Migratory birds stop by many regions of California on their way to warmer climates in South America. Food is also scarce for non-migratory birds, and many flock to backyard offerings.

"Bird feeders are especially critical to the backyard birder during winter months," explains Andrea Jones, Audubon California Important Bird Areas Director. She recommends different types of feeders depending on what part of California you live in:

Mountain regions: For birders living in the mountain areas of California, suet feeders are a good option. Make sure the feeder has a protective overhang to keep snow away, as well as caging to keep out small mammals. Suet feeders will attract woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches. Be careful to monitor a suet feeder as a change to warmer temperature make the feed rancid.

Urban regions: Water features attract birds in an urban setting where it can be hard for birds to find natural sources. A bird bath can be a beautiful way to accomodate this, but a simple drip works as well.

Woodland regions: Black oil sunflower seeds in a basic birdfeeder will attract chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and finches. Thistle feeders filled with niger thistle will attract goldfinches and siskins.

All areas: A green and bird-friendly solution to dying gardens is to let them just do that, die. Birds look for brush piles to sit in. As this is California, be especially careful to tend these patches of vegetation and make sure they are far away from your home so as not to be a fire hazard.

Winter is also a good time to build bird nest boxes, so they are there when the birds come back to nest in spring.

Hummingbirds are a year-round delight in California, simple boiled sugar syrup works best, and even though it's pretty to add food coloring, don't as it is unhealthy for the bird.

Do you have any other good tips to share?

(Photo of Bushtits at suet feeder by Scott Catron)