Fill feeder with seed. Watch seed level drop. Repeat.
That’s about the gist of it for birdfeeding in warmer months, but a little extra is needed as we ease into autumn. Think of it as a tune-up. This little bit of attention now may well save you the trouble of being out in one of our more interesting storms trying to manipulate tiny feeder parts with frozen fingers as your muttered curses steam the air.(I say that lovingly. ) “What can I do to save myself from this certain doom?”, you ask. Relax, it’s simple!
Fall Feeder Maintenance in three easy steps:
- CLEAN IT. Remove all caked on seed and dirt from the feeder. The more you can disassemble the feeder to get into the small cracks and spaces, the better. Wash the feeder in warm, soapy water – be sure to give it a good scrub! Rinse the feeder very thoroughly to remove all soap, and be sure it’s allowed enough time to completely dry.
- CHECK ITS PARTS. Make sure the parts that are supposed to move, move easily. And the parts that shouldn’t, don’t. Check that the lid fits tightly, and is not cracked or allowing moisture into the feeder. Also make sure any rope, wire, hooks, hanging devices are attached securely and not frayed or damaged.
- CONSIDER PLACEMENT. Now that you’ve got it down, is it really in the best spot for cold-weather feeding? Consider hanging smaller feeders from gutters or eaves. Hung feeders are less vulnerable to cats from the ground, and feeders close to a large structure are more difficult for hawks to “harvest”. Additionally, close to the house means better visibility from inside!
by Amy Williams
