10 Easy Pieces: Bird Feeders

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Bird feeders need extra protection against winter weather. A model with a roof or a cover to shield the feeding platform will keep feathered friends and their food dry.

How to choose a site for a bird feeder: Hang it from a tree branch or an eave where it will be sheltered from wind. (If you pick a spot close to the house, it will be easier to refill a bird feeder in bad weather.)

How to care for a bird feeder in winter: After a storm, make sure you remove ice and snow buildup so birds can get to the food.

What to feed birds in winter: To survive cold weather, birds need extra nutrition. Feed them high-fat foods for energy: White millet seed, thistle seed, peanuts, and peanut butter are good choices.

We’ve rounded up our favorite bird feeders—many with a roof or overhang to repel snow and rain—to hang in a peaceful spot in the garden.

The Beekman Bird Feeder is “designed to architectural standards” and is available in canary yellow or minimalist white; each is \$88. — Above: The Beekman Bird Feeder is “designed to architectural standards” and is available in canary yellow or minimalist white; each is $88.

“The feeders are American-made—made within 100 miles of Shift’s Philadelphia headquarters. ‘Your yard will be the talk of the flock,’ they promise,” writes Annie. See more in Object of Desire: A Cheerful Bird Feeder, Made in the US.

A Modern Acrylic Bird Feeder by Poland-based designer Jolanta Uczarczyk has a peaked roof and is \$65.47 via Etsy. — Above: A Modern Acrylic Bird Feeder by Poland-based designer Jolanta Uczarczyk has a peaked roof and is $65.47 via Etsy.

Germany-based designer Sabine Meyer&#8\2\17;s Bird Roof Just For Birds has a peaked roof made of oiled larch and hangs from a steel cord. The bird feeder comes with a starter &#8\2\20;dumpling&#8\2\2\1; of bird seed and is \$\17.90 from Connox. — Above: Germany-based designer Sabine Meyer’s Bird Roof Just For Birds has a peaked roof made of oiled larch and hangs from a steel cord. The bird feeder comes with a starter “dumpling” of bird seed and is $17.90 from Connox.

See more at Object of Desire: A Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder from Germany.

Above: With a porcelain feeding platform and a peaked orange roof made of soft polyurethane, a Birdhouse by Marcel Wanders is €55 at Droog.

A set of two borosilicate glass Mini Bird Feeders by designer Eva Solo is \$34.85 from Finnish Design Shop. — Above: A set of two borosilicate glass Mini Bird Feeders by designer Eva Solo is $34.85 from Finnish Design Shop.

3-in-\1 Platform Bird Feeder can be placed on the ground, mounted on a pole, or hung from a tree branch. It is \$34.05 from Home Depot. — Above: 3-in-1 Platform Bird Feeder can be placed on the ground, mounted on a pole, or hung from a tree branch. It is $34.05 from Home Depot.

Made of a a powder coated lightweight aluminum, a Brdi Bird Feeder unfolds for easy DIY assembly. A 5-foot length of braided red rope and a hardwood perch are included; \$\20 via Amazon. — Above: Made of a a powder coated lightweight aluminum, a Brdi Bird Feeder unfolds for easy DIY assembly. A 5-foot length of braided red rope and a hardwood perch are included; $20 via Amazon.

A Bird Feeder Made From Ash Wood has a wooden frame surrounding an acrylic glass feeder tube to keep bird seed dry in inclement weather. It is €6\2 from Manufactum. — Above: A Bird Feeder Made From Ash Wood has a wooden frame surrounding an acrylic glass feeder tube to keep bird seed dry in inclement weather. It is €62 from Manufactum.

Germany-based designer Anton Preis&#8\2\17;s Bird Feeder Housefor Design im Dorf has a wooden feeding platform protected by a red stainless steel roof; \$65.90 from Connox. — Above: Germany-based designer Anton Preis’s Bird Feeder Housefor Design im Dorf has a wooden feeding platform protected by a red stainless steel roof; $65.90 from Connox.

A Neighbirds feeder and birdhouse designed by Andreu Carulla and made of untreated pine has a polyester hanging strap; \$38 from Luminaire. — Above: A Neighbirds feeder and birdhouse designed by Andreu Carulla and made of untreated pine has a polyester hanging strap; $38 from Luminaire.

A Minimalist Bird Feeder handmade of linden wood is \$34 from The Bird on a Tree via Etsy. — Above: A Minimalist Bird Feeder handmade of linden wood is $34 from The Bird on a Tree via Etsy.

“Hailing from a small village in Poland, which is ‘very close to nature,’ Irek Jastrzíâcki spends his free time creating modern, minimalist accommodations for his favorite garden companions, which he sells through his Etsy shop. Carefully hand-made to withstand the elements, each house or feeder reflects the simple loveliness of nature,” writes Justine, a long time admirer.

See more of his handmade bird feeders at Etsy Find: The World’s Most Stylish Birdhouses

N.B.: Are you searching for the best birders’ shop in the world? See Shopper’s Diary: The Bird Watcher’s General Store in Orleans, Massachusetts. And for more ways to help birds in winter, see: