Hungry stomachs need lots of food

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Winter may be prime feedings for birds when food is in short supply, but birds flock to feeders in summer especially when they have young mouths to feed.

With a feeder located near the nest, the parents don't have to leave the nestlings alone for long periods of time while they search for food. This reduces the chance of predators attacking the chicks.

Summer feeding can bring migrants that we don't see during winter. It is also fun to try different types of food.

Slice an orange in half (through the "equator") and place it on a platform feeder or the feeder pole and see who eats from it. You might be lucky to see a Baltimore Oriole.

Try striped sunflower seeds which are bigger and have a harder shell to crack. Grosbeaks love them. Grosbeaks have thick, sturdy beaches to crush seed hulls. They also are good at crushing insects and grasshoppers.

Mealworms are a favorite of bluebirds but other birds that are insectivores eat them too. Live or dried, mealworms are a great source of protein.

Remember, keep your feeders dry. Hot, humid weather can create mold in damp feeders which can be fatal to birds. Also put suet in the shade. Clean the feeders every two weeks.

Move feeders occasionally to keep concentrations of seed hulls and bird droppings low.