Ten top autumn tips for attracting backyard songbirds

Water Wiggler attracts birds

1. Provide running water

The sound of running water is heard by birds from some distance, drawing then in for drinking and bathing. A bubbler or mister work well. The "Water Wiggler" is a great way to keep water moving (and deters mosquitoe larvae. Water Wigglers are available at The Bird House.

2. Leave nectar feeders out

While local hummingbirds are heading south this time of year, many migrating hummingbirds from farther north will fly through our area during September. Also, juvenile hummingbirds will stay around even after the adults have headed south.

3. Clean out birdhouses

Early fall cleaning and repairing houses is a good idea. Old nests can harbor insects and parasites.

4. Create brush piles

Save your branch clippings and pile them to create a cover for birds.

5. Plant evergreens

They're the perfect cover for birds in fall and winter. For quick growth, plant Leyland cypress, photinia, arborvitae and certain varieties of juniper.

6. Increate the number of feeders

As weather cools and migration increases, food consumption increases. Provide a variety of types of feeders and types of seed and types of seed, as well as suet.

7. Move the action closer

One reason we feed birds is to enjoy the action. Relocation your bird feeders nearer your house allows you to get closer without disturbing the birds.

Leyland Cypress are a fast-growing shelter for birds

8. Provide ample food for insect eaters

Live mealworms served on a tray are appreciated. Bluebirds, catbirds and several types of songbirds love eating high-protein mealworms. Don't forget berries, jelly or chunks of apple.

9. Bring the sounds indoors

As weather cools, we close our windows, blocking the sound of birds. Consider installing a wireless baby monitoring device outside and the receiver inside.

10. Protect birds against collisions

Seeing reflections in windows, birds fly right into the window pane. Placed on the outside streamers, netting and decal may help.

Debunking the myth about feeding in autumn

There's a chill in the air. Many bird species are flying south for the winter. Should people feed birds at this time of year?

Absolutely, yes.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that giving birds a steady source of food will encourage them to stay and then later starve if feeders become empty during cold weather. Food source is a minor factor in migration. Daylight levels, climate and instinct play more important roles. 

In fact, feeding birds in the fall helps local migratory birds build reserves of fat for the energy needed for their flight south.

Another reason to offer nourishment in autumn is that the food helps migrating birds that come through our area to refuel and continue on their way. It's like providing rest stops along interstate highways.

For birds that do not migrate, fall feeding offers nutrition when natural food is depleting. This has been a strange year: a later spring followed by continuously hot weather and a lack of rain in summer. Who knows what natural food will be found?

Available food at feeders attracts the first of the winter arrivals and encourages them to stay nearby all season long. Juncos and White-throated Sparrows could be a common sight if you have food for them when they arrive.

Select energy sources with high oil content and high calories. These foods include black oil sunflower seed, white millet, safflower, peanuts and Nyjer. Don't forget suet!

Make sure feeders are clean and the seed is dry throughout the season. Mild daytimes are ideal for giving feeders a thorough cleansing. Make sure feeders are dry before refilling.

And as usual, sit back and enjoy the show!

American Goldfinches are turning color

Male Goldfinch molting for winter

You may have noticed that the yellow goldfinches in your yard aren't as vibrant as they were just a few weeks ago. That is nature's way of saying autumn has arrived and cold weather is not long off.

All birds molt but American Goldfinches do it in style. The brilliant lemon yellow that is so common in summer is now becoming a blotchy olive-yellow. In a few weeks, the birds will have completed their molting and the yellow of their feathers will be replaced by a drab olive-brown. Male goldfinches will become almost indistinguishable from the females, with the exception that the females will have a grayer cast to their olive-brown color.

Some goldfinches migrate south for the winter but most stay in our area. It's a good thing for the males to change color. With fewer leaves on the trees, the males become harder for predators to spot.

Goldfinches do not have the ability to change color in the same way a chameleon does to match its surroundings. For goldfinches, the change in color is triggered by hormonal changes affecting carotenoid pigments. Some researchers believe that the length of daylight or differences in the bird's diet may contribute to the hormonal changes.

