I decided to stop feeding the birds this summer, particularly because the feeders draw in the squirrels, which makes my dog go crazy, running and chasing. She ended up with a torn CCL recently and I realized that I was just baiting her into running after squirrels.

To make a long story short, my feeders are being stored for now. I will bring them out to the front yard after the bears go to sleep and a spot far from where the dog can chase the squirrels.

 The upshot of this I’ve made my first resolution for the new year. It’s a bit early, but I’ve decided that I’m going to feed my birds from what I grow, not from feeders. This morning in my perennial bed where I’ve left up all the seedheads were maybe 20 birds, five different kinds. Finches were dancing on the coneflower seedheads, and on the ground were several types of sparrows with juncoes, cardinals and a rose-breasted grosbeak.

They had plenty to eat since I left my garden wild for the winter. These stems and debris also harbor insects including the pollinators we need to keep our planet healthy. And, below the leaf litter are the pupae of caterpillars which will feed the birds in spring when they emerge.

So, my resolution is that next year when the gardening and plant-buying bug hits me, I will concentrate on only growing what provides food for the birds and other wildlife. Of course, in most cases, this will mean native plants as well as some non-invasive non-natives that provide food.

I collected seeds from wild stands of black cohosh (bugbane) and goldenrod, and hyssop, vervain and sneezeweed from my perennial garden. I’ve “winter-sown” them to put out in my landscape next year. And I may simply not resurrect my feeders at all. Feeding birds can be controversial. 

Here is an excellent  source from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discussing the pros and cons of bird feeding: 

https://www.fws.gov/story/feed-or-not-feed-wild-birds