It's disappointing when birds suddenly disappear from your feeding station. There may be several good explanations for their departure.
KEEP THE FOOD FRESH. Is the seed still fresh? Bird seed doesn't stay fresh forever, you know. All seed eventually will dry out, losing its nutritional value. Most seed has a high oil content. If you store your seed in a sunny shed or a sunny metal container, the heat and humidity can taint the oil. The seed may even become rancid. Birds will avoid seed that is no longer desirable.
Black oil sunflower seed—either straight up or in seed blends—should have a sheen. The same is true with Nyjer seed (commonly known as thistle). At this season, birds seek out the fattiest foods because they are raising hungry chicks or fledglings right now. If your feeder isn't giving them what they want, they will visit feeders elsewhere.
One solution is to store seed in a metal container, a shed or an indoor garage that is protected from the brunt of the summer sun. Is a shady location possible? Another alternative would be to keep seed in the basement where it will be cooler. However make sure the basement is not overly humid. Humidity can produce mold. Yet another option is to buy seed in smaller quantities. Long before the troubles begin, the birds will have happily consumed the entire bag.
Suet or suet dough should be tossed in the garbage if it is moldy. Seed cylinders or large suet blocks should be discarded if they are mushy. If you buy multiple cakes of suet, keep them in the refrigerator—even the freezer compartment is suitable—until you're ready to place them in the feeder. That will maximize freshness.
Hummingbird nectar should be changed every few days. If it looks cloudy, get rid of it immediately, clean the feeder thoroughly and replace with fresh nectar. Hummingbirds always will seek out flowers instead of nasty nectar.
KEEP YOUR FEEDERS CLEAN. Are your seed and suet feeders clean? Birds don't like to eat out of dirty feeders anymore than you'd eat off dirty dishes. Be prepared to clean your tube feeder several times during the course of the summer. The frequency can depend on weather conditions and the amount of use the feeder gets.
When cleaning the feeder, use a brush to dislodge moldy shells and other debris. Rinse the feeder thoroughly in a mild bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). That should kill the bacteria. Then rinse completely with clean water and let the feeder air-dry before refilling with seed or suet.
If the tube feeder is so crusted with seed residue, mold, seed sprouts or bird poop that it cannot be cleaned thoroughly, discard the feeder and buy a new one.
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| A starling gobbles an insect—instead of your seed! |
THE OPTIONS BIRDS HAVE. During the summer, natural food sources are plentiful. Activity at feeders may decline as natural food sources become widely available. During the summer, insects and other invertebrates provide a rich protein diet. Birds depend on this protein to feed chicks in the nest. They also have sources of fat besides bird feeders. Nuts, buds and berries are coming into season. When these are plentiful and easy to find, many birds will choose them.
Look in your neighborhood. Do you see swarms of gnats or mosquitoes? Are crawling bugs—anything from ants and spiders to millipedes—readily visible? Have blueberries or other fruit begun ripening? Birds may find these food sources easier to find than a bird feeder.
Do not give up. Eventually food will become scarcer. Birds will find it more convenient to return to your feeder for sustenance.
At this time of year, birds are raising and feeding chicks. You can make the job easier for them by offering suet that is rich in fat. Chicks need to put on a lot of weight before they can leave the nest on their own.
PREDATORS. Is there a new predator in the area? Are you seeing cats around your bird feeder? Do you see scatterings of feathers on the ground? Feral cats kill approximately 480 million birds annually in the United States, according to researchers at the University of Nebraska. There are an estimated 60 million feral cats nationwide. Feral cats can produce up to five litters per year, with two to 10 kittens per litter. In addition, house cats that are allowed to roam outdoors kill additional numbers of birds.
If you see cats hanging around your feeder, don't expect ground-feeding birds such as Mourning Doves or sparrows to remain in your backyard. If they aren't killed outright, they'll soon learn to avoid your feeding station.
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| Cooper's Hawk |
Don't take it out on the cat. Cats are trained by instinct to kill birds. He is being the predator that nature designed him to be. But you do have some control over the situation. If you have a house cat, keep it indoors. Your cat will live longer and remain healthier. If you see "stray" cats roaming in the neighborhood, get a trap to catch them. Take them to a veterinarian to have them spayed or neutered. At least that will end the cycle of reproduction.
If cats aren't the problem, perhaps it might be another predator—a Sharp-shinned or Cooper's hawk. These raptors are part of the cycle of nature. They must feed too. If you notice that birds suddenly vanished from your feeding station, that may be the reason. The birds will move on to other territories where they will feel safer. Eventually the hawk will move elsewhere to find his meal. After a couple of weeks or so, birds will return to your feeders.
CHANGING TIMES. Nature constantly changes. Birds move on to other areas. They establish new territories. Families develop then dissipate. Birds migrate. They die. That is the cycle of life.
You do have the ability, however, to make your environment more enticing to birds. Create a habitat that invites them to stay. Consider your backyard or your neighborhood. Is there a source of clean water? Are there plenty of trees or dense shrubs that offer protection from heat, rain, wind or predators? Are there enough nesting sites?
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| Serviceberry, a favorite of waxwings |
To provide water, get a bird bath. Birds need water for drinking and bathing. And keep in mind, an attractive bird bath can be make your backyard aesthetically pleasing even when the birds are away. If you're really ambitious, you might wish to build a small pond or recirculating stream.
You might wish to add trees or shrubs to your backyard, especially if most of the yard is nothing but lawn. For the perspective of many types of birds, lawns are vacant spaces. Fill in those gaps with vegetation for protection, nesting and eating. Try adding berry-producing plants such as dogwood, holly, juniper, serviceberry, viburnum, cherry or crabapple. Some birds prefer fruit and berries rather than seed. By expanding the types of food in your backyard, you may see more species such as catbirds, mockingbirds, Cedar Waxwings or Baltimore Orioles.
BE PATIENT. It may take a week or two (or even longer) for birds to return to your feeder. In the meantime, fill your feeder only partway until the activity resumes. If you have a tray feeder, you might wish to offer a few blueberries or sliced strawberries. The new food may bring birds back a little sooner.
