Category Archives: Backyard Wild Bird Feeding

Back Yard Birdfeeding, Backyard Wild Bird Feeding

Where have all the birds gone?

  berries on a dogwood tree
I love to do this post every year. Here in NE Georgia the birds stop eating bird seed and suet right around Labor Day. The wild birds don’t completely stop eating but it is a noticeable difference in consumption.
 
Why…
 
The answer is simple. 1st the great fall migration is happening. Wild birds are leaving (towhees, catbirds, hummingbirds, etc) and new ones haven’t quite arrived (millions of sparrows, juncos, warblers, etc).
 
The 2nd reason is hiding in plain sight! The trees and bushes are fruiting. The picture shown here is a dogwood, those red berries will be bluebird crack in just a few days. My serviceberry in the backyard is about to pop with 1000s of berries. Frost grapes will be coming soon. Acorns, and tree nuts in general are dropping.
 
Yep, it’s a darn good time to be a bird in NE Georgia.
 
So, no… there is nothing wrong with your suet or seed right at this moment. Your feeder now has a lot of competition. Don’t worry, the wild birds will come back!
Backyard Wild Bird Feeding

Stop the spread of Red Eye Disease

To help stop the spread of red eye disease and avian pox in your backyard wild birds make sure you are regularly cleaning your bird feeders.

Clean your wild bird feeders regularly

Please remember bird seed is FOOD and food can spoil. Especially here in NE Atlanta. Over the last few weeks we have had a ton of rain. Rain just adds to the spoiling problems.

When cleaning I suggest you let them soak in a 95%water/5%bleach solution. This will kill all the germs. Then use a mild soap to and a long handle brush to scrub the inside of the wild bird feeder.

Clean your feeders regularly! (please)