Keeping Seed Dry in Wet Spring

Early spring brings with it spring rain, which can be fun to watch but is less enjoyable when we are faced with wet, unusable bird seed in our feeders. Not only can this be harmful for your birds, but it can make it more difficult to keep your feeders clean. 

In order to keep your bird seed dry and prevent it from molding or harming your birds, there are a few steps you can take.

Using feeders with domes or large overhangs can help keep rain from getting in your seeds at all. While not foolproof, it can reduce the amount of rain that manages to enter your feeder. If your feeder doesn't have enough of an overhang, you can use something, such as a wooden shingle, and screw or nail it to the existing roof to extend it out farther. Just keep in mind that this will also make it more difficult for larger birds to get into your feeders.

The Backyard's "Nanaimo" Fly-Through Feeder

Using feeders that have mesh trays or, if plastic, plenty of well-placed drainage holes can help air circulate and keep water from pooling in the feeder. Mesh trays are preferrable when possible as they allow considerably more water to flow out while letting air circulate through the feeder easily.

Putting out less seed at a time, roughly around enough for your birds to finish in one day, can help reduce the amount of seed that sits outside wet. Seed can get wet without much issue, the problems arise when it sits for a while and is still wet and begins to mold. Filling feeders more frequently with smaller amounts during wet seasons can make sure seed doesn't sit around long enough to cause problems.

Using seeds with shells, such as black oil sunflower instead of hulled sunflower. While seed with shells can be messier and leave shell debris in your yard, the shell is added protection against moisture. 

Black Oil Sunflower Seed

Adding Feeder Fresh to your bird feeders can help keep moisture out of your seeds. Feeder Fresh is a product made with bird safe silica that absorbs moisture and keeps it out of your bird seed. Filling tube feeders and adding layers of Feeder Fresh every two inches or so, or mixing the silica in with your bird seed, is effective. Birds tend to avoid eating the silica as it doesn't have the nutrition they are looking for, but if they do ingest any it's not harmful to their systems. Add new Feeder Fresh every time you change your feeders or refill them, and off you go.

Feeder Fresh

Cleaning feeders regularly can also help cut down on issues. Check out our last blog post to see tips for what to use to clean feeders and how often to clean them. Always make sure to keep an eye on your feeders regardless of whether or not you are using any of our tips to ensure that there won't be any problems without you noticing. Using one or many of these suggestions can help keep issues down and your birds happy, healthy, and hanging around. 

Birds and Water

 

With the hot dry days of summer now here providing a fresh source of water is a great way to attract the bird to your backyard or patio. If having a bird feeder is not allowed in your area, try supplying a source of water in the summer and winter to attract the birds. A source of water will attract a great variety of birds whether they are visiting the feeder or not and during the summer a source of water may be a greater attraction than your feeder.

Offering the birds a supply of water is as easy as a shallow dish or tray. A birdbath or water dish should be a shallow bowl and has a gradual slope to the center, to make it easy for the birds to wade into because songbirds do not swim like a duck. If you have a birdbath or water dish that is deep, simply add some stones to the birdbath to create shallow pools within it. These little pools will make it easier for the songbirds to use your birdbath.

When deciding on where to locate your birdbath, consider placing it in an open area where the birds can see the birdbath and any predators. Also try and have trees or shrubs near by, eight or ten feet away. This way the birds have somewhere close to hide if a predator shows up or just a place to perch and preen. Some birds will have a little difficulty flying after a bath, as they are water logged, so these close perches are handy. Do not place the birdbath to close to the shrubs and ground cover, as this will give predators, like cats, an advantage to simply pounce on the unsuspecting birds. Having that bit of space between the shrubs and the birdbath means the cat will be seen and give the birds that split second they need to escape.

Adding a birdbath to your backyard does not always mean instant birds, they need time to find something new, such as a birdbath or feeder. To help the birds find the birdbath easily, add the sound of moving water. Birds have great hearing and the sound of moving water will help attract the birds. There are many ways to create the sound of moving water. There are birdbath drippers that sit in the birdbath and attach to the garden hose. A small drip of water is all that is needed for the birds to hear and find the water and it also keeps the birdbath topped up and fresh. As the drip is slow, water consumption is very minimal. Some drippers come as a spray that allows the birds to fly through the water to bathe, something hummingbirds like. Other ways to create a dripper is with a pop bottle or jug. Poke a pinhole into the bottom, fill with water and hang above the birdbath. Just fill the bottle when empty.

Cleaning is also important, as diseases may be transferred between birds. Using the cleaning solution that is used for the feeders, 1 part bleach mixed with 9 parts water, also works great for cleaning and sterilizing the birdbath. It is best to regularly clean the birdbath, 2 or 3 times a week or every time the birdbath is filled. Cleaning the birdbath every few days will also help to eliminate the possibility of mosquitoes laying eggs in your birdbath, as a mosquitoes eggs hatch in about four days after being laid.

A fresh water supply is another way to encourage and enjoy the many species of birds in your backyard and adding the sound of moving water will also add to the relaxing atmosphere in the backyard and attract the birds.

Happy birding!!