The change in color isn't limited to their feathers. The bills of the both sexes also change color, from an orange yellow in summer to a dark bill in winter. The darker appearance is the result of melatonin deposition, possibly because of hormonal changes. The young have a dark bill even before they leave the nest.

After winter ends, male goldfinches replace their drab feathers with the lemon yellow that we enjoy seeing in summer. The brighter the male during breeding season in June, the greater he'll impress a female and mate.

Cold-weather goldfinches can be identified by their conical bill, pointed notched tails, wing bars and lack of streaking. They are acrobatic and active, often clinging to dried sunflowers, black-eyed susans or coneflowers well into the fall. 

Try this trick to attract goldfinches: Instead of cutting back your raggedy-looking coneflowers, let them stand so the seed cones can mature. Coneflowers are prized by goldfinches. It's not uncommon to see a goldfinch grasping onto a stem, often hanging upside down, to extract seeds from the cone. When the seeds disappear from the cone, then you can cut the coneflowers to the ground for winter.

Goldfinches are found mainly in weedy fields and floodplains or other overgrown areas where plants such as sunflower, aster and thistle are common. Of course, feeders will bring them to the backyards, where they shelter and nest in shrubs and trees.

The birds fly with a bouncy rollercoaster pattern, often calling while flying.

Goldfinches nest later in the summer than most other birds. They wait until mid- to late summer when milkweed, thistle and other plants have produced their fibrous seeds.

They choose to nest in maple, oak or other deciduous trees (or pine trees) about 30 feet above the ground. The nest is an open cut of rootlets woven so tightly that it can hold water. The female lashes the foundation to supporting branches and lines it with fluffy material taken from the same plants fro which the birds feed. It takes a female about six days to complete the nest. Clutch size is two to seven eggs; incubation lasts 12 to 14 days. The chicks hatch in another 11 to 17 days.

Goldfinches are strict vegetarians. Only inadvertently will they swallow an insect.

The best way to attract goldfinches to your backyard is to provide a nyjer seed feeder. These feeders are tube shaped with small ports sized to keep the seed from falling out. Fill the feeder with nyjer seed (which mistakenly is called "thistle seed") or with a "finch mix" that contains both nyjer and tiny fragments of sunflower seed. If you use the mix, don't be surprised to see an occasional Downy Woodpecker feeding from the feeder!

Goldfinches also will come to tube feeders filled with black oil sunflower seed.

The birds compete for food, and they put on a great show as they chase each other and vie for space on the feeder.

Hawk migration is at its peak

Broad-winged Hawk

This weekend is approaching the peak time for viewing the migration of raptors along the mountain ridges of the Lehigh Valley. The weather will be fine for viewing hawks, eagles, ospreys and other raptors that congregate for the autumn migration.

Broad-winged Hawks are the most numerous species reported thus far, being the first raptors to migrate. These small hawks are not often noticed during the breeding season. They usually nest near forest openings and bodies of water, far from humans. But toward autumn, hundreds of thousands fly to their wintering grounds in Central and South America.

If you'd like to enjoy seeing the raptor migration, your best chances of viewing include Little Gap Hawk Watch, Lehigh Furnace Gap and, of course, Bake Oven Knob. The Knob is a popular site because the birds soar above the Kittatiny Ridge, some species coming within easy eyesight.

But keep your eyes to the sky no matter where you are. You never can tell when you'll see one of these remarkable creatures!

Last weekend provided bird watchers with a variety of raptors in many locations. These are the birds that were spotted:

Emrick Boulevard Shopping Center, Northampton County
Red-tailed Hawk, 2 on September 18.
American Kestrel, 1 on September 18.

Minsi Lake, Northampton County
Bald Eagle, 1 on September 18.

Little Gap Hawk Watch, Northampton County
Osprey, 39 on September 17.
Northern Harrier, 5 on September 17.
Sharp-shinned Hawk, 36 on September 17.
Cooper's Hawk, 5 on September 17.
Bald Eagle, 32 on September 17.
Broad-winged Hawk, 172 on September 17.
Red-tailed Hawk, 4 on September 17.
American Kestrel, 1 on September 17.
Merlin, 1 on September 17.

