Where are all my feeder birds?

My feeders were busy before the storm (January 16, 2022) and they haven't been back yet (January 19). I have a heated bird bath that they never bathe in but do drink out of. Where do they go? It was pretty nice yesterday, why don't they come out? Are the feeders at The West Woods also abandoned at this time?

Birds will increase winter feeding before a big storm to gain extra energy or to cache or hide food in case food sources get covered up. That being said, birds have several food sources in their territories that they can visit from day to day. It isn’t unusual for them to “disappear” for a few days after a snow storm like the one we just had. They most likely picked one or two areas to feed from to expend less energy while it is colder and the snow is deep. They should return soon.

The other reason birds abandon feeding areas is because the food can become wet and moldy in heavy precipitation, so you’ll want to make sure the food in your feeders is fresh. That way, when they do return, they will want to feed.

Thanks for your question!

-Naturalist Renell Roebuck