Where did all the birds go?

Will feeding birds in late summer stop their migration?

Can birds become dependent on bird feeders?

Do bird feeders spread disease?

What are the costs and benefits of bird feeding?

What is an irruption?

There's a flock of American Robins in my yard; don't these birds migrate south for the winter?

My feeders are attracting rats, what can I do?

How can I stop woodpeckers from pounding on my house?

How can I stop Blue Jays from chipping the paint off of my house?

Does the use of tube-feeders contribute to the spread of House Finch disease and other diseases?

Does harmful bacteria survive on feeders in winter?

I don't have a utility sink. How can I clean my feeders in winter?

What should I do if I find a dead bird?

I have a bird with a tick attached to it. Will the tick hurt the bird?

If birds eat uncooked rice, can it swell up in their throats and stomachs and kill them?

Can birds choke on peanut butter?

Can birds' feet stick to metal perches?

Where did all the birds go?

While it is impossible for us to know the cause of each local increase and decline, there are several common causes for bird population fluctuations.

• Habitat changes affect bird populations. If there has been a change in your neighborhood, such as trees being cut down or new houses being built, that could be the reason you are seeing a decrease in birds.
  
• Natural food supplies--such as cones, berries, seeds, and insects--fluctuate from year to year, causing birds to shift ranges to take advantage of food surpluses or to compensate for food shortages.
  
• Weather patterns often cause birds to shift ranges, especially in winter.
  
• Birds of prey sometimes move into an area causing the local birds to feed elsewhere until the predator moves on.

Bird populations normally fluctuate from one season to the next and from one year to the next. Sometimes, however, there are significant, long-term changes in the numbers of particular birds in certain areas. To learn about such long-term trends, visit the Exploring Data portion of this web site.

(back to top)

Will feeding birds in late summer stop their migration?

Some people believe they should stop feeding birds right after Labor Day because the birds’ southward migrations will be interrupted. However, a bird’s migratory urge is primarily triggered by day length (photoperiod), and even an abundance of foods at your feeders will not make a bird resist that urge. In fact, your feeder might provide a needed energy boost along a bird’s migration route.

(back to top)

Can birds become dependent on bird feeders?

Birds become accustomed to a reliable food source and will visit daily. However, birds search for food in many places, so if your feeder goes empty, most birds will find food elsewhere. During periods of extreme ice, snow, or cold, the sudden disappearance of food might be a hardship. If you are leaving town during freezing weather, consider having someone fill your feeder while you’re away.

(back to top)

Do bird feeders spread disease?

This question has at times been debated in the media. Feeders, especially improperly maintained feeders, can spread disease. However, there's no way to know if disease transmission at feeders is any less or greater than disease transmission in the wild. Birds that contract and spread diseases, such as salmonellosis, at feeders are typically social by nature and would aggregate whether at feeders or not. Nevertheless, to reduce the risk of disease at feeders, we encourage people to clean feeders regularly. Learn more about safe bird feeding here. The Lab issued a response to a Wall Street Journal article raising concerns about disease at feeders. The response was also printed in the Wall Street Journal. Excerpts of the Lab's response were published in BirdScope and can be read here.

(back to top)

What are the costs and benefits of bird feeding?

It is difficult to assess the costs and benefits of bird feeding because it is difficult to compare the health of birds without access to feeders with birds that frequent feeders. Only one study was able to obtain some sound results. That study found that any benefits of feeding only appear to occur sporadically under extreme climactic conditions. No research has been able to demonstrate a cost.

Aside from costs and benefits to birds, there is a cost and benefit to humanity. The costs are obvious--the expense of bird feeding supplies.

The benefits include learning more about birds and the joy of connecting with the natural world. The Washington Post published an article that captures this topic well. Read the article here.

(back to top)

What is an irruption?

An irruption is the sudden change in the population density of an organism. When speaking of birds, irruptions refer to the movement of northern-wintering species to the south in years of low food availability. Irruptive species include redpolls, Evening Grosbeaks, and Red-breasted Nuthatches, among others.

(back to top)

There's a flock of American Robins in my yard; don't these birds migrate south for the winter?

As with many birds, the wintering range of American Robins is affected by weather and natural food supply, but as long as food is available, these birds are able to withstand quite severe cold.