Broad-winged Hawk

Martins Creek Environmental Preserve, Northampton County
Osprey, 5 on September 17.
American Kestrel, 6 on September 17.
Also seen: Cooper's and Red-tailed hawks.

Jordan Lutheran Church, Lehigh County
Merlin, 1 perched near the parking lot, on September 18.

Haafsville, Lehigh County
Red-tailed Hawk, 1 on September 17.

Pennsylvania Turnpike
(at the Allentown rest stop on the Northeast Extension)
Cooper's Hawk, 1 on September 17.
Red-tailed Hawk, 1 on September 17.

Memorial Road, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 1 on September 17.

Lehigh Furnace Gap, Lehigh County
Osprey, 1 on September 17.
Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 on September 17.
Bald Eagle, 1 on September 17.
Broad-winged Hawk, 22 on September 17.
Red-tailed Hawk, 1 on September 17.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Osprey, 45 on September 17.
Sharp-shinned Hawk, 18 on September 17.
Cooper's Hawk, 2 on September 17.
Bald Eagle, 20 on September 17.
Broad-winged Hawk, 270 on September 17.
Red-tailed Hawk, 3 on September 17.
American Kestrel, 4 on September 17.

Trexler Nature Preserve, Lehigh County
Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 on September 17.
Red-tailed Hawk, 3 on September 17.
American Kestrel, 1 on September 17.

Weather forecast for this weekend:

If you miss this weekend's viewing, don't worry. The migration will continue for a couple more weeks as late-departing species pass through the Lehigh Valley.

Weather affects bird migration

Geese migrate despite the odds

Fall migration peaks in October but continues into December for many species, especially those short-distance flyers (sparrows and blackbirds for instance). During peak migration, birds are on the move every day, particularly as days become shorter. 

The volume of migrating birds is greatly affected by local and regional weather patterns. In addition to precipitation, wind direction plays a major role. Wind at a bird's back makes flying much easier than flying into a wind. When weather systems create favorable winds, birds move en masse.

As strong cold fronts pass through, there is a surge in flights of migrating birds. Behind a typical autumn cold front, the air is dry and cool, and the wind direction is generally from the north and west. Migration is most intense on the day after the passage of a front.

By watching the weather, you can increase your chances of encountering migrants. You may also see an increase in birds at your feeders or water sources.

Tips for October bird-watching

White-crowned Sparrow arrive in October

Another transitional season is underway. Chipping Sparrows, Gray Catbirds, Scarlet Tanagers and most warblers have left. Dark-eyed Juncos, and White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows are arriving, and we may see Pine Siskins soon.

Cardinals, chickadees, Tufted Titmice, House Sparrows, nuthatches, House Finches and Goldfinches, Carolina Wrens, Mourning Doves, and Blue Jays stay for the winter.

Water is crucial during this period for all birds and especially migrating birds. As always, keep water shallow, no more than 2 inches deep, to encourage small birds. Remember, a clean bird is a warm bird. Consider a heated bath or a heater for the bath so water won't freeze overnight.

You probably have seen Goldfinches or House Finches hanging onto cornflowers, black-eyed susans, cosmos and sunflowers. You may also see juncos, towhees and sparrows scratching at leaves looking for insects and fallen seeds. 

Song Sparrows stay the entire year

This is the time of year to increase millet in your seed mixture for juncos and sparrows. A good mixture for the fall is 50 percent black oil sunflower, 40 to 45 percent white millet and 5 percent to 10 percent white millet, safflower, striped sunflower or shelled peanuts. 

Cold weather increases the need for more calories to stay warm. It is a good idea to refill feeders in the late afternoon or evening as well as early morning to give the birds a boost of energy before or after the cold night.

Add suet to your feeding regimen for woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and Carolina Wrens.

Are your feeders clean? We've had weather and we've had hot weather in September. Both can create mold and bacteria in the feeders. A good cleaning with mild dish soap, followed by a lot of rinsing and air-drying in the sun will benefit the birds.

Bird houses can be cleaned out and a 1-inch later of wood shavings placed in the house. On cold nights birds may huddle together for warmth.

