Many people don’t feed the birds in summer, reasoning that wild birds have lots of natural foods at this time of year.  There is nothing wrong with that reasoning.  Usually people feed birds in summer simply to bring the color and activity of wild birds into their yards.

If you did stop feeding the birds over summer,  early autumn is the time to resume feeding if  you want to have birds in your yard in winter.  Autumn is the time when birds establish winter feeding grounds and scout good food sources.  You might notice birds are singing a bit more than they did during the late “summer lull” when things seemed to get a bit quiet.  That’s because birds use their calls and songs to let other birds know where their territories begin and end.  Those territories may be different now than they were in summer.  The food sources in the birds’ nesting areas may be used up, forcing the birds to look elsewhere for a new supply.

When you fill your feeders again in fall, birds will quickly catch on that your yard is a good food source and they’ll continue to return throughout the winter.  And birds really do need a helping hand when the weather becomes frigid and their water sources are frozen.  Making your yard a haven that birds can count on with lots of food and ice-free water makes a huge difference in a bird’s ability to survive the winter.

So, if you’ve been feeding all summer, that’s great.  If not, beginning to feed the birds now will let them know that your yard is a place where they can remain during the winter.  Enjoy these other articles on autumn feeding!

All You Need To Know About Feeding Your Wild Birds During Autumn …

It is important to recognize that during colder months birds will need to consume more calories to help their bodies to function and to help provide them with needed energy to stay warm. A bird will start looking in autumn for good food …

Publish Date: 09/14/2010 5:28

http://exotic-pets.guruz-blog.com/pets/bird/all-you-need-to-know-about-feeding-your-wild-birds-during-autumn-winter/

Autumn Bird Songs: Who is Singing in October

Spring is the season for birdsong, but in the middle of October, some birds sing almost any time of day or night. That they are out of season makes the songs more sweet.

Publish Date: 10/12/2008 0:28

http://www.suite101.com/content/autumn-bird-songs-a72914

The Best Bird Food Types for Different Birds

Some birds prefer the raw suet and others the specialty mixes. Suet is high in fat so it is particularly valuable for birds in autumn when they are gaining weight to migrate or to store fat for the winter. Suet is the best option for …

Publish Date: 06/11/2010 14:16

http://www.suite101.com/content/the-best-bird-food-types-for-different-birds-a247954

Cool Tools: Effort-Less Bird Feeder

It’s strange that you mention feeding the birds from Spring to the beginning of Autumn. Here (France) the idea seems to be to feed the birds only when necessary (lack of seeds, fruits; cold weather) from late November to the beginning of … Birds are under increasing pressure from habitat loss and domestic cat predation, whatever little bit of help they receive from feeders is welcome. There are no studies that show any deleterious effects from year round feeding, none. …

Publish Date: 09/07/2010 12:22

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/004678.php

Wild Birds – Autumn & Winter Bird Feeding Tips | Everything You …

If you enjoy the company of birds in your garden all year long then it is very important to start thinking in the autumn about what wild bird food you will be setting out to keep them around during winter. Birds will be deciding where … …

Publish Date: 09/14/2010 5:25

http://www.bluebirdsounds.com/bluebird/content/4068/

Spark Birds 1: Cape May Autumn Weekend 2007

Most birders have a “spark bird,” a bird they saw that really caught their attention and put them on the path to becoming a birder. On a rainy Saturday in Cape May, NJ, birders tell their stories about their “spark bird.”