Where'd My Birds Go?: Spring Edition

The air on spring mornings is filled with the sweet symphony of birdsong. We see birds flying from treetop to treetop, shrub to shrub, fence post to fence post. Birds that left us during the winter months all seem to have returned in one fell swoop. Surely the abundance of birds around will mean activity at our feeders will be through the roof! This is often the case during peak migration, and how exciting it is. But soon after this pinnacle of excitement, we are hit with post-migration blues. If you're finding yourself thinking, "There are so many birds around right now and my feeders are stocked. So, where'd my birds go?", you're not alone, and we have answers.

1. Natural foods available

Why do birds migrate? As much as we'd like to believe it's because we've stocked up on the best foods for them, it's simply not the case. Birds migrate from areas where there are decreasing sources of food available, to areas where there are increasing food sources available. While many birds eat seed, suet, and other goodies that we provide for them throughout the year, insects make up at least part of the diet of nearly all of our native bird species with some switching to a completely insectivorous diet during the nesting season. The reason we see more activity at our feeders during migration is that there is a lack of insects in early spring and birds are in need of nourishment after their long journeys. But as the weather warms, more and more insects emerge, creating natural sources of protein and nutrition needed to thrive. There are also several other food sources available during this time including nectar, flower petals, seeds, fruit, and more. Having evolved with our native flora & fauna, birds have an instinctual knowledge of what each species does for them nutritionally, and will always seek them out as their primary source of food.

Female Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) perched above her newly built nest. 

2. Nesting
In early spring we see a spike in feeder activity as our spring migrants return, ravenous from their arduous journeys. But soon after, it's down to business as they embark on the quest they set out for - to reproduce and create the next generation of birds. Once nesting season is underway, territories are established and birds disperse to their own nesting areas. Sometimes (depending on various factors such as species, habitat, and food availability) birds will choose to nest in your yard. But no matter how much space or food you have, it's not enough for everyone, so some inevitably will move on. When you hear someone say that the birds were just "passing through", this is what they mean. Birds need space to raise families, they need to be able to forage for resources such as nesting material and food without a tremendous amount of competition, so they spread out - which means leaving your feeders. Luckily for us, there is typically a second spike in feeder activity when our migratory birds head south in late summer to early fall. Not only are we going to see the adults that we saw in early spring, but we're also going to see the many babies they raised while they were here!

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) with live mealworms.

3. Wrong foods being offered
This is where what we call being a "seasonally-savvy" bird feeder comes into play. What do we mean by that? There are certain foods that we can offer in the spring and summer months to attract specific species that we may not offer in the winter. Some things to consider including on your bird feeding menu during the warmer months include:

• Fruit: Fruits such as halved or quartered oranges, grapes, blueberries, and blackberries can help attract spring migrants such as Baltimore Orioles, Gray Catbirds, and Scarlet Tanagers. In addition to fruit to attract these species, you can also offer BirdBerry Jelly which is specifically formulated to meet the needs of fruit-eating species.
• Suet: Many people believe suet should only be offered in the winter, but it is actually a very important source of food for many returning and nesting species. High-quality, high-protein suet like our SuperSuet is a great source of nutrition for migrating birds, and many species including Brown Thrashers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and warbler species can be found re-fuelling on suet upon their return. For those worried about suet spoiling in the heat of the summer, we carry a variety of No-Melt options to ensure the birds stay healthy and happy. 
• Live mealworms: Mealworms are high in protein and make an excellent source of food for both growing chicks and tired parent birds. Offering live mealworms can be a game-changer when it comes to feeding birds during nesting season. You are offering birds the closest thing to what they would be searching for in nature, and they quickly learn that you are supplying the goods, some may even tap on your windows looking for more or take them straight from your hand! Species who will visit your feeder for mealworms include Baltimore Orioles, American Robins, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Northern Cardinals, Chipping Sparrows, White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches, woodpecker species, and many more. To learn more about offering live mealworms to your backyard birds, click here. 
• WBU Nesting SuperBlend: This blend is formulated with nesting birds in mind, providing essential protein and calcium to help parent and baby birds develop and thrive. Packed full of freeze-dried mealworms, sunflower chips, peanuts, Bark Butter Bits, tree nuts, and calcium, our Nesting SuperBlend is the perfect mix to offer during this high-stress period. 

It's also important to remember that when we look at the big picture, bird feeders are a relatively new concept. They are not something that birds have evolved with over millions of years, so it would make sense that they would seek out what is known to them - native flora & fauna - before visiting a feeder.

4. Other
Of course, there are many other reasons that birds don't visit feeders. Maybe you got a new feeder or switched to new food and you just haven't given the birds time to get used to it. Or your feeders have become too dirty, or the food is stale or moldy. There could be a predator in the area such as a free-roaming cat, a fox, or a hawk. To read more about the top reasons for feeder abandonment, check out our blog 'Bird Feeder Blues: Why Birds Abandon Feeders'.



So, if you're feeling the post-migration blues, don't fret, and believe us when we say: "It's not you, it's them.... usually." 

Happy trails!
- Shayna