By midsummer, birds have established their nesting territories and are busy raising their second or third batch of babies. We receive many calls this month about “injured” birds. In most cases, it is fledglings that have naturally left the nest or been pushed out of the nest by their bigger siblings. The best advice we can offer is to leave them alone. Their parents will continue to feed them until they are ready to fly on their own – this usually takes two or three days. If you do find a bird that has been injured, you can contact the folks at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue for guidance.
July is a great time to enjoy midsummer activity in your backyard!
Insects are a natural food source for birds so during the month of July, aphids and other bugs that birds love to eat may be in greater supply. However, this doesn’t mean you need to stop feeding your little winged wonders. It is important to continue providing food and water as young “nest heads” are looking for an easy meal. Fledglings are at your feeders learning to shell sunflower seeds on their own and still wildly begging their parents for food.
Food & Water
Woodpeckers will appear with their young at your suet feeders as well as Bluebirds, Chickadees and Wrens. Suet is an ideal food for these summer birds, when nesting adults need more calories to forage for their dependent chicks or to defend their nests from intruders. Young birds can also visit suet feeders for an easy meal with plenty of energy to help them continue to grow.
Suet blends labeled as “no-melt” “no-drip” or “summer” are rendered repeatedly to raise their melting point, giving them more durability when temperatures are high. These blends are also mixed with other grains, cornmeal and seeds to keep the cake bound together to resist melting. This type of suet might also be labeled as “suet dough” and is a great option to offer a high-fat treat to summer birds without as much melting.
During summer months, Hummingbirds and Orioles are busy at your nectar feeders as breeding territories are abandoned, juveniles are weaned and stocking up for a long migration south. We have some customers that go through more than a gallon of nectar or sugar water a day. Sugar water is a very rich growth medium. Yeasts like to eat it causing fermentation which can harm hummingbirds. Mold and bacteria grow in it and can also harm the birds. That is why it is important to keep the feeder clean and the nectar fresh. The hotter the weather, the more often you need to clean and change your nectar to avoid contaminants. It is recommended that in temperatures ranging 89-92 degrees Fahrenheit to clean and change it every two days. In 93+ degrees Fahrenheit clean and change it daily.
Help your backyard hummers and orioles enjoy fresh nectar every time they visit. Hummingbird Feeder Fresh Nectar Defender helps protect the birds and prevents nectar spoilage naturally for up to weeks longer. It contains a mineral micro-nutrient, copper, that keep nectar fresh much longer. This same mineral micro-nutrient is part of a hummingbird’s natural diet of nectar and insects. With no artificial additives or preservatives, this all-natural, bird-safe product also helps prevent cloudy nectar, which can put off your backyard hummers.
American goldfinches are nesting this time of year too. These familiar and colorful finches depend on mature thistles for food and nesting material, and are thus among our latest nesters, raising only one brood per year.
This post was inspired by the book “For the Birds: A Month-by-Month Guide to Attracting Birds to Your Backyard”.
Do you think you have to travel great distances to see exciting wild birds? Would you like to set up a birdfeeder in your yard, but feel overwhelmed by the choices? Puzzled by how to attract cardinals without attracting squirrels? Are you confused about whether it’s best to feed birds in winter or summer?
For the Birds answers all these questions and more! In this accessible, easy-to-use guide, you’ll learn how to attract beautiful wild birds to your own backyard, year-round. The unique month-by-month format gives you the information you want when you need it, explaining what birds are looking for in terms of food, habitat, water, and nesting every month of the year.
Available in store for only $21.95
About Backyard Birds
Backyard Birds is an independent, family-owned wildlife specialty store founded by the late Roger Ford in 1996. We offer everything you need from creating an inviting wildlife habitat to finding unique gift items for nature lovers.
Visit our store and meet our friendly, knowledgeable staff. We are passionate about birding and would be happy to answer any questions. Give us a call or stop by our store to tell us when you’ve spotted those migrating birds in your backyard. We enjoy hearing from you!
