Wild birds are very busy in the spring. They migrate, claim territory, look for mates, build nests, and take care of chicks. But what do birds eat in the spring to keep up their energy and nutrition for all this activity? In the spring, birds eat a lot of different things, such as plant buds, sap, insects, mollusk shells, and seeds. A birds exact diet depends on the species, where its located, andwhat food is easiest to find. Knowing what foods birds need in the spring can help anyone who feeds birds in their yard provide the best options for spring birds.
During the winter, birds need a lot of calories, fat, and carbs to keep themselves warm when the weather gets cold. Winter foods like suet, nuts, and grains are great for birds. Adding sunflower seed, Nyjer, and peanuts to winter feeders will give birds a healthy energy boost.
But in the spring, when bugs hatch, grubs start to move around, plant buds swell, and flowers bloom, new natural foods start to show up. Birds will take advantage of these new food sources throughout the spring to fuel their seasonal activities.
The sights and sounds of returning birds are a sure sign that spring has arrived. After traveling thousands of miles, migrating birds like robins, warblers, and hummingbirds make their way back to our yards and gardens to nest and raise their young. As a bird lover, spring is an exciting time of year to refresh your bird feeding station and welcome birds back. With a few simple tips you can attract a diversity of spring birds by offering natural foods they seek out during breeding season.
Offer Fruit and Berries
Fruits are an important spring food source for many migratory birds that have just completed their long journeys Try putting out chopped fruit like oranges, apples, grapes, bananas and melons in a shallow dish or platform feeder Just be sure to remove any old fruit that could rot or ferment. Berries are also a great addition. You can offer wild berries like serviceberries, juniper berries, sumac, dogwood and raspberries if available in your area. Dried fruits like raisins, cranberries and currants are another good option. Platform and hopper feeders work well for serving fruits.
Supplement with Eggshells
As birds prepare to build nests and lay eggs in spring, they need more calcium in their diets. An easy solution is to offer crushed eggshells in or near your feeders. First, thoroughly rinse and dry leftover eggshells. Bake the shells at 250 degrees F for 10 minutes to sterilize them. Then simply crush the shells with a rolling pin and sprinkle the small pieces into your feeders or directly on the ground. The female birds will eat the eggshells to get the calcium they need for producing strong eggshells.
Offer Live Mealworms
Mealworms provide birds with protein to keep up their energy during the busy spring breeding season. You can buy live mealworms at many pet supply stores or online. Serve them in a shallow dish or platform feeder. Bluebirds, robins, chickadees wrens and many other species will happily feast on these nutritious, protein-packed treats. Just be sure to remove any dead mealworms promptly as they can quickly spoil in warmer temperatures.
Try Suet and Seed Cakes
Suet cakes and seed cakes offer birds the calories and nutrition they need in spring. You can find suet cakes with seeds, nuts, fruits and insects added for variety. Seed cakes and cylinders contain black oil sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn and other goodies embedded in suet or corn meal. Hang suet feeders and seed cylinders from tree branches or hooks in your yard. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and wrens will cling to the cakes as they chow down.
Set Out Nesting Materials
In addition to food, birds need natural materials to build their nests in spring. You can set out pet-safe grasses, straw, yarn, feathers, dog fur and other nesting materials in a mesh bag or suet feeder. Just avoid synthetics like yarn, ribbon and craft feathers. Some birds will collect the materials and weave intricate nests high up in trees or hidden in bushes. Wrens, chickadees, hummingbirds and orioles are especially likely to take advantage of these nest-building supplies.
Try Specialty Bird Feeders
Along with offering natural foods, try some specialty bird feeders tailored to the needs of spring birds. Here are a few recommendations:
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Nectar feeders – Fill nectar feeders with a sugar-water solution to attract hummingbirds and orioles. Use a ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Be sure to change nectar weekly.
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Oriole feeders – Try an oriole feeder stocked with oranges, grape jelly or mealworms to tempt these colorful migrants.
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Finch feeders – Use thistle and nyjer seed feeders to attract goldfinches and pine siskins. These dainty birds prefer tiny seeds.
