Attract birds during migration

Yellow-rumped Warbler

This is the perfect time to attract birds to your backyard that you otherwise might not see. Migrating birds need to stop to refuel so they can continue their long journeys. If you act now, you may be in for a treat or two!

A bird may travel hundreds or thousands of miles during its trip to its wintering grounds in the South or in Mexico, the Caribbean or even South America. They need secure places to roost overnight and food and water to replenish their energy. Keep in mind, they are traveling through unfamiliar territory.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler, for instance, may come to feeders as it passes through the Lehigh Valley area in the fall. They spend their breeding season in Canada, then fly to Virginia and as far south as northern Mexico. A versatile forager, they normally eat insects and fruits but during migration will visit feeders for sunflower seeds, raisins, peanut putter and suet.

Here are some of the things you can do to help these migrants:

First, clean your feeder. Fresh seed is more attractive to birds. A clean feeder also reduces the risk of spreading diseases that could harm species as they travel or winter. The weather is still warm enough to make feeder-cleaning easy outdoors—and a clean feeder is a benefit to resident birds as well. Use a brush to dislodge large particles, then soak the feeder in a diluted solution of bleach and water (1 part bleach: 10 parts water) for disinfectant purposes. Be sure to rinse the feeder thoroughly with plain water to remove any of the bleach. Then allow the feeder to dry thoroughly before restocking with seed.

Offer a variety of different foods. A seed mix containing a variety of sunflower, safflower, white millet, peanuts and other ingredients will ensure that a migrating bird will find something they prefer to eat. Another option is to hang several seed feeders, with specific types of seed, such as one feeder for sunflower chips and another for split peanuts. Remember that some birds will eat from hanging feeders but some will eat only from ground-level feeders.

Don't forget suet, nectar and fruit. Some migrating birds are not seed-eaters. Baltimore Orioles, for instance, will enjoy half an orange for their meal. The Bird House has feeders meant specifically for spearing oranges, apples and other fruit. Offer suet. Many different types of birds will feed from it. You may wish to try a suet blend that contains small insects. This gives migrating birds an additional boost of protein. Many birds are primarily insect-eaters and they may appreciate having a menu that contains both suet and insects. Yet another option is to offer mealworms. These tasty morsels will be enjoyed by almost all kinds of birds. 

Leave birdhouses up to serve as roosting boxes. Migrating birds may use them to stay warm during those chilly autumn nights. Actually you might wish to keep birdhouses throughout the year so birds will always have shelter. Be sure to clean out old nesting material to prevent the spread of disease from bird to bird. Put about a one-inch layer of wood shavings in the bottom.

Keep your bird bath full of water. Migrating birds need water to drink and bathe. After bathing they dry their feathers to enhance their flying ability. It's still not too late to add a moving water feature to your birdbath, whether it is a "Water Wiggler," a mister or dripper. Migrating birds see and hear moving water and will investigate the source. Now is a good time, too, to clean your birdbath.

Provide protection for migrating species.  Migrating birds often fly into windows. Break up the reflection by applying decals or using "Feather Guards" on large windows where birds might strike. These preventative measures are a good idea for the year round but it's even more important when your yard receives visitors unfamiliar with the territory.

Be sure to protect migrating birds—all birds, actually—from backyard predators such as cats. Migrating birds need a safe, secure place for them to feed, drink and bathe in your backyard. Place feeders and baths far enough away from shrubbery so birds have an opportunity to take flight as a stalking cat moves to pounce.

Plan ahead for next autumn's migration. Add late-blooming flowers to your garden to benefit hummingbirds. Fruit-bearing trees and shrubs offer a natural food source for migrants and year-round birds alike. Any fruit that the migrating birds don't eat will be left for your native cardinals and finches to consume during the winter. This is a good time of year to plant trees and shrubs for next year's growth. Nurseries are trying to clear out their stock for the winter, so they usually offer deep discounts. Planting when the weather is cooler and wetter benefits the plant by allowing roots to develop without growth of leaves or branches.

By encouraging migrating birds to visit your backyard, you may see a wider variety of beautiful or uncommon species as they pass through our area.