A blue jay fills up its stomach at a bird feeder. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Continued frigid temperatures and even ground-covering snow or ice has made this winter inconvenient enough for us humans, but it has been even worse for the backyard birds whose bright plumage and peppery work ethic make them seem friendly and neighborly.

Many homeowners put out bird feeders and other devices to help their feathered friends find the food they need.

Birds of various sizes and personalities plow through the nasty weather seeking a daily dose of seeds, suet, peanut butter and dried fruits, when they aren’t hunkered down in a conifer or other tree in the backyard.

There must be a pipeline of sorts these birds use to communicate with one another, because when one or two birds finds a bonanza of food, in no time others have joined the party and are flitting about finding sustenance.

Feeders placed in an area where trees with year-round foliage are available seem to be the preference of these hard workers. The birds, whether they be red-bellied woodpeckers, flickers, purple finches or cardinals, prefer readily available shelter if they are disturbed while feeding.

Some of the smaller species such as juncos, chickadees, tufted titmice, goldfinches and towhees are able to fit comfortably into areas where they can gobble down food, either from hanging feeders or from the ground.

Some of the larger winter birds such as mourning doves, blue jays or even mockingbirds prefer to get their food from the ground.

The variety of seeds helping their neighbors through the nastiest winter days is large. Pumpkin seeds, hulled sunflower seeds. black oil sunflower seeds and stripped sunflower seeds are most welcomed.

Cracked corn, thistle seeds, oats and sorghum are also readily accepted.

The liveliest of dance-about nuthatches and house finches are not particular as to the fare they want. The downy woodpecker and red-headed woodpecker seek suet, nyjer seeds, peanut butter, safflower and white millet. The millet seeds resemble white BBs and can be given in a feeder or from the ground.

The bright blue and generally vocal blue jays will covet peanuts that have been broken into smaller pieces, but will also carry off the full-sized nuts themselves.

The actual feeders come in all shapes and sizes. Tubes, devices with wooden roofs and trays on two sides, suet holders made with metal mesh that allows the birds to peck away at the valued fat or rounded devices that allow multiple birds to all eat at one time are readily available and easy enough to place where the birds can have access to the winter-time delights.

We may be in for a warm-up of sorts next week, but these last few days have been hard on man or beast or bird.

Should Punxsutawney Phil be right in his forecasting that there will be six more weeks of winter, then the backyard birds will need all the help they can get.