Spring Can Sneak Up On You
As winter starts relenting in my part of the woods, I realize it won’t be long until my winter visitors depart and the spring and summer ones start showing up. I’ve seen an increase in house finch feeding which means I’ve really got to make sure to get and keep those feeders clean. I don’t want them spreading the eye disease that can spread like wildfire unchecked.
Changing Finch Feeders
I’ve already replaced my two upside down goldfinch feeders this week because the old ones needed cleaned and they haven’t been performing. Every time it rains, the water runs down the hanging wire and drips into the tube to soak the bottom seeds. I’ve wasted way too much time and seeds on those to keep them. I’m hoping the new ones will drip outside of the tube since there is not a central connecting rod that the hanging wire attaches to. We’re going to get rain today so we’ll see how it goes. They are Woodlink Tails Up feeders and I’ll be reporting on them soon.
I’ll be taking down my feeders and cleaning them with brushes and a 10% bleach solution over the next few days. I’ll also be cleaning out my nestboxes that have been used as roosting boxes this winter by woodpeckers.
It Doesn’t Have To Be All Or Nothing
Do a little at a time if you’ve got a lot of feeders or just fill the bathtub one day and do them all at once. We don’t have a utility basin in our house so that’s what I have to do. Don’t forget to allow them to soak a little to loosen stuff and use brushes and tube brushes to make your job easier. Also make sure to let them dry completely before putting them back up. A hair dryer can speed the process up and help to get the tough to dry nooks and crannies dry without having to wait days.
Don’t forget to clean your birdbath with your bleach solution too!
That way, all your arriving and remaining friends will find your yard irresistible.
Happy Cleaning!
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