Tips for Summer Bird Feeding

Many people think once they put up their hummingbird feeders they should take down their other feeders. That’s not necessary though. Feeding birds in the summer can be a very rewarding endeavor. Although you might not have as wide a variety of species (I have counted as many as 28 species at one time in the winter but only 10-15 in the summer) you will be surprised at who does show up.

It is true birds tend to switch to a diet to include more insects during the spring and summer, especially for their offspring. Plus there is a wider variety of natural foods available. However, birds are like people, they like the convenience of fast food. Especially when they are trying to fledge their offspring. Watching cardinals, titmice, chickadees and even finches bring their progeny into the feeder is a real delight. It is fascinating to watch the variety of behaviors that unfolds through the summer.

Eastern bluebird feeding young Photo ©Dave Poortvliet

Summer bird feeding can also bring you different species, such as neotropical migrants that aren’t around in winter. It’s also a fun time to try offering some different kinds of foods. Here are some tips for creating a summertime backyard buffet that might bring a few new faces to your feeders.

Dr. David Bonter has been studying feeder birds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for over a decade. During his research, he fills and maintains more than a dozen bird feeders around Ithaca, New York. Here are his tips for safe bird feeding in summer.

• Switch the type of food you offer. Goldfinches need thistle. I put away the suet and have a feeder with shelled peanuts instead. You may also want to switch to shelled sunflower seeds as well, fewer shells to get moldy.

• Keep your seed dry. Hot, humid summer weather creates the potential for mold. “Some molds produce the by product aflatoxin, which is fatal to birds,” Bonter says. He suggests filling feeders halfway in summer and refilling frequently, instead of packing feeders full so the seed sits for long periods. If you find mold on your seed, get rid of it.

• Only fill your feeders halfway. Because parents are feeding young protein and there is probably a lot of natural food around, the feeders won’t be as active as they are in the winter. Filling them only halfway will help avoid the mold issue.

• Move feeders occasionally. Concentrations of seed hulls and bird droppings under a feeder can lead to outbreaks of salmonellosis, a bacterial sickness that can affect birds (and people). Move feeders around the yard and don’t allow waste to build up in one area.

• Put suet in the shade. Some packaged suet comes in no-melt varieties, but even these can spoil or become soft and foul a bird’s feathers in high heat. Keep suet in cool places. Or, switch to a hummingbird feeder in summer.

• Clean your feeders regularly. Washing feeders roughly every two weeks will keep your feeders both attractive and healthy for your guests. To clean your feeder, take it apart and hand wash either with soap and boiling water or with a dilute bleach solution (no more than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling.

• Plant natives. Of course, there are a good number of birds in my yard during the summer that do not frequent the feeder at all – catbirds, vireos, gnatcatchers, phoebes. The native plants I have in my yard are their feeders.

Brown Thrasher Photo ©Jim Guyton

Don’t forget the Water! Water is essential during the long, hot, days of summer. Even if you choose not to provide bird seed during the summer, you should provide water. It will also attract birds that do not eat seeds such as tanagers and phoebes. In addition to needing water to drink, birds need water to bath. Hummingbirds particularly like to fly through misters. Like feeders, water containers need to be kept clean. Regular cleaning also cuts down on insect larvae. Use a birdbath wiggler which keeps the water moving to discourage mosquitoes from breeding.