Migration is at its peak

Arctic Tern: pole to pole traveler

For bird enthusiasts, October's bird event is spying on birds as they migrate. In North America, most species migrate to some extent, with more than 350 species traveling to the tropics each fall. October is the perfect time to spot winged travelers.

At least 4,000 species of North American birds are regular migrants. Some travel long distances; others move shorter distances, such as the span of several states or simply from higher elevations in the mountains to lower elevations. 

Birds can reach great heights as they migrate. Bar-headed Geese regularly reach altitudes of up to 5½ miles above sea level while flying over the Himalayas in India.

The Arctic Tern has the longest migration of any bird. Terns can fly more than 49,700 miles in a year, making a round trip between breeding grounds in the Arctic and Antarctic. During a life span of 30 years, the flights can add up to the equivalent of three trips to the moon and back.

Great Snipe: Speed king

The Northern Wheater travels up to 9,000 miles each way between the Arctic and Africa, giving it one of the largest ranges of any songbird. This bird is a tiny bird weighing less than an ounce.

The bird with the fastest migration is the Great Snipe. It flies 4,200 miles at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. No other bird travels at such speeds for long distances. The Great Snipe usually utilizes tailwinds to help them go faster, but their speed does not seem to be the result of that.

The Bar-tailed Godwit can fly for nearly 7,000 miles without stopping, making their migration the longest recorded non-stop flight. They do not stop for food or rest.

Migration can be very dangerous. Harsh weather may play a role but on many occasions human activities are the cause of untimely deaths. In the United States alone, nearly one billion birds die each year from window collisions.

To prepare for the long flight, birds bulk up on food during the preceding weeks to build up fat reserves. These reserves are later used for energy on their long journeys. The Blackpoll Warbler doubles its weight before flight.

Even birds that don't fly migrate. In Australia, Emus often travel for miles on food to find food. Also, many populations of penguins migrate by swimming.

October arrivals and departures

Scarlet Tanager have left the Lehigh Valley

As October nears, daylight has become noticeably shorter and the sun has become weaker in the sky. As the winter nights grow colder, insect prey becomes scarcer. Birds instinctively know it's time to move on. 

By early October, watch out for these changes in your backyard:

Vireos and veeries probably have departed. And Eastern Phoebes, Eastern Kingbirds and Eastern Wood-pewees. Consider yourself lucky if you are still seeing Baltimore Orioles, Gray Catbirds or Scarlet Tanagers.

In early October, Indigo Buntings and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks will be southbound. Eastern Towhees will depart in the middle of the month.

By mid-month it's safe to bring your hummingbird feeders indoors. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually are gone by then. Be sure to clean the feeders throughly before storing them; that way, they'll be ready for next April.

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers soon will be absent; there aren't enough gnats and other flying insects to be found in sufficient quantities in October.

Chipping Sparrows will be gone by end of October

Chipping Sparrows have begun migrating. By month's end, they will be gone.

Most warbler species have departed for warmer regions where their diets are richer in insects, spiders and other invertebrates. One exception is the Yellow-rumped Warbler. It spends its breeding season in northern Canada and is now arriving for the winter. In the depth of winter, watch for Yellow-rumped Warblers at your bird feeder, foraging for seed.

Other bird species soon will arrive from Canada. You may see Pine Siskins in the first part of October. By mid-month the first Dark-eyed Juncos may be here. White-crowned and White-throated sparrows will be arriving as well. 

Chickadees are year-round residents

Species that will remain through the winter include Northern Cardinals, House Finches, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches, Mourning Doves, Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, American Crows, Common Grackles, Song Sparrows, House Sparrows and European Starlings. 

Most woodpecker species will remain: Downy, Hairy, Pileated, Red-bellied and Red-headed. Flickers will stay, too. They survive the winter eating nuts that they cached in tree crevices.

Many owl species remain in the area all year. If you are lucky, you may begin seeing Arctic-breeding Snowy Owls in December.

Mallard (male)

As for raptors, Red-tailed Hawks stay through the winter, preying on small rodents in the wild and avian visitors to your bird feeder. Broad-winged Hawks will be gone in early October. So, too, will Ospreys. Red-shouldered Hawks and Northern Harriers are passing overhead as the new month begins. American Kestrels will remain in October but in greatly reduced numbers.

