Ah, sweet spring!

A chickadee filled this house with its nest

"So much to do, so little time!"

Spring cleaning includes cleaning bird feeders and bird houses. Within the next few weeks, clean out leftover nests so new tenants may move in. Most birds prefer to build their own nests.

Be sure to clean the houses thoroughly—as you would do you own. Use a stiff brush to remove all leftover litter. That will help control blow flies, parasites or other nesting problems that could harm young chicks later on. 

To encourage birds to build nests in your backyard, place out 6-inch lengths of string or yarn. If you have a dog and it is shedding its winter coat, give it a good brushing and use the hair for the birds. Many species use animal hair in crafting their nests. 

If you don't have any bird-nesting materials handy, visit The Bird House for kits that contain wood shavings, feathers and other goodies that birds will relish. We even have containers of nest-building materials that you can hang from tree limbs or shepherd's hooks.

All the materials for the nest!

Do not use dryer lint. When it gets wet, lint holds moisture and makes nests unstable.

Now, for bird feeders. Chances are, you haven't had an opportunity to clean your feeders during winter. It's time to make sure that feeders are thoroughly clean.

First remove any unused seed, especially if the birds haven't touched it. That may be a sign that the seed has spoiled in the rains and dampness. 

Soak tube feeders in a mild bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Use a long-handled brush to scrub and remove any particles. Thoroughly rinse the feeder with plain water. Then set it aside in the sun to dry completely before refilling the feeder with fresh seed.

Use household diluted cleaner to clean platform feeders or hopper feeders. Fortunately these feeders are easy to clean because they generally are exposed to the rain and fresh air. If you do see stains, try adding a mild bleach solution. Use a brush to clean any particles that are stuck in the holes between the mesh. Be sure to remove any bird droppings. The waste may contain parasites or other nasties that could infect other birds.


If you have an all-season bird bath that has been outdoors all winter, soak it with 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Scrub it thorough. (You may have to use some elbow grease to remove stains!) Rinse the bath very, very well. Let it dry before refilling. 

You might wish to wait another few weeks before placing out a summer-only bird bath. Although overnight temperatures have been seasonal lately, we can't exclude the possibility that a cold snap might occur. You wouldn't want to have stored your bath all winter long, only to have it crack soon after you place it outdoors in early spring! Strangely enough, the Lehigh Valley occasionally does have minor, short-lived snowfalls from time to time until early April.

It's time to get your yard and garden in shape too. 

Piles of seed hulls beneath the feeder? Move the feeder and rake up the hulls to give the grass underneath a chance to recover. Spread a little grass seed in the area to cover up thin spots. At this time of year, the seed will have a nice start on life before the dry, hot days of summer arrive.

If you have space in your backyard, consider planting bird-friendly plants. When you visit the plant nursery this spring, look for plants and trees that will provide food, nesting sites and protection from predators.

For instance, red cedar produces berrry-like cones that are food from early summer to winter. Other berry-producing favorites include dogwood, mulberry, serviceberry and viburnum. If you enjoy seeing hummingbirds, try perennials such as bee balm and butterfly bush or vines such as the trumpet vine. Goldfinches love the seed heads from the spent flowers of the coneflower. Mockingbirds and catbirds will enjoy blueberries or grapes. Oak and tulip trees are tall and serve as protection and nesting sites.

There suddenly is a lot to do in spring. It seems as though one week sprints into the next. Before you know it, summer has arrived! But try to spend time getting ready for a leisurely season of bird-watching.