We live out in the country and have a gravel driveway. After it snows, we drive over the snow to compact it, then throw the seed down there where the birds can see it. But the other day, I actually saw birds digging down into snow to the seeds, so they can do that too. But if the snow is really deep, I just use the areas in the drive where the car has driven.

I do light shoveling of small areas or sometimes just stomp an area to compact the snow. I also throw seed under evergreens where the snow is usually limited. Big hollies and rhododendrons and similar shrubs/small trees are good for shelter - the disadvantage is that you can't see the birds there but I figure that their feeding is more important than my viewing.

Bluestone paths are shoveled for people and I can share parts of them with the birds.

Claire

Thank you both. I finally just put a big piece of cardboard down and threw some seeds on it. It was snowing so hard that the shoveled area AND the cardboard became covered in just a few minutes, but it did seem easier for the birds to get to the seed on the cardboard, as it didn't sink into the ground.There was so much snow I couldn't easily get to the areas with the evergreens, but think I'll try tomorrow.

I think compacting it is a great idea for next time (or maybe tomorrow). I also thought I might get out my garden umbrella and open it laying on the ground to see if it protects enough of an area to keep the snow off the seed. But we received almost 2 feet of snow in the last 2 days so I just couldn't manage anything quite so complicated after the fact.

Thanks, TXSkeeter. Those are good ideas. I was frustrated that the seed (whatever I put it on) was immediately covered by snow. The birds would get a bit of it, but once it wasn't visible, they didn't dig for it (bird brains, I guess, lol). I didn't think of it until it had stopped snowing, and I don't know if it might work, but I have some extra outside large garbage cans and I'm wondering if I put one on its side and sprinkled seed in it, if the birds would risk wandering into the "tunnel" to get the seed. It would keep the snow off of the seed inside, but I just don't know if the birds would go in there to get it. I'll try it if we get more snow (predicted for next week maybe) and report back, in case anyone else is as stumped as I've been.

The good thing about the frisbees is they'd be easier to find in the snow than the white bucket lids (I've used those before but couldn't put my hands on them this time). The cardboard worked pretty well, and I have a small outdoor doormat that is constructed of something that their feet wouldn't get caught on, that I also threw out there with seed on it. I did see the Varied Thrushes eating the seed from it, so that worked, too.

Might take a pretty decent size piece of cardboard but if you were to make a "tent" aka an upside down vee with it the birds might be more interested in going under it than the closed end trashcan although in snowy conditions, I'd be tempted to try about anything I had on hand. If they get hungry enough, they're probably not too picky as to method as long as it suits their immediate need. The only reason they wouldn't go in/under could be a natural aversion to a dark or confined space that might hide a predator.

If you have a overhanging bush that could be draped with an old sheet or your cardboard, the seed could go underneath while more snow would stay on top, at least until the cover blew away or got so soggy that it collapsed.

I often think of our efforts (including my own at times) to respond to short term wildlife needs as having to be humanly artsy, tasteful, or required to be to be long term fixes rather than just a quick fix that may not even be needed several days down the line.

Just throwing out more ideas here...

I just shovel around and under the feeder when I'm cleaning sidewalk and drive. My problem is the squirrels eating everything.