Written by Marianne Senvisky, Intern, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteers
Summer is a busy season for birds. While many people associate bird feeding with cold winter months, backyard bird feeders can also play an important role during the summer. However, there are both benefits and drawbacks to keeping feeders stocked when temperatures rise.
Benefits
During the breeding season, adult birds work tirelessly to feed their young. Songbirds such as cardinals, chickadees, finches, and nuthatches make countless trips each day to gather insects and seeds. While baby birds are fed primarily insects because they provide essential protein, adult birds often supplement their diets with seeds from backyard feeders.
Bird feeders also offer a reliable food source during periods of drought or extreme heat when natural foods may be less abundant. Fresh water is equally important. A clean birdbath can be even more valuable than a feeder during hot weather, helping birds stay hydrated and cool.
Summer feeding provides bird watchers with an opportunity to observe a variety of species up close. Many young birds visit feeders shortly after leaving the nest, providing an opportunity to watch them learn from their parents.
Concerns
Summer weather can cause bird seeds to spoil more quickly. Moldy or damp seeds can make birds sick and attract unwanted pests such as rodents, raccoons, and insects.
Feeders can also become breeding grounds for bacteria and disease if they are not cleaned regularly. Illnesses such as conjunctivitis in finches or salmonella can spread when many birds gather at dirty feeders.
Best Practices
If you choose to feed birds during the summer:
- Clean feeders every one to two weeks using a diluted bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water), then rinse and dry thoroughly.
- Keep seed dry and refill only with amounts birds can consume in a few days.
- Remove old or moldy seed immediately.
- Provide fresh, clean water daily.
- Place feeders where cats cannot easily ambush birds.
- If you notice sick birds, temporarily remove feeders for a couple of weeks to help reduce disease transmission.
A Balanced Approach
Experts generally agree that feeding birds during the summer is safe and beneficial when done responsibly. Feeders should supplement—not replace—the birds' natural diet. Native plants, flowering shrubs, and insect-friendly gardens provide fruits, seeds, nectar, and insects that birds depend on throughout the season.
Whether you choose to fill a feeder or simply provide fresh water and native habitat, your backyard can become a welcome refuge for birds during the warm summer months.
Here is a safe recipe for hummingbird feeders from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo – see the link below for more information.
- Refined white sugar
- Water
Directions for making safe hummingbird food:
- Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water (for example, 1 cup of sugar with 4 cups of water) until the sugar is dissolved
- Do not add red dye
- Fill your hummingbird feeders with sugar water and place outside
- Extra sugar water can be stored in a refrigerator
- Change feeders every other day and thoroughly clean them each time to prevent harmful mold growth
Creating a Bird-Friendly Landscape
Excellent choices for bird-friendly landscapes include serviceberry, elderberry, dogwood, winterberry, holly, American beautyberry, and viburnums for their nutritious berries and nesting cover. Native flowers such as purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, wild bergamot, cardinal flower, and common sunflower produce seeds or nectar that attract birds throughout the growing season. Native grasses, including little bluestem, provide seeds, shelter, and nesting materials.
Bottom Line: Summer bird feeding is not only acceptable but can be beneficial when feeders are kept clean, seed is fresh, and birds have access to clean water. Responsible feeding helps support healthy bird populations while allowing people to enjoy one of nature's most colorful summer displays.
For more information:
How to Make Safe Hummingbird Food
Should People Feed Birds and What's Best to Feed Birds?
Is Feeding Birds and Other Wildlife a Good Thing or a Bad Thing?
To Feed or Not to Feed Wild Birds
Backyard Birds
What happens when we feed birds?
Tufts Pollinator Initiative Native Planting Guides
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