Summer Bird Feeding Tips

Bird Feeding In Summer Doesn’t Have To Be Hard

I know I’ve already written about the benefits of adding water to attract birds but let me give you a quick rundown of five things I recommend for bird feeding in summer.

If you offer hummingbird nectar, make sure to change it every 3-5 days depending on how warm it is in your neck of the woods.
Fill your feeders with no more than one day’s food to keep your food and birds safe.
Clean your feeders at least once a month with a 10% bleach solution or vinegar.
Think about taking down feeders that are either overcrowded to reduce the chance sickness starting or spreading. This is especially true with house finches.
If you don’t want to offer any food during the summer and still want to see birds keep a birdbath filled and cleaned.

Hummingbird Nectar

The best advice I can give is to be mindful and look at your feeder in the morning and evening. If you see yellowing, change it. If you see bugs in it, see if you can save them. If not, change it. I’ve just read recently that those little bees that die in the nectar emit a foul taste to the hummingbirds.

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This is to say nothing of how dangerous bad nectar is to them. See the article “Loving Hummingbirds To Death” for all you need to read on that.

Day’s Worth of Food

This is another no brainer. Even sunflower seed can go bad quickly if left out in the heat. Make sure you store your food somewhere cool to avoid spoilage BEFORE you even put it out.

When you refill your feeder, start with a small amount (a paper coffee cup for instance) and check it each day to see if it’s emptied.

If it is, add a little bit more by using one of those recyclable big drink cups.

Keep adding a little more each day until you find the amount that has some left over and back off a little and you’re set.

Clean Feeders at Least Once a Month

I admit to being guilty on this item. While I DO dump out the old seed, I do NOT sterilize them often enough. I’m trying to get better at this but I really miss the utility basin I grew up with! I just don’t have a great place to wash feeders which is why I’m the one who cleans out the tub the most lately-LOL!

Taking Down Feeders

This shouldn’t be a hard sell. Summer is the time most birds need the least help finding food.

Plus, you work hard to keep them happy all year long. Why shouldn’t you take a vacation from feeding them?

Believe me, you’ll return to it with increased zeal when that time comes.

Offer Water Only

This is the perfect complement to the taking down feeders idea.

If you want a break from feeding, cleaning, shopping, etc., just make sure you have a good birdbath that you keep filled and cleaned.

Most of the birds you’ve been feeding year round WILL come by for water and will really appreciate it.

Most Of All: Enjoy Your Bird Feeding in Summer

With just a few things to pay attention to, you should find that bird feeding in summer can be very low stress and rewarding!

How about you? Do you have some tips to share with us on how you feed birds in summer? We’d LOVE to hear them! Leave a comment below and let’s start a discussion.

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Best,

Jeff