A high-fat diet… the medical books say it’s just not good for us.

Well, it’s a good thing birds don’t read!

For many of the birds we see here in Mt. Pleasant and the Lowcountry, a diet rich in fat isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Fat is fuel. It’s the most concentrated energy source a bird can consume, and it’s the primary way songbirds power themselves through the challenges of winter.

Even when our winters are mild compared to northern states, staying warm is costly. Birds can spend up to 60% of their daily energy just generating body heat, and during a long winter night, small songbirds may burn through 75–80% of their fat reserves simply to survive until morning.

That means every single day is a race...not just to find enough food to get through daylight hours, but to rebuild fat reserves for the long stretch of darkness overnight.

And that’s where your backyard matters!

If you’ve noticed birds flocking to your feeders first thing in the morning or just before dusk, you’re seeing this survival strategy in action. Those high-fat foods help birds quickly refuel when they need it most.

By offering reliable, energy-dense foods like suet, Winter SuperBlend®, SuperSuet®, and Bark Butter®, you’re doing more than feeding birds. You’re helping make winter a little easier for them.

Watching It All Happen

One of the joys of winter bird feeding is how active feeders become and with today’s smart camera birding systems, many of our customers are seeing this behavior up close for the first time.

From chickadees arriving at dawn to cardinals fueling up before sunset, bird cameras offer a fascinating window into how birds use your feeder throughout the day and night. Our team loves helping customers choose the right camera setup and understand what they’re seeing, whether you’re brand new to bird feeding or have been watching birds for years!

Your Local Backyard Birding Resource

At Wild Birds Unlimited of Mt. Pleasant, we’re here to help you enjoy birds in a way that fits your backyard, your curiosity, and our unique Lowcountry seasons. Whether that’s choosing the right winter food, setting up a feeder system, or exploring smart camera birding, our goal is to help you feel confident and inspired every time you look outside.

We're social! Find us on Instagram @wbumtpleasant and on Facebook at facebook.com/wbumtpleasant!

 

JOIN OUR TEXT CLUB AND STAY IN THE LOOP!

 

---