photo: Townsend’s Warbler
Photos and text by Dee Renee Ericks
During the last cold spell, I made an effort to ensure my backyard birds had the nourishment they needed to comfortably survive the sub-freezing nighttime temperatures. In clean feeders, I offered a buffet of black oil sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, finch mix, peanuts, suet, and bark butter. Hummingbird feeder heaters were deployed to keep the nectar from freezing.
A Townsend’s Warbler drops by for a bite of apple.
In addition, I placed halves of apples and oranges in feeding areas safe from wandering cats. The apples, initially nestled in about 5 inches of snow, were an immediate hit with the robins. The orange halves remained thawed during the daylight hours, drew in several Townsend Warblers and an Orange-crowned Warbler. They even snacked on the apples as the robins allowed.
The snow has since receded but the warblers are continuing to enjoy their fruit feast.
The Townsend’s Warbler favors bark butter and oranges.