It's Time to Start Thinking About Feeding the Birds

My thermometer recorded a high temperature of 63 degrees this afternoon -- not bad for the last Sunday in November, but I've got a hunch we won't be seeing readings this high again any time soon.  Most of the birds that travel to more southern latitudes for the winter left this area as the insect populations they typically depend on dwindled down through the autumn months.  Now, as fall winds down and Mother Nature makes the transition into winter, non-migratory wild birds that have been successfully foraging for seeds in the woods, fields and suburban areas will begin to scout out locations where they’ll be able to find a source of food through the colder months.  If you enjoy attracting birds to your yard by putting out birdfeeders, now is the time to make sure that they are ready.

Before you set your feeders out, wash them thoroughly. It is important to start the season with clean feeders and to keep them uncontaminated by washing them every three weeks or so. This is because birds can get sick if they eat moldy or decomposing seeds and hulls that accumulate on feeder trays and in the base of tube feeders. In addition, bird droppings that land on feeders can spread infectious avian diseases. To clean your seed feeders, wash them in hot, soapy water and then soak or rinse them in a solution of one part white vinegar to nine parts water. Be sure to give them a final rinse and let them dry completely before you fill them with seeds!

As the bird feeding season progresses, be sure to clean the ground below your feeders each week. This will prevent uneaten seeds, hulls and other waste from accumulating and becoming moldy. Left on the ground, this debris is quite appealing to pets such as dogs, which can become ill if they consume it. The debris is also likely to attract unwanted rodents to the area.

With your bird feeders in place (try to spread them apart so the birds aren’t all crowded into one small space), you will see more and more birds using them as the weather cools down and their food sources diminish. If there is not a natural water source nearby (a pond or small stream), your feathered friends will appreciate a birdbath or other water feature that you keep clean and filled with fresh water throughout the winter.