Shelter is half the job

What is changing this month

Short days and hard weather make shelter as important as food. Evergreens and brush piles buffer wind and hide birds from predators.

Birds to expect in December

Black-capped Chickadee Year-round Dark-eyed Junco Winter visitor Northern Cardinal Year-round Downy Woodpecker Year-round Common Redpoll Irregular Evening Grosbeak Irregular Pine Grosbeak Irregular

Most often reported at feeders this month. What turns up depends on your region and the weather, so treat it as a starting point.

Feeder jobs for December

• Leave a corner of the garden untidy on purpose.
• Put stones in a ground-level bath so birds can perch.
• Check local bear guidance before feeding where bears occur.

Water in December

Never add antifreeze. Use a birdbath heater, and put stones in a ground-level bath so birds can perch and drink without bathing.

What to watch for

• Shelter matters as much as seed: evergreens and brush piles buffer wind.
• Never add antifreeze to a birdbath — it is poisonous to all animals, including birds.
• Put stones in a ground-level bath so birds can perch and drink without bathing.
• If you live where bears visit, do not feed except while they are hibernating.

Three things not to do

• Don't tidy away every brush pile and seed head — shelter is habitat.
• Don't feed where bears are active; wait until they hibernate.
• Don't add antifreeze or salt near a birdbath.

Check this locally

Timing shifts with latitude, elevation and the year. Use these as pointers, then check what is actually happening near you.

• North: short days and hard weather make shelter as important as seed.
• Mid-latitudes: freeze-thaw cycles return; check seed for damp.
• South: winter visitors are in place and breeding season is approaching.

Questions this month raises