In winter robins form nomadic flocks, which can range in size from anywhere between 50 birds in the north to thousands in the south. The flocks break up in the day while foraging and then gather up again at night to roost in trees. To attract robins, try serving dried or fresh fruit and offer a source of water.

(back to top)

My feeders are attracting rats. What can I do?

Rodents are attracted to seeds dropped beneath feeders. Once a population is established, it can be very difficult to discourage. The first step is to discontinue feeding for a couple of weeks to encourage the rodent population to disperse. Next, consider ways to feed without any waste falling to the ground. There are several feeders available that will catch dropped seeds, but most of the catch trays aren't big enough to really do the job. You may want to look into constructing a large catch tray to place under your feeders that you can clean out or remove each night or that can be hung off the ground. The key is to prevent rodents from getting to any seed. Also, it is important to clean any catch tray that you construct, because bird droppings contaminated with bacteria may survive on the catch tray and cause disease among your birds.

(back to top)

How can I stop woodpeckers from pounding on my house?

Woodpecker damage can be a major problem for some home owners. Lab researchers recently studied this problem and recommend several ideas for deterring the woodpeckers. Read about woodpecker damage and what to do here.

(back to top)

How can I stop Blue Jays from chipping the paint off of my house?

(back to top)

Does the use of tube-feeders contribute to the spread of House Finch Eye Disease and other diseases?

If you notice diseased birds at your feeders, we recommend that you take your feeders in for a couple of weeks to encourage the birds to disperse. For more information on bird diseases, see our diseased birds page.

(back to top)

Do harmful bacteria survive on feeders in winter?

Some bacteria, such as Salmonella, are very hardy and can survive in very cold temperatures. It can go into a dormant state, waiting until conditions improve. The Avian Pox virus is similar. Some studies of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (the bacteria that causes House Finch Eye Disease), however, have shown it to be relatively delicate. It will survive on your feeders for 24 to 48 hours during moderate temperatures, but it is does not survive at very cold temperatures.

Not only can disease organisms, particularly Salmonella, accumulate on seed, but many cold-loving molds can grow on seed as well. Don't rely on extreme cold to "wash away" disease organisms from your feeder. Be sure to clean your feeders frequently, and always rake underneath feeders to clean up seed hulls and waste.

(back to top)

I don't have a utility sink. How do I clean my feeders in winter?

Cleaning feeders in winter can be challenging, especially in the colder climates where outdoor spouts need to be turned off in winter to prevent freezing. Here are a few tips for cleaning feeders in winter:

• Consider purchasing tube feeders that can be completely disassembled and washed in a 1/10 part bleach solution in the kitchen sink or put in the dishwasher.
• Wash suet feeders and hummingbird feeders in a sink or dishwasher
• Use platform feeders with removable trays that can be brought inside and washed in the kitchen sink or dishwasher.
• Use disposable "thistle" socks for feeding Nyjer seed.

(back to top)

What should I do if I find a dead bird?

Sometimes FeederWatchers find a dead bird in or around their feeder area. Some scientific institutions can use these dead birds for their research. Read an article published in BirdScope that explains what you can do if you find a dead bird.

(back to top)

I have a bird with a tick attached to it. Will the tick hurt the bird?

Birds often carry ticks, especially ticks that attach to the skin around the eyes, bill, and head. These areas are difficult for the bird to preen, and the ticks find a safe haven. Ticks drop off birds when the ticks are finished "feeding." There is no long term effect on the bird.

(back to top)

If birds eat uncooked rice, can it swell up in their throats and stomachs and kill them?

Lots of birds eat uncooked rice in the wild. Bobolinks, sometimes called rice birds, are a good example. While rice is okay for birds, many wedding parties now throw bird seed instead.

(back to top)

Can birds choke on peanut butter?

There is no documented evidence for this. However, mixing peanut butter with grit or cornmeal will break up the stickiness if you are concerned.

(back to top)

Can a bird's feet stick to metal perches?

This is an extremely rare event. A bird’s legs and feet lack fleshy muscles; they are made up mostly of tough tendons. Also, during cold weather little blood flows to a bird’s extremities. However, we’ve heard one report of a bird's feet sticking and another report of a bird's eye sticking to a metal perch. If you observe this unfortunate circumstance, please take a picture and send it to us. A bird can be freed from this rare predicament by pouring warm water over the contact point.

(back to top)