My neighbor said to stop filling my feeders in spring, but I'm glad I didn't listen

Last March, my next door neighbor told me I should take my tube feeders down because 'the birds don't need you in the warmer months.' I kept them up anyway. Over the next month, I logged over 20 visits from migrating rose-breasted grosbeaks that stopped specifically at my yard for a snack on their way north. They never touched the natural stuff in his yard. I think supplemental food helps during migration stress, not just winter. Has anyone else seen more migrants by keeping feeders going year-round?

3 comments

3 Comments

ninasingh1mo ago

I always took my feeders down in April because I heard the same advice. Last spring I was too busy and left one up, and we had a pair of scarlet tanagers stay for three days during a cold snap. They looked exhausted. What other migrating birds have you seen stop by?

aaron8451mo ago

My neighbor saw a rose-breasted grosbeak refuel at his feeder last May.

amyr5716d ago

Oh man, that really hits home! I had a similar thing happen a couple years ago with a flock of white-throated sparrows that showed up in late April during a nasty storm. They were so bedraggled and hungry, just picking through the leaf litter under my feeder. I felt terrible for them. Your scarlet tanager sighting is amazing though, I've never been that lucky. In my experience, those late cold snaps really throw a wrench in their travel plans, and having a reliable food source can make a huge difference for them.