Canada Geese have become year-round inhabitants, although some still take their instinctive cue and travel southward. Cackling Geese and Gadwalls will reach the Lehigh Valley region in October.

In ponds and lakes, Mallards remain all year. You may notice fewer Wood Ducks. Most herons will soon head south in October but Great Blue Herons stay through the end of the month.

In the woods, Wild Turkeys and Ruffed Grouse remain all year long. But most Wood Thrushes will have migrated by now.

Winter is nigh—get ready!

Red-winged Blackbird exhales on cold day

Cold weather is moving in. We still have a little time to get ready for winter.

Birds need ample food, water and shelter during winter, especially during cold or snowy weather. Here are some tips on what to do before really cold weather arrives.

By the end of November, clean out used nesting material in bird houses. Use a small brush to clean out corners. You do not need to wash the house. Add about 1 inch of wood shavings. During winter's icy blasts, birds may huddle together to keep warm.

Clean all your feeders. Use diluted detergent and a brush to clean the feeder, then rinse very well and dry it in the sun. Once the feeder is dry, it's time to refill with seed. The best time of day to fill feeders is early in the morning. You'll find more activity then.

Next, clean the bird bath. Brush away grime and rinse very well. Use a 1-to-10 part of bleach/water solution to disinfect the bath. If the bath is made of ceramic or cement, take the bowl and pedestal in so they won't crack. To provide birds with a source of water during winter, set up a heated bird bath or add a heater to an existing weatherproof bath.

Don't forget about shelter. Make an "instant cover" for birds by piling up some branches, especially evergreens, so birds can hide and be protected from snow and ice.

Do you have pumpkins or squashes decorating your porch? Time to give the seeds to the birds before the fruit softens and rots. Rinse off the fiber and dry the seeds in a 200-degree oven. Songbirds will love the seeds. Squirrels will, too! If you wish to devote the treats to the birds, place the seeds in a tray feeder protected with a baffle.

Allow the native plants in your backyard to go to seed. Birds love the seeds of coneflower, for instance. Remember, nobody rakes, mows or cleans seed-bearing plants in the forest. Birds love them!

Arrivals and departures

Where do backyard birds go during the winter?

The Gray Catbird spends its winter on the southern Atlantic Coast of Florida and the Gulf Coast into Mexico. Most have already have left the Lehigh Valley area.

The Tree Swallow prefers the South Carolina southern coast, along the Gulf Coast to Texas.

The House Wren travels to the coast of Georgia, southern Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird has one of the longest travels. It flies 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico to reach its wintering grounds in central Mexico. You still may see a few juveniles who are busy fattening up on insects and nectar for their first migration. But they're almost all gone.

The Chipping Sparrow migrates to Florida and the Gulf Coast into Mexico.

The Chimney Swift is another long-distance migrator. It flies to South America, either across the Gulf of Mexico or along the Texas coast and then heading south.

The Purple Martin deserves the title of the longest distance migrator of any backyard bird in the Lehigh Valley area. It flies over the Gulf of Mexico and winters as far south as Argentina. It's no wonder that they've left our area already!

The Baltimore Oriole heads to the Georgia coast and Florida.

The Brown-headed Cowbird chooses the Florida peninsula.

The Broad-winged Hawk heads to the southern tip of Florida and Central and South America. Most of these hawks already have passed through our area by following the Blue Ridge.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk winters in the southeast United States into Central America. Their migration remains in progress. You might wish to watch them as they pass above Bake Oven Knob, a rocky summit about two miles north of Germansville in Lehigh County.

Several species of warblers that visit backyard bird feeders in the summer migrate south for the winter. The Yellow-rumped Warbler, one of the more common of these species in our area, leaves for Florida. The Yellow-throated and Pine warblers have similar wintering grounds in the Sunshine State. 

Not all birds migrate

Many backyard birds stay the winter. These include cardinals, chickadees, titmice, many sparrows, House Finches and goldfinches, Blue Jays, Northern Mockingbirds and Cooper's Hawks. 

Red-headed, Red-bellied, Hairy, Downy and Pileated woodpeckers remain all winter. (It's a good idea to offer them suet to complement the nuts they have stashed in tree bark.)

