Feeding birds means more than just putting out any random bird feeder and adding seed to it occasionally or tossing a few scraps out for ground-feeding birds to sample. Conscientious birders are responsible about their feeding duties and take steps to keep backyard birds safe and healthy, but what responsibilities should all backyard birders be filling whenever they feed birds?

Be a Responsible Bird Feeder

Whether a backyard birder has just one bird feeder or maintains several complex feeding stations with a variety of different foods, there are several responsibilities that should be taken seriously.

• Reliability: While backyard birds get only a fraction of their food from feeders, they do become accustomed to visiting feeders as part of their daily foraging. Backyard birders should strive to keep the feeders filled regularly so birds always have a ready food source, particularly when other natural foods may become scarcer in winter or when there is greater competition for food.
   
• Nutrition: Not all foods are equally nutritious for birds. Kitchen scraps and bread are essentially junk food for birds – good for a rare treat, but not suitable for regular feeding. Starchy grains such as cracked corn and milo are better but still have relatively poor nutrition. Black oil sunflower seed is an ideal choice, as are fruits, nuts and suet. Health-conscious birders will also alter the foods they offer each season to meet birds' changing nutritional needs year-round, such as offering calcium for nesting birds or higher fat foods for migration fuel.
   
• Freshness: Fresh foods are more attractive to birds, more nutritious and healthier. If birdseed sits for weeks or months without being eaten, it can attract undesirable pests such as rodents or insects that will discourage birds, and old seed can easily rot and become unsafe for birds to eat. Responsible backyard birders will check less busy feeders and replace seed as necessary to keep it fresh and appealing.
   

• Cleanliness: Even a feeder full of healthy seed can be dangerous to birds if the feeder is not cleaned regularly. A dirty feeder will harbor mold, mildew, bacteria and other fungus and germs that can spread diseases to birds. Not only should the feeder itself be cleaned regularly, but the surrounding area and nearby perches should be kept free of accumulated feces or decaying seed hulls.
   
• Protection: Birds are vulnerable when they are feeding, and canny predators may stake out bird feeders to watch for unwary birds to attack. An unprotected feeder can serve as a bird trap that predators can take advantage of, but using baffles and other deterrents can help keep birds safe. Discouraging feral cats and keeping pets away from bird feeding areas are other essential steps to protecting feeding birds.
   
• Positioning: Proper bird feeder placement is critical to safeguarding backyard birds. Poorly placed, a feeder could increase fatal bird collisions with windows or walls, but a well-placed feeder gives birds plenty of maneuvering room and helps them avoid injuries. Proper placement can also keep seed cool and fresh for longer, protect against excess rain or snow and keep the feeder in top shape.
   
• Shelter: Backyard birders who care about the feathered friends that visit their feeders will provide nearby shelter for those birds to escape if threatened. A simple brush pile, trees or shrubs are all suitable and easy options that provide a safe retreat for feeding birds as well as extra shelter during inclement weather or while birds digest their latest meal.
   
• Maintenance: In time, even the best bird feeder will show signs of wear. Bird feces and seed hulls can accumulate, oil can stain and discolor the feeder and severe weather can cause breaks, warping or cracks. Feeders should be checked regularly for damage that could cause leaks or might injure birds with sharp edges, and a broken feeder should be immediately repaired or replaced as needed.

Above all, anyone feeding backyard birds is responsible to always – without exception – put birds' health, safety and well-being above their own pleasure or convenience. It is easy to provide a suitable feeding station without trouble, so long as birders meet their bird feeding responsibilities. Being scrupulous about providing birds safe feeders and nutritious food will not only help the birds, but will attract more species and create a better backyard habitat for them to use.

Photo – American Goldfinch at the Feeder © Thomas Quine