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Fruit feeders – Platform fruit feeders with mesh bottoms allow drainage while holding fruits in place.
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Suet feeders – Use cages or mesh suet feeders to offer suet, seed cakes, and nest-building materials.
With a little planning and these simple tips, you can transform your yard into a bird paradise this spring. The variety of natural foods and feeders will attract beautiful migrants stopping over on their way north as well as year-round residents gearing up to nest. Listening to birdsongs and watching the feathered activity is a sure cure for spring fever!
What Nesting Birds Eat
Later in spring, birds build nests and begin to lay eggs. Good protein sources are essential to keep muscles strong and to help birds lay healthy eggs. Eggshells need a lot of calcium to be strong so they can handle stresses in the nest, like being moved and turned around. Birds get this necessary nutrition from eating plenty of spring insects, which have calcium in their exoskeletons. Small snails are also a calcium-rich snack, and birds will gobble up the shells for that extra calcium.
But nuts and fruit are still good spring foods because they give hungry nesting birds healthy amounts of energy and protein.
Add peanuts to a feeder for spring birds to get a lot of protein. Live or roasted mealworms will also work. Birdseed mixes made just for spring often include mealworms and may also have extra calcium added to help nesting birds meet their nutritional needs. Small amounts of toasting chicken eggshells (to kill any germs) and crushing them can be used to cover the ground or add to bird seed for extra calcium.
What Migrating Birds Eat
As birds migrate, they need fast energy to sustain flight. The same high-calorie and fat foods that keep birds warm in the winter also give them the energy they need to fly south in the spring. But sugary foods also give you energy that is easy to digest, and birds will drink the nectar from early flowers or nibble on swollen buds or berries as they fly south.
In the same way, the fat from small caterpillars in the spring can be a quick source of energy for birds on the move and people in the area looking for fresh spring food.
Put out a nectar feeder early in the spring to attract hummingbirds and orioles. This will give birds on the move a lot of energy in your yard. Fresh fruit, such as orange halves, will also be a welcome treat for migrating orioles and tanagers. Small fruits, like grape halves, are easy to put on a tray or dish feeder for thrashers and thrushes.
What Should I Know About Feeding Birds In The Spring
FAQ
Is it okay to feed birds in the spring?
Is it okay to feed backyard birds?
When should I not put a bird feeder out?
What are the best times to feed birds?
Should you feed birds in the spring?
However, many birds will use your birdfeeders as a safe area to gather food and nest nearby, even if they are a little ways away. All of this means that feeding birds in the springtime doesn’t just help the birds – it also means you get to have a more enjoyable birdwatching experience at your own home!
What should a bird feeder eat?
While there are mixed opinions about the best practices for seasonal bird feeding, many people feel that the food offered at bird feeders should match or at least resemble a bird’s natural seasonal diet. In winter, focus chiefly on feeding nuts and seeds. As spring and summer rolls around, offer up some mealworms.
What do birds eat in spring?
Spring is a busy season for wild birds as they migrate, claim territory, attract mates, build nests and nurture chicks. But what do birds eat in spring to get enough energy and nutrition for all this activity? A wide variety of foods — from plant buds, nectar, and insects to mollusk shells, and seeds — are all on the spring menu.
When do birds need to eat?
Bird feeding is most helpful when birds need the most energy, such as during temperature extremes, migration and in late winter or early spring, when natural seed sources are depleted. Most birds don’t need your help in the summer. When they are nesting and rearing their young, many birds focus on eating insects, so feeding is less necessary.
Should I Feed my birds supplemental food?
On the other hand, supplemental feeding can help individual birds in your neighborhood, especially if plentiful native plants aren’t available. The general rule for feeding any wild animal is not to offer food when it might cause harm (such as when there’s a local outbreak of avian disease that could spread through feeders).
Is bird feeding necessary?
It’s not necessary. Bird feeding is most helpful when birds need the most energy, such as during temperature extremes, migration and in late winter or early spring, when natural seed sources are depleted. Most birds don’t need your help in the summer.