Feeding the birds during the summer is not just for Hummingbirds anymore! If you’re like most folks, you feed the birds in your backyard during the winter, while in the summer you change to feeding the hummingbirds – allowing the songbirds to forage for food on their own when insects, seeds and fruits appear plentiful. It is true that spring and summer bring a bounty of foods needed by most birds, and the dependence on backyard feeders may diminish. However, in times of drought, extreme heat and other extreme weather, birds do well with filled feeders nearby. This can be especially true during the summer when bird pairs are actively raising their young. For example, you may have a variety of feeders including suet logs and cages, tube feeders for seed and thistle, a fly-through, a woodpecker feeder and a dome feeder for the bluebirds. It is also a good idea to have shade trees and various shrubs for the birds to nest in. Cardinals, catbirds, thrashers, chickadees, wrens and many other birds sit in treetops or shrubbery, whistling, calling or flying from tree to feeders and back. It is evident that the birds are actively using the feeders to supplement the diets of their young. By feeding birds in the summer, you can enjoy increased involvement with more species and in different cycles of their lives. You can put suet out in the summer in smaller amounts and in the shade. Woodpeckers will bring their young to the suet to give them a head-start in nutrition. It is a delight to see parent woodpeckers pick up pieces of suet and feed it to their young. Water is also critical to birds’ survival. Moving or flowing water will attract the most birds because it is more visible and they can hear it from a great distance. You can add movement to your birdbath by placing a “Water Wiggler” in it. This a small devise powered by a battery which gently makes a ripple in the water. Birds also need water in the winter. A heated bird bath will provide drinkable water that birds do not have to use body heat to melt first. Heaters can be added to regular bird baths or special heated baths can be used. Water should be kept fresh and clean, but no chemicals should be used to purify water. We love this quote…”Nature is a stress reliever from God – take time today to listen to the Birds Sing.”
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:55:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015