Feed the Birds Year Round, Not Just in Winter

As I was filling my bird feeders this week, and wondering how long winter would last, I was also has a thought about how long I should keep feeding my feathered friends.  I did some research, and it turns out that I ought to keep feeding the birds a lot longer than I planned.  Here is some information that I found:

Feed the Birds Year Round, Not Just in Winter

If you think that birds only need to be fed in the winter, then you are part of the majority of people who think so. Unfortunately, that is just not the case. While birds certainly do benefit from feeding during the winter when natural sources of food can be scarce, they can benefit from human-supplied food nearly year round.

Hungry Birds at the Bird Feeder Eating Sunflower Seeds

There are various reasons for this. In the early springtime, for example, migratory birds have just returned from their long flights, and they are hungry and in need of good nourishment. At that time of the year, the trees are bare and the grasses have not begun to grow. So, until the spring foliage is fully developed, there is a limited supply of food, and there is fierce competition for what little food that exists at that time of the year. The early springtime is also the time of the year when birds build nests. These nest building activities put extra stress on birds' bodies, and so the birds can benefit from extra sources of human-supplied food. In fact, many experts advise that you leave your bird feeders up until after the time that the leaves on the trees are fully grown in and developed.

Birds Feeding in the Springtime

After spring comes summer. During this season, hummingbirds and orioles appreciate nectar feeders. Hummingbirds need lots of carbohydrates to thrive. As summer comes to a close, the migratory birds need to fatten themselves up in order to survive their long flights to warmer climates. Finally, in the fall and winter, the non-migratory birds need to be fed. This is especially true if there is snow and ice covering the ground, which covers up the natural food supplies.

Bird Eating from a Sunflower

As for the question of what to feed birds, they thrive on diets that are different than ours. They need to eat high amounts of fat and protein. In fact, if you put out nothing else, feed the birds black oil sunflower seeds. These are an excellent choice because they are economical and provide excellent nutrition. Because they appeal to the widest variety of birds, there will be no waste. You should be cautious of commercial mixes, because they are often full of unpopular seeds. These are a waste because the birds will not eat them, and you will have paid money for seeds that will be left at your feeder and on the ground where they will attract squirrels and other less desirable rodents. Some examples on undesirable seeds are flax, golden millet, buckwheat, red millet, and rapeseed. In addition, to these, canary food, wheat, and oats are only consumed by nuisance birds. Read the ingredients on any bag of commercial mix that you are considering. If you see any of these seeds, then steer clear.