April 18, 2024
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Down the Garden Path: Guest columnist series--Firewood and birds

By Richard Hentschel, Horticulture Educator (retired), University of Illinois Extension
A cardinal takes two kernels of safflower seed in its beak as it visits a bird feeder in an Ogle County yard.

A cardinal takes two kernels of safflower seed in its beak as it visits a bird feeder in an Ogle County yard. (Earleen Hinton)

With fall well underway and winter approaching, these two topics are popular: how best to help our feathered friends through the winter and tips on firewood for indoor use. Both projects seem simple, yet some level of planning is in order to be sure all goes well. Starting early is the best way to go.

Feathered friends

Feeding birds needs to start sooner than you may think. Birds need to know early on that there will be something to eat on a regular basis if you want them to hang around your yard. Now is the time to get feeders up and secured for the winter. To keep waste to a minimum, consider seed that will more likely attract your favorite birds. This can be more cost effective, as unwanted seed ends up on the ground or patio, attracting ground squirrels and other four-legged critters. Once you choose your birdseed, you need to have the right kind of feeder. You may end up with several feeders catering to a variety of birds. While it is important to start early, be ready to feed all winter long to truly help our feathered friends. Of those feeding the birds, few may think about supplying water, too. Consider birdbaths that have a heating element to keep them from icing solid so water is available all winter, as well.

Firewood and fireplaces

It may not be critical to have the best firewood to burn in an outdoor fire pit, but it is a different story for the indoor fireplace. Choose seasoned firewood that has been cut and split (for logs more than 6 inches in diameter) and dried to reduce moisture content. Clues are a gray color on the ends of a log and check marks showing moisture loss. Firewood should be about 20% to 25% moisture to burn well and limit smoke.

As an additional precaution, when stacking the firewood next to the outside wall of the home, be sure to leave a few inches between for good air movement. If you buy your firewood, keep it dry before you burn it. Make it easier to uncover and recover or you will find yourself leaving the cover off and allowing the wood to reabsorb the water you paid to remove. As a rule, the heavier the firewood given the same moisture content, the more heat it will provide. This is something to consider if you have choices of species when you purchase your firewood.

A few additional tips: It is never a good idea to burn “green” wood in the home fireplace, as it will take heat away from the room and substantially add to creosote buildup in the chimney. Outdoors, it can make so much smoke you cannot sit close enough to enjoy the fire. Also, only bring inside as much firewood as you expect to burn in one week. This is because it takes more than a week usually to “thaw out” any outdoor insects that have decided to hide in cracks and crevices on the bark. Keeping to this rule should keep the insects from wandering around. While they are not likely to do damage indoors, they can be a nuisance.

Whether you plan to watch the birds in your yard and/or gather around the fireplace, be sure to plan ahead and make smart choices to enjoy both activities this coming winter.

Special note: As of April 29, 2022, Richard Hentschel has retired from University of Illinois Extension with nearly 30 years of service as a Horticulture Specialist and Educator in northern Illinois.