Midwinter in your yard is for the birds

This is a good time of year in the Chicago area to monitor your plants for animal damage and to do some pruning. Other than that, the outdoor gardening season is slow.

You can still garden indoors by growing herbs. Sow seeds of parsley, oregano, sage and dwarf basil in clay pots. Once they germinate, place them under grow lights and water them when they are very dry. Fertilize the plants with a half-strength solution of liquid fertilizer.

Learn your birds

Before you try to attract birds to your garden, learn what species are in your area at this time of year, their food preferences and their feeding habits. For example, some birds such as mourning doves are ground feeders, while others — including the Illinois state bird, the cardinal — prefer to visit bird feeders.

Regularly stocking your bird feeders with their favorite foods will increase the chances that birds will continue to visit your garden. Safflower seed, sunflower hearts and millet are preferred by many species of birds including cardinals, chickadees and nuthatches.

Suet cakes, especially popular in winter, are made of seed, nuts and fat products. They are a high-energy food and are attractive to various species.

Consider using a high-quality birdseed that does not have filler in your feeder. These fillers, like oats, barley or red millet, end up on the ground because most birds don’t eat them. Try a “no mess” blend that comes in pieces and in which seeds do not have shells to reduce waste.

Oh, deer

You may end up attracting deer to your garden from the bird feeding. This has happened in past years in our home garden. New deer tracks showed up in the snow in our backyard shortly after we started feeding birds. Hungry deer can quickly clean out a bird feeder, so install it at 7 to 8 feet above the ground.

Then clean up spilled seed that attracts deer that will also feed on other plants, especially yews and arborvitae in your garden.

Some birds feed on the ground, so it can be a balancing act on your part to limit the amount of seed on the ground to deter deer while also leaving some for the ground-feeding birds.

Two of our dachshunds made regular visits to the bird feeder to clean up seed on the ground. Continue monitoring to prevent them from eating too much seed.

Birds need water

If possible, provide a source of water for birds. Place a water basin in a sunny location to help keep it from freezing; though a heated birdbath is ideal. To prevent damage to the birdbath if it goes dry, purchase one with an automatic shut-off valve or heat cycling on-off switch. It is best to use a grounded, three-pronged outlet.

Avoid birdbaths that have an uncovered heating element, as this can burn the birds’ feet if they land on it. Placing a flat piece of shale over the heating element will provide a warm rock for birds to perch on to rest or drink and will prevent any accidental injury. Change the water regularly to keep it clean for the birds to drink.

• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.