Let Birds Do Your Pest Control

We are in the thick of winter up in Minne"snow"ta. That means our birds are extra hungry. We want to keep them eating voraciously this spring and summer to help our gardens. The trick: Get as many suet feeders as you can, along with a mix full of nuts to attract meat-eating birds, such as woodpeckers and nuthatches. As soon as it warms up, take away all of the bird feeders. This way they will eat your pesky bugs as much as possible instead of filling up on seed. I know, it is fun to watch birds, but won't it be even more thrilling to see them nab a grasshopper that is munching on your prize edibles?

One more thing: Provide our avian friends with fresh water.