Summer Bird Feeding

Male house sparrow at
sunflower feeder

Do you feed birds in the summer? Should you? Most people remove all of their feeders in the summer, except their hummingbird feeders. 

The reasons? Feeding the birds is expensive, and there is more available food from natural sources in the summer.

However, I do feed the birds in the summer, although I do feed a lot less. Why do I choose to feed in the summer? 

I still like to see the birds and the feeders do bring them where I can see them. Although I get mostly unexciting birds like the house sparrow pictured, I do get some of the birds I prefer.

Another reason to feed in the summer is to help out the parent birds. Although birds primarily focus on insects in the summer to feed their young, parents are run ragged trying to keep baby mouths full, so easy access to some seed helps the parents stay healthy.

I hang four feeders in the summer: a hummingbird nectar feeder, a sunflower (or mixed food) feeder, a shelled peanut feeder, and a safflower feeder. In the winter I usually have at least four more feeders going. Sometimes more. 

Why these four feeders? I think the hummingbird feeder is self-explanatory. I feed black oil sunflower because it appeals to more types of birds than other foods, and it tends to be less expensive than a seed mix. When I feed a mix, I choose one that is predominantly black oil sunflower. This is also the feeder that the squirrels like, and I do love to watch the squirrels. The safflower is for the cardinals, although house finches also seem to like it. Unfortunately, the white-winged doves also like safflower, and yes, the buggers can hang on to a tube feeder. The peanut feeder is for my woodpeckers. However, since the starlings have discovered the peanuts, they prefer that one. Fortunately, I don't have many starlings. And I love my woodpeckers. They will eat the sunflower seed, but in the summer, peanuts are their preference.

In the summer, I only add food once a day. When it's gone, it's gone. Sometimes, I may skip a day.

Don't forget water. If you don't want to feed, at least provide water. You may have to fill your bird bath multiple times a day when it is hot. If your bird bath is deep, then add some rocks to create some shallower pools for the smaller birds. The birds also appreciate a mister if you have one.

Keep your feeders clean. A good scrub once a week is good. As always, watch for any birds that appear to be ill. If you see sick birds, take your feeders down immediately and clean them thoroughly. Wait 10 days before putting them back up. 

Good birding!