You\u2019re not alone in asking this question! In the past few days, we’ve had numerous phone calls & questions in the store about a significant slowdown in feeder activity. Everyone is seeing fewer birds at their feeders right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t worry! It\u2019s normal for this time of year and temporary. Traffic at your feeder is likely to start picking up as we get further into Autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several factors as to why your feeders aren’t attracting as many birds recently, and it’s all to do with timing and how seasonal events overlap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recent report on the decline of bird populations since 1970 has us all paying closer attention to the quantity and variety of birds we’re seeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’d be remiss if we didn’t factor in the affects of reading about this report by North America’s leading scientists and ornithologists in “Birds are Vanishing from North America”<\/em><\/a> The New York Times<\/strong> article that first got our attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One month later, we’re still struggling to process the vast tragedy documented in this report and the stark reality that our birds are in “a full-blown crisis” (See Audubon.com press release, Audubon Declares a Bird Emergency <\/em>)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any reassurance from knowing that a feeder slowdown is normal for this time of year is overshadowed by grief for the billions of birds that have disappeared in our lifetime, on our watch<\/em>… This is profound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When there are suddenly fewer birds at our feeders, in the back of our minds maybe we’re all thinking the same thing: ‘What if they don’t come back?’. Immediately followed by ‘What can we do to help them?’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there’s good news to be found, it’s that so many birds are finding natural food <\/strong>right now and our micro-habitats are making a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it’s also good news that so many people are paying close attention<\/strong> and sharing their concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But maybe the best news is that there are things we can each do <\/strong>to address the biggest threats to wild birds existence: habitat loss, free-roaming domestic cats, pesticides and windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can help support birds by creating and maintaining micro-habitats in our yards, which includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\nFinding the good news<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What we can each do\u2014right now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In our homes and businesses<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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It’s estimated that up to a billion wild birds<\/em> per year die after crashing into glass. See The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s recommendations ‘Why Birds Hit Windows\u2014and How You Can Help Prevent It’.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center<\/strong> lists this as the No. 1 human-caused reason for the loss of birds<\/a>, aside from habitat loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nIn our yards<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Native insects are a huge food source for birds and especially for their babies. Food for nestlings must stop disappearing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Maximizing every bird’s feeding opportunity by providing fresh high calorie nutrition. Quality seed and clean feeders matter!<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Keeping fresh, unfrozen water accessible 24\/7, 365 days a year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Planting native trees and shrubs for protective cover and providing secure nesting opportunities with thoughtfully placed bird houses for the cavity nesters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Leaving our leaves as protective cover, using them as mulch, leaving them to compost and eventually, to become topsoil. Not deadheading your flower garden\u2014the Goldfinches would love to do that for you!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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