Should I stop feeding birds now that winter is over?

A goldfinch, chickadee and titmouse share a feeder

Customers sometimes will ask whether they should stop feeding birds once winter ends. It's up to you but there are some factors you might wish to consider in making your decision.

Temperature. Obviously we are getting longer days and warmer temperatures. But even into April we may experience chilly nights. Birds could use a quick pick-me-up in the morning.

Natural food is scarce. We had a rough winter. Snow was on the ground for two months. By now, natural food such as berries have been consumed. So have any seeds left on plants that managed to stay above the snow level. The pantry is bare! Foraging is more difficult and more time-consuming in early spring. You can give the birds a break by offering them a handy source of nourishment in the form of seed or suet.

Migratory birds. The spring migration has begun. Birds are about to leave the Lehigh Valley for breeding grounds north of us. They need to put on some fat for the long journey ahead. After all, the trip involves several hundred miles of flight! The departing birds don't leave all at once. Some are ready for the journey now; others will stay in the Lehigh Valley through April. It's a good idea to continue feeding if you see wintertime species such as Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows or White-crowned Sparrows. Feeding them won't encourage them to stay. Birds operate by their own internal clocks and know when it is time to migrate.

Newcomers will be arriving. Migration works both ways. Some birds will be leaving but many more will be arriving. They'll be exhausted from their long flight from the tropics where they spent their winter (lucky birds!) and they'll be looking for something to eat. Hasn't that happened to you after a long journey by car? Among the species soon to arrive are House Wrens, Gray Catbirds, Chipping Sparrows, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Eastern Towhees and a few species of warblers.

Two species in particular could use your assistance. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds need nectar to fuel their high metabolism. When they arrive in mid-April, welcome them with a feeder full of sugar water. Nectar from flowering plants is hard to come by in early spring. Relatively few plants are in bloom. Another species, the American Goldfinch, will benefit from Nyjer seed throughout the summer. Goldfinches ordinarily rely on thistle and coneflower seed, but those plants won't set seed until late July or early August. 

Breeding. At this time of year, many species of birds are preoccupied with finding mates and building nests. A dependable source of seed or suet might reduce the amount of time they would spend on foraging for food. Also, if you've gone through the trouble of placing a bird house or two in your backyard, the surest way to get tenants is by luring them with nearby food. It would be a shame to have your bird house go unoccupied!

Male Cardinal feeding the youngsters

Egg-laying. Female birds will need extra calcium for egg-laying. Females must change their diets during the nesting season to obtain calcium-rich nutrients. Eight hours prior to laying the eggs, the female sheds 60 percent of her body's calcium to produce the shell. Offering suet with a calcium supplement helps a great deal. The suet also benefits fledglings who need extra calcium to build strong bones.

Feeding the young. Once chicks have hatched, the parents will be quite busy foraging for food for their youngsters. Have a handy source of seed or suet nearby to help them meet the demands of their hungry young! Keep in mind that most species have more than one brood per summer. Also, the less time parents are away from nests finding food, the better protected the chicks are from predators.

Enjoying the backyard. If you'd like to see and hear a lot of songbirds in your backyard, by all means offer them seed and suet throughout the year. Summer is a great time to watch the action. You'll become acquainted with the regulars and enjoy the antics of the young as they transform from clumsy fledglings to confident adults.

Take this advice from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: "At the Cornell Lab, we keep our feeders filled year-round in the Treman Bird Feeding Garden for the benefit of the birds and the pleasure of our visitors."

One note of caution. If you live in rural wooded areas, you might wish to consider carefully the idea of feeding in the spring. The Penn State University Extension Service cautions against feeding birds if a black bear has been seen in your area. Bears arouse from hibernation in early spring and are hungry and often attracted to bird feeders. They are fond of black oil sunflower seeds. The bears will return as long as food is available, and this can cause problems for both you and the bear. It helps to bring in the feeders are night.