Backyard Birder’s Spring Checklist: FOOD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/TheBackyardNaturalist-Hummingbird-at-Nectar-Feeder-shutterstock_1345700579.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- It’s Hummingbird Season and fresh nectar is essential!<\/strong>\u00a0Feeders should be emptied and rinsed (no soap!) two to three times a week\u2014or sooner if it looks cloudy\u2014and refilled with fresh nectar.\u00a0See our resource page about Hummingbirds for more, including an easy nectar recipe!<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Clean feeders regularly! See ‘How to Clean a Bird Feeder<\/a>‘.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Check for mold and clumpy seed<\/strong>, particularly after lots of rain. Hot soapy water is great for seed feeders. Soak. Scrub. Rinse well. Dry. Refill. \u00a0See\u00a0‘Clean Feeders and Quality Food Matter’<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep shell debris at a minimum<\/strong>\u00a0under your feeders. Accumulated shells may carry mold and mold can be deadly to ground feeding birds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Backyard Birder’s Spring Checklist: WATER<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/The-Backyard-Naturalist-Bluebirds-bath-shutterstock_116409847.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt’s (always) all about water, water WATER!<\/strong> All wild birds need water for drinking and bathing year round. Bonus reward! Your bird bath is an opportunity to host birds not tempted by your seed feeders.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Keep the bath clean and the water fresh<\/strong>. Your bird bath is a welcome sight for migrants still arriving or passing through. It’s also a daily essential for your local nesting Moms and Dads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Some of our best advice ever: make maintaining the bath easy for yourself. Put your bird bath where it’s convenient for you to fill and visible from your window. Not only will it make it easier for you to notice when the water is low or needs freshening, you’ll also have a front row seat to see your backyard birds at their best! <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enjoy some of the best possible backyard bird watching! It won’t be long before fledglings begin to venture out. Watching juniors discover your bird bath for the first time\u00a0is one of the joyous rewards for maintaining a bird bath.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Backyard Birder’s Spring Checklist: SHELTER<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/The-Backyard-Naturalist-Blog-Its-Bird-House-Time-Spring-2023.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Clean out your bird houses\/nest boxes after each brood<\/strong>\u00a0and they will nest again!! Cavity nesting birds have 2-3 broods a season. They prefer clean houses for each brood. See our resource,\u00a0Placing and Maintaining Bird Houses.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Don\u2019t prune during nesting season<\/strong>\u00a0as most birds nest in dense shrubbery, bushes and trees. Please be aware and delay until Fall when possible. Wildlife rehabbers are seeing too many injured nestlings from pruning incidents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Please, PLEASE don\u2019t use pesticides,\u00a0<\/strong>especially widespread spraying for mosquitoes. (See\u00a0Mosquitoes, Bird Baths and Your Backyard<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Be aware: Birds, including Hummingbirds,\u00a0feed their babies almost entirely on insects while\u00a0in the nest.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Don’t let this happen to you: Pesticides kill all the beneficial insects and caterpillars, too! A healthy insect population is critical to a healthy backyard habitat. See\u00a0our Earth Day blog post\u00a0<\/a>on more about pesticides and wild birds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Leave](\"https:\/\/thebackyardnaturalist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/mama-catbird-babies-900x600.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- It’s Hummingbird Season and fresh nectar is essential!<\/strong>\u00a0Feeders should be emptied and rinsed (no soap!) two to three times a week\u2014or sooner if it looks cloudy\u2014and refilled with fresh nectar.\u00a0See our resource page about Hummingbirds for more, including an easy nectar recipe!<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Clean feeders regularly! See ‘How to Clean a Bird Feeder<\/a>‘.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Check for mold and clumpy seed<\/strong>, particularly after lots of rain. Hot soapy water is great for seed feeders. Soak. Scrub. Rinse well. Dry. Refill. \u00a0See\u00a0‘Clean Feeders and Quality Food Matter’<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep shell debris at a minimum<\/strong>\u00a0under your feeders. Accumulated shells may carry mold and mold can be deadly to ground feeding birds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Backyard Birder’s Spring Checklist: WATER<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt’s (always) all about water, water WATER!<\/strong> All wild birds need water for drinking and bathing year round. Bonus reward! Your bird bath is an opportunity to host birds not tempted by your seed feeders.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Keep the bath clean and the water fresh<\/strong>. Your bird bath is a welcome sight for migrants still arriving or passing through. It’s also a daily essential for your local nesting Moms and Dads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Some of our best advice ever: make maintaining the bath easy for yourself. Put your bird bath where it’s convenient for you to fill and visible from your window. Not only will it make it easier for you to notice when the water is low or needs freshening, you’ll also have a front row seat to see your backyard birds at their best! <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enjoy some of the best possible backyard bird watching! It won’t be long before fledglings begin to venture out. Watching juniors discover your bird bath for the first time\u00a0is one of the joyous rewards for maintaining a bird bath.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Backyard Birder’s Spring Checklist: SHELTER<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Clean out your bird houses\/nest boxes after each brood<\/strong>\u00a0and they will nest again!! Cavity nesting birds have 2-3 broods a season. They prefer clean houses for each brood. See our resource,\u00a0Placing and Maintaining Bird Houses.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Don\u2019t prune during nesting season<\/strong>\u00a0as most birds nest in dense shrubbery, bushes and trees. Please be aware and delay until Fall when possible. Wildlife rehabbers are seeing too many injured nestlings from pruning incidents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Please, PLEASE don\u2019t use pesticides,\u00a0<\/strong>especially widespread spraying for mosquitoes. (See\u00a0Mosquitoes, Bird Baths and Your Backyard<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Be aware: Birds, including Hummingbirds,\u00a0feed their babies almost entirely on insects while\u00a0in the nest.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Don’t let this happen to you: Pesticides kill all the beneficial insects and caterpillars, too! A healthy insect population is critical to a healthy backyard habitat. See\u00a0our Earth Day blog post\u00a0<\/a>on more about pesticides and wild birds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n - Don\u2019t prune during nesting season<\/strong>\u00a0as most birds nest in dense shrubbery, bushes and trees. Please be aware and delay until Fall when possible. Wildlife rehabbers are seeing too many injured nestlings from pruning incidents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Clean feeders regularly! See ‘How to Clean a Bird Feeder<\/a>‘.<\/li>\n\n\n\n