During the summer months, birds can benefit from a varied diet that provides them with essential nutrients to thrive. To ensure you are providing the best food for your feathered friends, consider offering a mix of peanuts, seeds, and live food like mealworms and waxworms on your bird table.
Seeds are a great source of energy for birds during the summer. Opt for a blend that includes a variety of seeds such as sunflower seeds, millet, and nyjer seeds. These seeds are rich in essential fats and proteins, which help birds maintain their energy levels and support their overall health.
Peanuts are another excellent food to offer birds in the summer. Peanuts are high in calories and provide birds with a quick energy boost. They are particularly beneficial for young birds and fledglings that require additional energy to grow and develop.
Live food like mealworms and waxworms are a valuable source of protein for birds during the summer months. These insects are packed with nutrients that help birds build strong muscles and maintain their feather quality. Additionally, live food can be especially beneficial for birds that have difficulty finding insects in urban environments.
It is essential to provide fresh water for birds, especially during hot summer days. Hydration is crucial for birds to regulate their body temperature and stay healthy. Consider placing a bird bath or shallow dish of water in your garden to attract birds and help them stay hydrated.
Avoid offering birds foods that are high in salt, sugar, or artificial additives. These can be harmful to birds’ health and may lead to various health problems. It’s best to stick to natural, wholesome foods that mirror what birds would eat in the wild.
Consider planting bird-friendly plants in your garden to provide birds with a natural food source during the summer. Native plants such as sunflowers, coneflowers, and berry-bearing shrubs attract insects that birds feed on and provide birds with supplementary nutrition.
If you have fruit trees in your garden, consider leaving fallen fruit on the ground for birds to enjoy. Fruits like berries, apples, and cherries are a nutritious and tasty treat for many bird species. Just make sure to remove any spoiled fruit to prevent attracting unwanted pests.
Offering a diverse range of foods throughout the summer can attract a variety of bird species to your garden. Different birds have different dietary preferences, so providing a mix of foods ensures that you cater to the needs of various bird species and create a welcoming environment for all feathered visitors.
Monitoring your bird feeders and replenishing them regularly is essential to ensure that birds have a consistent food source. Keep an eye on the feeders to see which foods are popular among birds and adjust your offerings accordingly to meet their dietary needs and preferences.
Remember that feeding birds should complement their natural diet, not replace it entirely. Birds still rely on foraging for food in the wild, so providing supplemental food in moderation helps support their nutritional needs without disrupting their natural feeding behaviors.
In conclusion, feeding birds in the summer involves offering a mix of seeds, peanuts, live food, fresh water, and natural sources of food like fruit and native plants. By providing a diverse and nutritious diet, you can help birds stay healthy, energized, and thriving throughout the summer months.
