Here at Gabelmans Gardens we get asked lots of questions through email on many topics. One question we get asked is what to do about your bird feeders when winter comes upon us. So we decided to give you a few answers to some of the frequently asked questions. First of all understand and learn as much as you can about the particular birds that reside in your area and remember that alot of the birds that you see during summer will probably reside elsewhere come cold weather, most will fly south to warmer climates some even as far as South America, while others will be content to stay home. The reason most fly away is not because of the cold as much as it is the availability of their food source but just trying to supply their food source will not keep the birds here for instance look at the hummingbirds. Hummingbirds feed on nectar and insects and in our zone these are not available in winter. For  over thousands of years these birds have migrated to the tropical regions for food. So bring in those hummingbird feeders and give them a good sterilization cleaning so they””””””””ll be ready for next season when the Hummingbirds return to mate. Here in the Ohio Valley we have many species that do just that “stay home” so feeding in the winter is just if not more important than summertime feeding. Species such as the Cardinal will make i”””””””’’s presence around your feeder even in the most extreme winter conditions, so keeping your feeders full and clean are vital to this birds existence. Cardinals love sunflower seeds which are rich in oils and protein. Since my job as the operations department supervisor at the Cincinnati Nature Center involves keeping the feeders full with seed,we like to supply our feeders with lots of black sunflower seed. Other species of birds local to our area include, Robins and Finches and Woodpeckers especially the Red Headed Woodpecker which has been placed on the Audubon Ohio watchlist. This species population has declined by 78% to an estimated population of only 35,000 according to the Audubon Ohio website. Woodpeckers bore for their food so provide suet cakes which are rich in oils and other vital proteins. You can also prepare your bird feed with a mix of various types of seed. I like to get  those plastic tubes with a lid (this is important to keep out the mice) and premix different types of seed to accommodate all our native species. If your looking for what types of seed to buy go to your local feed store they will have most of the types of seed you need to keep your birds healthy and full during the winter season. In future articles we will talk more about specific birds common to the Ohio valley area.