It's a common misconception that all robins fly south for the winter. The vast majority do migrate but some stick around. It all depends on the food supply. If a robin can find enough berries or fruit—its main winter diet—it will remain here.

And of course, two common English immigrants to North America stay the winter in the Lehigh Valley. European Starlings may seem less numerous in the winter but House Sparrows are ever present. They congregate in small flocks, aggressively seeking space at the feeder.

New arrivals

Remember, too, that our backyards will be graced by many arrivals from Canada. Their idea of winter vacation is spending time in the Lehigh Valley! White-throated Sparrows already have been seen. 

There are scattered reports of arriving Juncos—the "snowbirds," nicknamed because their backs remind one of the gray skies of winter and their bellies resemble the winter snow. Let's hope their early October arrival doesn't forecast a cold, snowy winter ahead!

Finding birds in autumn

From National Geographic

Autumn is a popular birding season. Migration, cooler temperatures and beautiful foliage makes fall birding exciting. But where are the best places to look for these birds?

Migration Flyways. Many national wildlife refuges and nature preserves are found along migration corridors. The Atlantic Flyway stretches from the Arctic Circle down the Atlantic Coast and Appalachian Mountains and into the Caribbean Sea. This route includes eastern Pennsylvania. Watch for migrating flocks, waterfowl, shorebirds and local birds.

South Shores. The southern shores of lakes, bays and wide rivers are a popular congregating spot for migrating birds to rest after crossing the water. The best areas also have mud flats or scrub woodlands near the shore for better foraging. Watch for warblers, songbirds, shorebirds and wading birds.

Cliffs and Mountains. As the morning sun warms the autumn air, thermal currents rise along the edges of cliffs and mountains making soaring flights much easier. Expect to see migrating raptors in large groups. Watch for hawks, eagles and other raptors.

Tennessee Warbler

Parks and Orchards. Late-blooming flowers or fruit harvests attract birds, and not only because of the flowers and fruit themselves. These areas also have a bounty of insects and nectar. Migrating birds concentrate in one area if food is scarce elsewhere. Watch for hummingbirds, songbirds, flycatchers and warblers.

Agricultural Fields. After harvest, spilled grain and newly turned fields are ideal places to find bird species that eat grains. If there are nearby trees for shelter, all the better. Watch for game birds, shorebirds and blackbirds.

Pine Forests. Coniferous forests yield seed crops abundant seed crops that are popular for feeding. Many birds will also cache seeds for winter use. They even may stay in the same area all winter; they can be easier to see while foraging. Watch for finches, redpolls and crossbills.

Coastal Shores. Many birds that breed far north will go to coastal shores in winter. Their arrival can be spectacular. Watch for gulls, ducks, waterfowl, shorebirds and geese.

Scenic Drives. Many scenic drive routes are designed for the enjoyment of fall foliage but they also can be great for birding. Watch for songbirds and warblers.

Bird Festivals. Fall festivals are planned for peak migration. Check websites, such as Cape May, Hawk Mountain, for events. Watch for winter residents and migrants.

Bird-friendly Backyards. You can find great birding in your own backyard. All it takes is the right food and a steady supply. What's nice is that you won't have to travel! Watch for resident songbirds and migrating birds.

Attract birds during migration

Yellow-rumped Warbler

This is the perfect time to attract birds to your backyard that you otherwise might not see. Migrating birds need to stop to refuel so they can continue their long journeys. If you act now, you may be in for a treat or two!

A bird may travel hundreds or thousands of miles during its trip to its wintering grounds in the South or in Mexico, the Caribbean or even South America. They need secure places to roost overnight and food and water to replenish their energy. Keep in mind, they are traveling through unfamiliar territory.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler, for instance, may come to feeders as it passes through the Lehigh Valley area in the fall. They spend their breeding season in Canada, then fly to Virginia and as far south as northern Mexico. A versatile forager, they normally eat insects and fruits but during migration will visit feeders for sunflower seeds, raisins, peanut putter and suet.

