Watch for damp seed

What is changing this month

Late winter is the mud season of the feeder: days alternate between freeze and thaw, and seed spoils faster than the temperature suggests.

Birds to expect in February

Black-capped Chickadee Year-round Dark-eyed Junco Winter visitor Northern Cardinal Year-round Downy Woodpecker Year-round Evening Grosbeak Irregular Red-breasted Nuthatch Year-round 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 February

• Empty and dry any feeder that has taken on moisture.
• Discard clumped or damp seed rather than topping it up.
• Watch for early nest prospecting in dense shrubs.

Water in February

Keep water ice-free and shallow. If a bath freezes over during the day, birds lose access exactly when drinking water is scarcest.

What to watch for

• Freeze-thaw cycles spoil seed fast. Empty, dry and refill rather than topping up over clumps.
• Check stored seed for damp. Clumped seed is not worth feeding.
• Hygiene still matters in the cold — crowded feeders spread disease whatever the temperature.
• If you see a sick bird, clean and disinfect more often and consider a temporary pause.

Three things not to do

• Don't top up over clumped or damp seed. Empty, dry and refill instead.
• Don't assume cold weather prevents spoilage — freeze-thaw cycles are the problem.
• Don't prune dense evergreens yet. Early nesters may already be prospecting.

Check this locally

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

• North: late-winter cold is still the main constraint on feeding.
• Mid-latitudes: thaw cycles make this the muddiest month for seed quality.
• South: early nesters may already be active; avoid disturbing dense cover.

Questions this month raises