Summer Bird Feeding or Not?

…is the question many bird watchers ask!

Summer bird feeding in your backyard is very rewarding, both for you and the wild birds. Some people are of the opinion that it is not necessary to feed the wild birds during the summer. The truth is that it is never necessary for us to feed wild birds at any time of year. Birds have survived for thousands of years without our help. It is only for our pleasure and curiosity that we lure them to our yards with bird feeders.

White Breasted Nuthatch munching suet ball.

Summer bird feeding provides the potential of attracting a far greater variety of birds than in the winter bird feeding season. Summer is the most heavily bird populated season for the northern United States and Canada. If a bird feeder is only put out in the winter, the opportunity to observe the birds during their active summer season will be missed.

Numerous wild birds return in the spring to nest and raise their baby birds. This behaviour will repeat itself many times over the course of the summer as some species may raise two to four families in one season. Summer bird feeding increases a bird watcher’s opportunity to witness these wonderful events.

American Goldfinch in breeding plumage.

The parent birds will bring their young to backyard bird feeders after the young have fledged from the bird nest. This provides a fascinating occasion to see the parents feeding their young. They will be using the bird food from your feeder too! These are moments that you will not want to miss and will be able to witness while summer bird feeding.

Some birds, such as the American Goldfinch, will be dressed in their mating plumage for the summer season. The male Goldfinch keeps his bright yellow colour most of the summer. Then they begin to turn back to the yellowy green colour of the female.

To attract these beautiful birds for backyard bird watching, put out a specially adapted feeder filled with nyjer, as this tiny black seed is their favourite food.

With a Variety of Food

Summer bird feeding with suet may sound like a paradoxical statement.

But it is an additionally entertaining bird food. This type of suet mixture is heated so that it resists melting during higher summer temperatures. It should not contain preservatives. It is best to hang it in shade where it will be a little cooler.

Parent birds of many species will feed suet to their young as an energy booster to their diet. Woodpeckers, Chickadees and Nuthatches who are the birds we usually think of as suet eaters, will appreciate the year round consistency of having this food in the summer as well.

Syrup feeders for Hummingbirds and Orioles are also exciting summer bird feeding venues. We have had a pair of orioles using our feeder for a number of years. The male always brings the young with him to the feeder when they are old enough. There are many other species who will also be attracted to this delicious sweet treat.

Fruit feeders are also a simple way to attract different birds which do not frequent seed feeders. Fresh fruit served up fresh daily, such as oranges, grapes, bananas or apples will be a welcome wild bird food by many.

Sharing your morning breakfast jelly is another treat birds attracted to syrup feeders and fruit will also enjoy. Grape jelly and apple jelly are two favourites but experimenting with other flavours can also be very rewarding.

Another type of delectable wild bird dish that can be added to the summer bird feeding buffet table is a meal worm feeder. At first thought this may not appeal to some bird watchers. But learning that Blue Birds, Warblers and other insect eating species will be the grateful diners, helps to take the distaste away for serving such a meal. Meal worms are often sold in pet stores or they can be mail ordered.

Robin enjoying a bath.

Wild birds require water like all living creatures. They need it for drinking, bathing and when all of their other needs are met, frolicking!

Bird baths will also attract birds which normally will not come to traditional bird feeders for seed.

Patience with new bird feeders and baths is mandatory! It takes time for wild birds to adjust to any changes in a backyard.

It is best to place new feeders at least ten feet away from existing feeders until visitors are frequenting the new addition. It can then be moved if desired.

The only caution around summer bird feeding is the concern for cleaning feeders often enough to prevent bacteria build up. Bacteria will grow more quickly in the heat of the summer.

If the food in a feeder is spoiling before it is eaten, put smaller amounts in the feeder. Secondly, if it is the seed feeder that is the problem, purchase a better quality seed with no fillers.

Poor quality mixed seed contains types of milo and sorghum, seed that wild birds don’t eat. The result is the seed sits and rots, either in the feeder or on the ground where the birds have tossed it, causing the perfect environment for disease.

Wash your seed feeders once a month depending on the number of birds you have visiting your feeders and the temperature.

Wood, metal or plastic perches and feeding portals, can be wiped off more frequently with a weak bleach solution, to help prevent the spread of salmonella during summer bird feeding.

Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird enjoying a moment at a syrup feeder.

Cleaning feeders such as syrup, fruit and suet feeders will have to be carried out more frequently in warm weather, ranging from once per week to everyday.

The same concern for bacterial growth and spread of disease applies to bird baths. But for some parts of North America in particular, there is the threat of West Nile Disease.

This disease is carried by the mosquito which breeds in still water. It is necessary to empty bird baths daily for this reason and refill them with fresh water.

Every third day they should be given a thorough cleaning with a small amount of detergent and disinfectant. Then rinsed very well.

Important note: Do not take feeders of any type down to force the finish of the summer bird feeding season. This can cause wild birds undo hardship in the autumn months, as they are stocking up on body fat for their migration journey. Wait until no birds have been observed at the feeder for two weeks. Keep them fresh and clean as usual. (For further information why this is so important read the page on “Autumn Wild Bird Feeding”.)

The pleasures and excitement of summer feeding will far out way the trouble!

Hummingbird Feeder: Your Own Backyard Gallery of Artistic Delight

What Other Guests Will a Bluebird Feeder Invite?

Enhancing Bird Gardens with Bird Baths