Take a Late Summer Bird Feeding Break

The Best Time for a Bird Feeding Break

Every year about this time I’m wondering why I keep putting out food for the few birds that are coming. Why I’m still cleaning, raking and buying new seed. After all, most of my visitors are off doing other things. This year, I finally took a bird feeding break. I’d like to talk about why you should still consider it before the cold weather sets in. Plus, I’ll give you some tips to do it as painlessly as possible.

Reasons Why You Should Take a Break

We all know the huge investment of time that bird feeding represents. There’s the buying, filling and cleaning of feeders. The buying of seed. Raking and cleaning of the feeding areas. Not to mention the cleaning and filling of bird baths. It can all seem like a never ending job. That’s not why we started doing it but that’s often what it becomes.

Here are some of the few reasons I decided to take a bird feeding break this year.

Besides hummingbirds, I really don’t have much feeder activity.
My feeders can all use a good cleaning before the cold weather gets here.
Gave me a chance to decide which feeders I’m going to use this year.
Deciding what to put in them.
Stock up on that food.
Give myself a break from the routine that allowed me to fill that time with other pursuits. Reading, for instance.
Let the huge flock of house finches that were emptying my feeders dissipate. Reducing the chance for the eye disease return before the busy months.

Tips To Help Your Bird Feeding Break

Make sure you take down your feeders for at least TWO weeks! Mine have been down over a month.
Don’t worry about losing your birds. They WILL return. I promise you.
Don’t go half in. The only feeder I keep changing is my hummingbird feeder because they really need it right now.
Take the time to thoroughly clean or replace those feeders. If you have a problem with squirrels, I highly recommend Brome bird feeders.
Stock up on the seed you’ll be offering this year. This avoids at least the initial run to the bird store, co-op or Walmart right after it gets cold.
Consider moving your feeders if they’re not in the optimal place for your comfortable viewing from inside.

Final Thoughts

I live outside Nashville. I know many of you live in colder and warmer climates. What I would suggest is that you adapt your bird feeding break to a similar season for you. I have a friend, Kathy, who lives in Australia and her seasons are the opposite of mine. No matter. She can just bookmark this post and wait for her late summer to get there-LOL!

My message is this: take a bird feeding break when you know your birds really don’t need your help. Make the adjustment for your part of the world. Generally, the best time is between summer and fall. But you know best where you live. Whatever time of year that is.

Taking Action

I hope this post has helped you come up with a plan to take a bird feeding break. If it’s the right time of year for you right now, by all means go do it!

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Take that break if you can!

Jeff

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