Summer Bird Feeding Basics

We feed the birds throughout the year because they provide us with many hours of pleasure. We are fascinated by their color, behavior and song and feeding helps to bring them closer to our world. There are many ways that we can help to provide food for the birds in our gardens in the summer months. Birds only obtain 30-40% of their daily requirements at our feeding stations, but during the warmer months we get the chance to watch many aspects of bird behavior and species not around during the winter months.
1. Seed - Feeding with sunflower seed in a hanging feeder is the easiest method to attract in the majority of species. However, there are other seeds available that will help to bring in additional species. These include peanuts, safflower, millet, mixed tree nuts and corn.
2. Thistle/Nyjer – This is used specifically a special feeder to attract American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. Other species such as Chickadees may also eat this seed. Thistle seed needs to be kept fresh and dry and may be combined with ground sunflower hearts to make it more appealing.
3. Suet – Suet is the rendered fat from animal kidneys and is not commercially available in compact blocks. It is commonly combined with seeds, fruits and insects to make it more attractive to birds. Suet Dough is made for summer time use as it has a higher melting point due to added cornmeal.
4. Mealworms – Used primarily to attract Eastern bluebirds, mealworms (dried or fresh) are eaten by many bird species such as Blue Jay, Carolina Wren. They are important as added protein when Bluebirds are feeding their young.
5. Nuts and Fruits – Often included in some food blends because of added protein and fats, nuts and fruits will bring in additional species to your feeding system.
6. Hummingbird Nectar- We all love hummingbirds and they are easy to attract with a good basic feeder and fresh sugar solution. (see attached handout)
7. Water – All birds need water to drink and keep their feathers in good condition. It is important to offer a clean water source as part of your feeder set-up. Moving water attracts even more species, including many that do not readily visit feeders.
8. Natural Plantings – By adding fruiting and seeding plants to your landscape, you can continue to make your property attractive to birds and wildlife.
9. Cleanliness – It is important to keep your feeders clean to prevent outbreaks of disease. Monthly washings with a 10% bleach solution help to achieve this. Also rake up the seed shells below your feeders to prevent waster buildup.

Access to abundant and healthy food supplies is important to birds…regardless of the season. Bird feeders provide a portion of these important nutritional needs for your backyard birds throughout the year.

Birds with access to backyard feeders benefit greatly from their ability to spend less time foraging for food and more time engaging in activities that enhance their health and safety. These activities can include:

Nesting – Feeders allow breeding birds to spend less time searching for food and more time selecting better nesting sites and constructing higher quality nests. Adults will also have more time available for protecting their nest, eggs and young from predators.

Nesting – Research studies have shown that birds with access to bird feeders will often lay their eggs earlier than those without feeders. This is significant because earlier broods typically have better rates of survival and fledging success than later broods.

Nesting – When abundant food is accessible to parent birds, it means that more food is provided to their chicks. This extra nutrition can increase the nestling’s rate of growth and reduce aggression amongst nest siblings.

Nesting – Access to bird feeders allow breeding females to spend less time foraging which leads to better protection of eggs from predators, earlier fledging of the nestlings and higher survival rates of the brood.

Preening –Less time spent foraging, especially during harsh weather conditions provides more time to keep feathers in top flight condition to avoid predators and to insulate themselves from the elements.

Being less vulnerable to predators – Birds are very vulnerable to predators while searching for food, the distraction of foraging results in a reduced ability to focus on dangers and threats from predators. Less time spent foraging means more time spent being vigilant in spotting a predator in time to successfully evade it.

Molting – Molting takes tremendous energy and nutrient resources for birds. The lack of an abundant and healthy food supply may result in the impaired ability to obtain the proper pigmentation for molting feathers and can lead to defects in feather formation such as being weak, frayed or curved.

Summer Feeding - Feeding your birds in the summer will not make them too lazy, too dependent or keep them from migrating at the appropriate time. These misconceptions have been dispelled by modern research and observation.

Summer Feeding - Contrary to popular belief, recent research shows summer to be the most abundant season for birds to visit feeders.