Protecting Bird Feeders from Extreme Weather

Extreme weather events such as heavy rain, strong winds, extreme heat, tornados, ice, and snow can take a toll on birds and bird feeders alike. Here are some tips to help keep your feeders in tip-top shape no matter the weather.

Baltimore Oriole feeding from Recycled Oriole Feeder

• Install an Advanced Pole System
  Our patented Advanced Pole System (APS) is a revolutionary concept and the foundation for successfully attracting birds to your backyard. Comprised of interchangeable hardware pieces, the APS lets you select the setup that best suits the habitat in your own backyard and the birds you want to attract. Its modular design allows you to add or subtract bird feeders, bird houses and other bird feeding accessories, giving you the ability to create and customize your bird feeding station with over 3,000 combinations. Each system comes with a stabilizer that gives the pole more stability. Tests show that the stabilizer holds the pole straight in up to 56 km/h (35 MPH) wind gusts with 40lbs of weight on the pole, keeping your feeders safe from falling and breaking.
  
  
  
• Use weather domes
  Weather domes and guards are plastic domes that hang above a feeder to add extra protection from sun damage, rain, ice, and snow, ultimately extending the life of the feeder. They are easy to clean and benefit the birds by offering shelter during inclement weather, and even protection from aerial predators. Plus, domes help shelter seed and suet from rain and snow resulting in less spoilage.
  
  
  

  

  American Goldfinch and Northern Cardinal feeding from Eliminator with seed guard

  
  
• Keep feeders clean
  Seed particles, oil buildup, and mold can all cause feeders to break down and become unusable. It is extremely important to thoroughly clean and disinfect all feeders, birdbaths, and feeding equipment on a regular basis (minimum once every two weeks). To properly disinfect your bird feeding equipment you will need to thoroughly clean with a brush to remove any visible dirt and grime. Once you are finished the initial cleaning, submerge the equipment in a 10% bleach solution for a minimum of 10 minutes, this acts as a disinfectant and also helps to loosen any grime build-up. Next, scrub again with a brush & rinse thoroughly for at least 15 seconds in warm water. For equipment that can't be submerged in the solution, a spray bottle and brush outdoors will work fine, just be sure to rinse thoroughly. Regular cleaning will not only keep the birds safe, but it will allow you to thoroughly inspect your feeders for damage. 
  
  
• Remove if necessary
  Sometimes the weather is just too severe to risk hanging feeders and the best option is to remove them until the weather has passed. Strong winds have the potential to blow feeders down and damage them, so it's best to be proactive when wind is in the forecast by removing unsecured feeders. If you need to remove your feeders due to wind but would still like to feed the birds, offer Bark Butter spread on trees around your yard. This allows the birds to grab a bite while under the protection of the tree, and saves your feeders from being damaged.
  

Happy trails!

- Shayna