Blizzards in the forecast means it's time to prepare your home and vehicles for rough weather. Help the birds prepare too by filling your feeders before the storm. High energy seed like sunflower, nuts, nyjer (thistle) and safflower provide energy to keep birds warm through the long winter nights.

Suet is especially relished in winter many different flavored suets are available, pre-formed and ready to drop in a suet basket. Try a new flavor, or even better, put two suet feeders side-by-side with different flavors and see which one the birds eat up first! Fruit-eating birds like robins and cedar waxwings will feast on the crabapples, beauty berries, hawthorn and viburnum fruits. If you don’t have these, set out chopped apples and pears, and whole raisins and currants, then plant some berry producers in spring. Don’t forget to set out your old Christmas tree for shelter, and put out liquid water on especially cold days. For more winter wildlife tips and information, log-on to galeswestlake.com. You’ll find a fun and educational wildlife section, complete with seasonal birdsong!