Helpful Hints for Responsible Bird Feeding
If you enjoy feeding and watching your backyard birds, then you probably want to do as much as you can to practice your hobby safely and ensure the birds’ overall health and well-being. While the incidence of birds falling ill from feeders is small compared to other natural hazards birds face, there are things you can do to help your birds stay healthy.
- Provide multiple feeding stations in different areas of your yard to disperse bird activity.
- Provide seed from a bird feeder rather than scattering it on the ground.
- Keep areas clean under and around your feeders.
- Keep fresh seed in the feeder and be sure it doesn’t get moldy.
- Clean your bird feeders regularly with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water.
- Limit the amount of seed you provide. Offer only as much food as the birds will eat in one or two days.
- Store all bird seed in rodent- and insect-proof containers to avoid contamination.
- Always discard any seed that has become wet, moldy or foul smelling.
- Rake up and discard seed debris and bird droppings from the ground below and around feeders. Continue to clean these areas on a regular basis.
A note about healthy bird feeding
Some of you may have heard reports of an unknown illness affecting nestling and fledgling birds in the mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Midwest. Although the impact has been relatively minor in NJ (and it appears that cases are slowing in other parts of the country), it's a strong reminder to clean your feeders and bird baths on a regular basis. Here are some additional hints to keep your birds healthy:
- Clean your feeders monthly with hot, soapy water and a mild bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Scrub the feeders, rinse them well and let them dry before refilling them.
- Scrub your bird baths every few days with a bird bath brush. Replace the water to keep it bug-free. You can also use a mild vinegar solution to help remove algae in the bath.
- Hummingbird nectar should be replaced every 3-4 days, and even more frequently during hot weather. Clean the feeders with hot, soapy water, rinse well and replace the nectar. Unused nectar can be stored in your refrigerator for about a month.
- If you see any signs of sick birds, take your feeders and bird baths down immediately. Clean the them well and leave them down.
If you see any sick or dying birds in your yard, report them to the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife. Call 877-WARN-DEP for more information.
If you need more advice, call the store or stop in. We're here to help make sure you and your birds stay safe and healthy!