Here are some of the things you can do to help these migrants:

First, clean your feeder. Fresh seed is more attractive to birds. A clean feeder also reduces the risk of spreading diseases that could harm species as they travel or winter. The weather is still warm enough to make feeder-cleaning easy outdoors—and a clean feeder is a benefit to resident birds as well. Use a brush to dislodge large particles, then soak the feeder in a diluted solution of bleach and water (1 part bleach: 10 parts water) for disinfectant purposes. Be sure to rinse the feeder thoroughly with plain water to remove any of the bleach. Then allow the feeder to dry thoroughly before restocking with seed.

Offer a variety of different foods. A seed mix containing a variety of sunflower, safflower, white millet, peanuts and other ingredients will ensure that a migrating bird will find something they prefer to eat. Another option is to hang several seed feeders, with specific types of seed, such as one feeder for sunflower chips and another for split peanuts. Remember that some birds will eat from hanging feeders but some will eat only from ground-level feeders.

Don't forget suet, nectar and fruit. Some migrating birds are not seed-eaters. Baltimore Orioles, for instance, will enjoy half an orange for their meal. The Bird House has feeders meant specifically for spearing oranges, apples and other fruit. Offer suet. Many different types of birds will feed from it. You may wish to try a suet blend that contains small insects. This gives migrating birds an additional boost of protein. Many birds are primarily insect-eaters and they may appreciate having a menu that contains both suet and insects. Yet another option is to offer mealworms. These tasty morsels will be enjoyed by almost all kinds of birds. 

Leave birdhouses up to serve as roosting boxes. Migrating birds may use them to stay warm during those chilly autumn nights. Actually you might wish to keep birdhouses throughout the year so birds will always have shelter. Be sure to clean out old nesting material to prevent the spread of disease from bird to bird. Put about a one-inch layer of wood shavings in the bottom.

Keep your bird bath full of water. Migrating birds need water to drink and bathe. After bathing they dry their feathers to enhance their flying ability. It's still not too late to add a moving water feature to your birdbath, whether it is a "Water Wiggler," a mister or dripper. Migrating birds see and hear moving water and will investigate the source. Now is a good time, too, to clean your birdbath.

Provide protection for migrating species.  Migrating birds often fly into windows. Break up the reflection by applying decals or using "Feather Guards" on large windows where birds might strike. These preventative measures are a good idea for the year round but it's even more important when your yard receives visitors unfamiliar with the territory.

Be sure to protect migrating birds—all birds, actually—from backyard predators such as cats. Migrating birds need a safe, secure place for them to feed, drink and bathe in your backyard. Place feeders and baths far enough away from shrubbery so birds have an opportunity to take flight as a stalking cat moves to pounce.

Plan ahead for next autumn's migration. Add late-blooming flowers to your garden to benefit hummingbirds. Fruit-bearing trees and shrubs offer a natural food source for migrants and year-round birds alike. Any fruit that the migrating birds don't eat will be left for your native cardinals and finches to consume during the winter. This is a good time of year to plant trees and shrubs for next year's growth. Nurseries are trying to clear out their stock for the winter, so they usually offer deep discounts. Planting when the weather is cooler and wetter benefits the plant by allowing roots to develop without growth of leaves or branches.

By encouraging migrating birds to visit your backyard, you may see a wider variety of beautiful or uncommon species as they pass through our area.

Should I continue feeding hummingbirds?

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually arrive in the Lehigh Valley in April and begin their long journey south in August and September. Most of the adults you've seen in your backyards have left by now. The juveniles stay around for a while longer, usually until the end of the month.

The hummingbirds that were hatched this summer do not have a memory of past migrations. Their chief concern is to put on weight, which they may still be doing.

They'll need a good deal of energy to make the trip south. For the newbies, this journey will be one of exploration. They'll need to determine how far to fly and in what direction. Then they'll have to find a suitable place for the winter.

Don't stop refilling your hummingbird feeder yet. Birders in the Lehigh Valley continue to report hummingbird sightings as recently as this week. Keep in mind that there will be stragglers. They'll need the energy the nectar provides.

Providing nectar at this time of year will not encourage the birds to remain here. Nature tells them when to leave. The urge to migrate is triggered by the shortening length of sunlight; it has nothing to do with the abundance of food. You can keep your feeder filled with nectar for another two or three weeks yet.

