Where are my birds?

Ready for the birds

People sometimes will ask why they suddenly have no songbirds coming to their feeders. What's going on?

Unfortunately there is no simple answer to this question. A lot of factors could be involved, so you may have to play detective on this case. 

One possible explanation is that birds of prey—particularly hawks—have moved into the neighborhood. The songbirds understandably stay away. They'll feed elsewhere for the time being but eventually should return to your feeder once the hawk moves on.

Cats can be a problem. Feral cats and house cats left to roam outdoors could be frightening your birds away, especially if the songbirds are primarily ground-feeders. As with birds of prey, cats are predators that look for an easy meal. First, please keep cats indoors. Feral cats are harder to deal with. Cats are opportunistic killers. Remove your ground feeder for a week or two. Place your feeders 10 to 15 feet away from any dense foliage or brush pile. That gives birds a chance to fly off if a cat lunges at them.

Weather patterns sometimes cause birds to relocate. This is especially so in winter. When it's snowing or bitterly cold, birds will seek protection in evergreens. If you or your neighbors have no shelter to offer, the birds may travel elsewhere—and then feed elsewhere. You can create shelter. Nesting bags or bird houses may do the trick. You may see several birds occupy nesting bags or houses so they can snuggle together for warmth. Encourage them to move in by replacing old nests with clean material, such as wood chips. Another option is to create a brush pile. For instance, place your discarded Christmas tree in the backyard for the winter.

Habitat changes affect bird populations. If there has been a big change in your neighborhood, such as the removal of large trees or the construction of new buildings, some birds might move elsewhere. 

Fluctuations in natural food supplies could explain a sudden change in bird populations. Studies show that feeders are a secondary food source and that birds shift feeding habits to take advantage of a surplus of berries, fruit, seeds, insects or cones. When those sources of surplus food dwindle, they probably will return to your feeder.

Keep in mind that birds are creatures of nature. Family groups break up. They establish new territories. Some species migrate.

An important item on your checklist ought to be your bird seed and feeders.

Is your seed fresh? Bird seed doesn't stay fresh forever. Discard seed that has been sitting in feeders for weeks. It has been subject to rain, humidity, heat or sunlight, and may lose its nutritional value. For instance, Nyjer seed is high in fat. Once Nyjer remains in the feeder too long in summer, it dries out and loses some of its fat content. Goldfinches will turn away. 

How has your seed been stored? Seed that has been left in a hot garage during the summer may become spoiled or infested with unwanted bugs. Seed left for awhile in a humid basement may become moldy.

Is your suet or suet dough fresh? If it's moldy in the feeder, throw it out. If it's mushy, throw it out. Clean the feeder before you add fresh material. Hummingbird nectar should be changed regularly. Immediately remove it if it appears cloudy or moldy. Be sure to clean the feeder thoroughly before adding new nectar.

Are the feeders clean? Does your feeder have seed residue, mold or bird droppings? If so, wash your feeder in a solution of 1 part household bleach to 10 parts water. Let the feeder dry thoroughly in the sun before adding new seed or suet. If you don't have time (or it's too cold) to clean the feeder, get a new one. Contaminated material is harmful to birds. It can spread disease and cause deaths.

The best way to attract and keep songbirds visiting your backyard is by offering them food throughout the year. Natural food will remain their source but they'll know they can count on you if their usual supplies run out. And they'll be guaranteed a quick meal during nesting season or when the weather turns bad.