Feeding Birds Safely in the Summer

By Marcey White

It is the peak of summer here on the shoreline, and along with cookouts, camping trips, parades, and other outdoor activities, we go about our days in the backyard trying to stay cool and in the shade. Meanwhile, birds are experiencing their own summer ventures...plant life is blooming and fruiting, and delicious insects are bountiful. Because of this, many think that feeding birds in summer is unnecessary, a waste of money, or even bad for them by keeping a steady source of food available to them will make them "forget" to migrate home for the winter and thus perish in our cold winters. 

This has been found to be untrue, as birds have hardwired instincts to get moving when the time is right. Feeders provide only a small percentage of their diet. As for the argument of it being unnecessary and a waste of money, it's all about how you look at it and what it's worth to have these magical beings grace your backyard feeders with their vibrant summer breeding colors and melodical songs of summer. When presented with the correct offerings, you can seduce migratory birds to your feeders that you cannot see here in wintertime, like the splendid orioles and hummingbirds. 

Feeding birds in summer is becoming more popular as conservation awareness spreads and people become more aware of the rapidly dwindling numbers of birds. Nearly 3 billion birds gone since 1970. I can speak all day on the why's, but in essence, we are making it harder and harder on birds to thrive. So why not help out by providing an easy, nutritious, and safe place for them to stop and gain some respite from travel or parenting? After all, who doesn't appreciate a well-managed and clean rest stop on their way down to Florida? I bet all you "snowbirds" do! 

Summer bird feeding is just different than winter feeding. Summer brings heat and humidity, and with that comes a few challenges to be aware of.

Uneaten seed will become moldy and unhealthy if allowed to get wet from rains then stew in the sun. Some molds are even deadly. If you find this occurring, fill feeders only half way. Let the seed rotate out quicker so it is not sitting in those hot plastic tubes for days on end. Move feeders around occasionally to keep the ground clear of decomposing seed hulls and bird excrement, or with a thorough sweep or rake. This can prevent serious outbreaks like salmonellosis. Regardless of the time of year, it is important to regularly clean your feeders. To clean your feeder, take it apart and use a dishwasher on a hot setting or hand wash either with soap and boiling water or with a dilute bleach solution (no more than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling. If you're going to start complaining about how much work this cleaning entails, either accept this responsibility or don't feed the birds at all. Their mortality can depend on it. 

Hummingbirds are here, and in full force. Avoid red-dyed nectar and mixes as it does nothing. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. Yes, red attracts hummingbirds, and that is why most of their feeders are red, but the color of the nectar is irrelevant to them. There is no scientific proof that the petroleum-based dye, red dye #40, is harmless to birds. Conversely, there is compelling evidence from experienced rehabbers that consumption of this red dye (which isn't regulated as to how much can be added by a manufacturer) causes a higher mortality rate and tumors of the bill and liver in hummingbirds. There is no benefit to using dyes in nectar, and there is every reason not to do so. 

Instead, save yourself money and make your own nectar. It is cheap and easy! The mix that closely matches natural nectar is a 4 to 1 ratio of water to plain granulated sugar. That's 4 cups of water to every one cup of sugar. Simply stir until the solution becomes clear. With any nectar solution, commercial or homemade, empty and clean feeders every few days as nectar does go rancid. Placing nectar feeders in shady areas is also highly recommended. 

Watch your suet feeders for melting suet. Birds are at high risk of damaging their feathers by getting gooey, sticky, melted suet on them. I recommend either placing suet feeders in the shade or switching to suet nuggets offered in a tray feeder. Avoid peanut butter for this reason as well. 

Grape jelly and sliced oranges are my favorite offerings in summer. Not only do Orioles go crazy for it, so do the crazy Catbirds, and when these two species try to get their share at the same time it can lead to some funny antics. Woodpeckers also greatly appreciate the oranges and you can catch them stabbing away at orange flesh with their strong beaks. Like any fresh fruit, change any uneaten jelly and oranges out for new every few days to avoid it rotting and clean the feeder. 

Lastly, one element that is so important and overlooked is water. In some areas clean water to bathe in and drink is hard to find. Even offering a big wide shallow bowl of water in the shade helps a great deal after nibbling on seed and suet, while giving birds a means to keep those feathers in top shape with bathing. Misters set with timers will even "train" hummingbirds to stop by at a given time for a quick rain shower and cooling off. Bird baths and fountains attract bird species that won't come to a feeder, like Robins. Just like your feeders, keep birdbaths healthy for birds by cleaning with a scrub brush and change the water daily to prevent algae. 

Maintaining a clean, hygienic space for birds to eat, drink, and bathe during summer will bring much joy and benefits to the birdwatcher. Parent birds will bring their fledglings with them to feeders and things can get very entertaining when watching them learn to be birds. It's been proven that bird watching has a positive impact on our mental health while reconnecting us to nature...so I encourage anyone that feeds birds in winter to try feeding them in summer, too!

This article was originally published in Shoreline Connections by the Shoreline Chamber