Seasonal Backyard Wildlife Checklist - Central Ohio/ Columbus Region
SPRING: March – May
What’s happening: Migration, nesting, insect emergence
Birds
☐ Clean and disinfect feeders before heavy use
☐ Put out mealworms for bluebirds & robins
☐ Offer nesting materials (dryer lint in mesh, twigs, pet hair)
☐ Watch for: Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Warblers, Orioles
Insects
☐ Delay heavy garden cleanup (protect overwintering pollinators)
☐ Plant early bloomers (columbine, native phlox)
☐ Spot first butterflies: Mourning Cloak, Eastern Comma
Mammals
☐ Expect increased squirrel & rabbit activity
☐ Check yards for fawns or baby rabbits before mowing
☐ Secure trash (raccoons reemerge)
SUMMER: June – August
What’s happening: Feeding young, pollinator peak season
Birds
☐ Add fresh water (bird baths, fountains)
☐ Switch to sunflower chips (less mess, fewer pests)
☐ Reduce feeder use in extreme heat if birds rely on insects
Insects
☐ Peak butterfly & bee activity
☐ Plant milkweed, coneflower, bee balm
☐ Leave some bare soil for ground-nesting bees
Mammals
☐ Deer browsing increases
☐ Groundhogs may appear near gardens
☐ Keep pet food indoors
FALL: September – November
What’s happening: Migration, winter prep
Birds
☐ Resume regular feeding
☐ Offer suet for woodpeckers
☐ Watch for: White-throated Sparrows, Juncos, Hawks
Insects
☐ Leave seed heads and stems standing
☐ Avoid pesticides (late-season pollinators still active)
Mammals
☐ Squirrels caching food
☐ Raccoons fattening up for winter
☐ Check sheds & garages for unwanted nesting
WINTER (December–February)
What’s happening: Survival mode
Birds
☐ Keep feeders full during snow/ice
☐ Provide high-fat foods (suet, peanuts)
☐ Watch for: Cardinals, Chickadees, Tufted Titmice
Insects
☐ Leave leaf piles undisturbed
☐ Observe overwintering egg cases and cocoons
Mammals
☐ Track animal footprints in snow
☐ Avoid feeding deer
☐ Secure compost bins
