Backyard Birding

Whether for a weekend getaway or a two week vacation, most of you will take some time this year to get away from work and relax. You will stop the paper and the mail, ask someone to keep an eye on the house and make arrangements for the pets. But what about the wild birds you have been feeding? What will they do while you are gone?

Fortunately, wild birds are not dependent on a single food source. They likely know the location of several feeders within their territory as well as natural food sources. In fact, most people notice a drop in feeder activity during the summer and early fall months because their feeder birds are enjoying nature’s bounty. Keeping this in mind, here are a few ideas to help you care for your birds while they are away:

1. If you are vacationing during the summer or fall and the weather in your area has been normal, you have the option of not worrying about it. Especially if you live in a residential area where there are likely several homes offering seeds for the birds. The birds will merely rely more heavily on these other sources of food until you resume feeding.

2. Particularly if you already have someone checking your house or caring for your pets, you could find someone to feed your birds as well. Even if it is unnecessary for the well-being of the birds, this has the added benefit of ensuring that your birds will be there when you get back. Otherwise, you may have to wait a week or so for your feeders to really start getting busy again.

3. Gradually taper off the amount of seed you are providing. Plan to begin a week or two before you leave, offering a little less each day. This gives the birds time to seek out alternative food sources before yours disappears.

4. If you are not going to be gone very long, it may be possible to leave extra seed for the birds through an extra feeder or two. In the winter, our finches empty the finch feeder daily and twice a day if the weather is bad. During the summer, it takes them three days to empty it. A second feeder would keep them coming for about a week. We also recently purchased a large sunflower feeder which holds five pounds of seed. Since the squirrels have not yet figured out how to get into it, it takes our birds a week to empty it. This does not work for ground feeders or platform feeders unless they have some means of keeping out the rain and snow. Damp seed molds and can be responsible for making your birds ill. It also likely will be emptied by squirrels, raccoons and rabbits.

Decide what works best for you and your unique situation and enjoy your vacation, knowing the wild birds which visit your feeders will be well taken care of.

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