A shock of bright red against the grey of the bare trees, steely pane of the lake, and overcast sky just caught my eye. It's a Red-bellied woodpecker, hopping from branch to branch on my Chinese maple tree.

That's one of the few birds I recognize. Most of them get lumped into broad categories: "seagulls," "songbirds," "mosquitoes." No wait, those aren't really birds. They just seem that large. Especially when they bite.

Generally, winter is not too much of a challenge for birds which are native to Delmarva or those who migrate here from harsher climates up north. This winter is different. The heavy rains and snow have flooded feeding grounds . The windstorms plummeted temperatures, making it hard for the birds to just stay warm, much less seek out food.

To stay warm, birds do a couple of things. One is to fluff up their feathers to create a higher R-value by creating more air space and more insulation. The other is to boost their metabolic rate.

There's not much we can do to help with the insulation, except to plant shrubs and evergreens to provide shelter in bad weather. During one storm last winter, birds took advantage of the lack of a bottom seal on my garage door to take shelter in my husband's workshop.

But we can provide the high-calorie, high-fat foods they need to burn for energy. Different birds like different types of feeders, but spreading seed on a porch railing or tossing it on the ground will serve the purpose. If you pick just one seed, make it black oil sunflower seeds. Most birds like it, and it has a high fat and calorie content than most other seeds. Suet is another great food -- pure fat. You can often find it with seeds mixed in. Peanut butter, with a similar high fat content, is also a good choice. You can spread peanut butter mixed with seeds into pine cones and hang them from tree branches. Yes, that will also attract squirrels, but they need to eat, too.

Providing a source of open water is important, too. If you have a bird bath, check your local feed, hardware, or outdoor supply store to buy a heater. They run around $30.

If you are like me, these cold, indoor days are perfect for learning to recognize the feathered aviators who are toughing it out with us this winter. Birdwatchers' Digest Magazine has a fantastic on-line field guide. (http://tinyurl.com/yhv6j3d). As you scroll down the list of birds, you'll see a photo of each one. Click on it and the listing expands to tell you more about the bird and its habits. Then click on the audio icon and hear 30 seconds or so of that bird's song, cry, or call. Very cool. You'll feel like it's summer again!