Keep a watch in September

Eastern Towhee

September has arrived. For all practical purposes, summer is over. Hummingbirds, orioles and tanagers are preparing to head south for the winter.

Continue feeding hummingbirds through the end of September. Most of the adults move on toward mid-month but the young ones are still around and need that boost of energy from your nectar. Also hummingbird migrants from the north will stop by to "refuel" as they continue southward.

Soon you may notice that Chipping Sparrows and Gray Catbirds are no longer around as they have moved on.

Don't remove the spent flower heads of cosmos, coneflowers of Black-eyed Susans. Instead watch chickadees and goldfinches devour the seeds.

Toward the end of the month, you might see the first Dark-eyed Junco appear. Increase the amount of white millet seed to attract these little birds. Use a platform or ground feeder to keep juncos in your yard.

Watch towhees and sparrows do the "Towhee shuffle" when they scratch forward and backward on the ground looking for insects or seeds in dry leaves and other plant material.

Northern Flickers may be rooting on the ground for tasty ants and bugs.

Yes, September brings changes. Keep a watch and you'll enjoy the changes the month brings.

Finding autumn birds

Autumn is a popular birding season due to migration, cooler temperatures and beautiful foliage that makes fall birding more exciting. But where are the best places to find these birds?

Hawk Mountain near Kempton, Berks County

MIGRATION FLYWAYS: Many national wildlife refuges and nature preserves are found along migration corridors. The Atlantic Flyway stretches from the Arctic Circle down the Atlantic Coast and Appalachian Mountains and into the Caribbean Sea. This route includes eastern Pennsylvania. Watch for migrating flocks, waterfowl, shorebirds and local birds.

SOUTH SHORES: The southern shores of lakes, bays and white rivers are a popular congregating spot for migrating birds to rest after crossing the water. The best areas also have mud flats or scrub woodlands near the shore for better foraging. Watch for warblers, songbirds, shorebirds and wading birds.

CLIFFS AND MOUNTAINS: As the morning sun warms the autumn air, thermal currents rise along the edges of cliffs and mountains making soaring flights much easier. Expect to see migrating raptors in large groups. Watch for hawks, eagles and other raptors.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County

PARKS AND ORCHARDS: Late-blooming flowers or fruit harvests attract birds with a bounty of insects, nectar and other food. This concentrates migrating birds in one area if food is scarce elsewhere. Water for hummingbirds, songbirds, flycatchers and warblers.

AGRICULTURAL FIELDS: After harvest, spilled grain and newly turned fields area ideal places to find bird species that eat grains. If there are nearby trees for shelter, all the better. Watch for game birds, cranes, shorebirds and blackbirds.

PINE FORESTS: Coniferous forests yield abundant seed crops that are popular for feeding. Many birds will also cache seeds for winter use. Many birds may stay in the same area; they can be easier to see while foraging. Watch for finches, redpolls and crossbills.

COASTAL SHORES: Many birds that breed far north will go to coastal shores in winter and their arrival can be spectacular. Watch for gulls, ducks, waterfowl, shorebirds and geese.

SCENIC DRIVES: Many scenic drive routes plan for fall foliage but they can also be great for birding. Watch for songbirds and warblers.

BIRD FESTIVALS: Fall festivals are planned for peak migration. Check for Web sites, such as the Cape May Autumn Birding Festival on October 25-27 and Hawk Mountain's event calendar, for lectures and weekend programs. Watch for winter residents and migrants.

BIRD-FRIENDLY BACKYARDS: You can find great birding in your own backyard with the right food to help. Watch for songbirds, hummingbirds and migrating birds.

Revisit hot spots frequently to get the most out of fall migration. 

One final note: Watch for the latest news on the federal government shutdown before heading to a national park for birdwatching. The shutdown has forced the closure of all national parks including the Gateway National Recreation Area and the Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River. All access points and trails in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area are closed, as is River Road in Monroe County. The staff has been furloughed. Access points on the Appalachian Trail may also be limited because of the shutdown, and volunteer programs along the trail have been suspended, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. 

Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Carbon County

Adamstown, Lancaster County