January has arrived and we begin the New Year.  Temperatures have dipped to a low so far of -5 degrees and we have a great snow cover on the ground. Our bird friends and squirrels need us this time of year.  Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite among the birds in Northern Michigan. You can keep the squirrels happy with some cracked corn.  Feeding them the corn seems to help keep them off the bird feeders and it's much cheaper than the sunflower seeds. If possible, keep your birds well watered with a heated bird bath. You will be doing them a great service plus it will draw in more birds for your viewing pleasure. We have been enjoying a wide variety of birds and have spotted several Cardinals which we normally don't have around here.  Suet cakes are also a great addition to your feeders and bring in tons of woodpeckers including Piliated. After dark, check out your feeders and you might see a rabbit or two enjoying the spilled seed on the ground around them.