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Autumn Wild Bird Feeding
People with this concern either don’t put out a feeder at all during the summer months, or they bring their bird feeder indoors, early during the fall season, to force the birds to leave. Choice #1: If a person chooses not to participate in summer bird feeding, there is no real loss except their own. There is plenty of food for the wild birds during this season. Choice #2: The latter choice, to bring the feeders in early during the fall season, is a serious mistake. Autumn is the time of year when wild birds are preparing for their long journey to the south. Because they are trying to stock up on body fat, wild birds will frequent feeders more often and remain longer to accomplish this task. If they have become accustomed to your feeders all summer long as a source of food, taking them down to force the birds to leave could cause them some hardship. Wild birds develop a route of several feeding stations which they visit through out the day. In the fall the natural sources they have dined at during the summer may have depleted. Their main source of sustenance may be your feeder. If it is removed before the wild birds have left, they may not have stored up sufficient body fat for a successful bird migration trip. A special reminder: It is very important to keep your feeders clean and filled with fresh food during this time, the same as all summer. But Will They Still Leave, You ask? Natural instinct is a very dominating factor in bird wildlife behavior. There is no need to worry about preventing the birds from going south. When they feel the urge and need to go, they will, regardless of what you do. Therefore you can continue your wild bird feeding practices and leave seed feeders and suet feeders out during the autumn season and continue on into the winter feeding months. There is no reason to bring these feeders in during the fall season.  Always “Buts”! However, some wild bird feeding practices can be curtailed during the autumn months. If you are not going to continue feeding the birds through the winter, leave all seed and suet feeders out until there haven’t been any birds at them for at least two weeks. This also applies to syrup feeders for Hummingbirds and Orioles. They should be left out for at least two weeks after the birds have not been observed at the feeders. Why is this so important you may be asking? First of all, it gives all the regulars time to stock up and get ready for their bird migration trip. Secondly many migrating flying birds will stop along the way to dine at bird feeders to “re-fuel the tank” so to speak. Over time they will come to expect feeders to be available at certain locations along their annual bird migration route. Birds from more northerly regions learn to use your “buffet table” during their autumn flight. The same will occur in the spring when they are making their return trip to the northerly reaches. They will make your bird feeders their usual lay-over if your feeders are available. Red Breasted Grosbeaks and Indigo Buntings are two species that stop at our feeders every year in the spring and autumn. They never hang around our neighborhood for the summer. In the in-between seasons, they provide a unique opportunity for our family to learn about wild bird feeding which we might otherwise never encounter. They will usually stay for two to four days and then be off to their summer or winter homes.
Autumn feeding also offers us the opportunity to view other species who would not normally visit our backyard.  
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Some people think that bird feeding in the autumn is not a good idea. They mistakenly believe that their feeders will keep the birds from migrating.
So remember rather than a disservice, wild bird feeding in the autumn provides very important opportunities for bird wildlife; a vital food source for those backyard birds who have been accustomed to using your feeders and a valuable resource for migrant birds. 
