How to Help Birds in Summer - Bird Care Tips for Hot Weather

If you’ve ever wondered how to help birds in summer, the good news is that there are many simple steps you can take. By providing water, shade, safe food, and a welcoming environment, you can make your garden or yard a haven for backyard birds even in the hottest months.

Why Do Birds Disappear in Hot Weather?

A lot of people who like birds notice things get quiet at their feeders during the hottest part of summer. It can seem strange, but it's just how birds act. When it's super hot, many birds chill out during the day. They relax in the shade to keep from getting too hot. Plus, there's tons of food around in the summer – bugs, fruits, all that stuff – so they might just be eating somewhere else. Also, they might be losing their feathers. Birds usually drop and regrow feathers in late summer. This makes them easy targets, so they usually hide. Bird parents are feeding their babies, so they don't come to feeders as often.

Provide Fresh Water Daily

Giving birds fresh water for them to sip and splash in during the summer will help out. They need water to drink, bathe to cool off, and clean their feathers.

You could simply set up a bird bath or shallow dish or fountain in your yard. If you can, go for one with any sort of water drip or moving water. Moving water keeps the birds happy and also keeps the water clean. Change the water daily, and more times in the hot-day times, for freshness and to keep bugs from breeding. A good water source can provide a safe resting place for birds in your yard.

Give Birds Some Shade

Just like us, birds get way too hot if they're always in the sun. Shade and shelter are super important in the summer. Planting local trees, bushes, and climbing plants gives birds cool places to chill and hide from things that want to eat them.

If your yard is all sun, put up nesting boxes, birdhouses, or even just a simple cover to make some shade. Also, put bird feeders where it’s shady sometimes to keep birds happy and the food fresh.

Choose the Right Summer Bird Food

While birds can usually find plenty of insects in summer, additional food sources are still important, particularly in urban or suburban areas. However, hot weather brings challenges. Seeds can turn rancid, fruit can spoil, and nectar can ferment if left too long in the sun.

Stick to foods that handle the heat well, such as black-oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, or dried mealworms. Offer small portions more frequently to reduce waste. If you enjoy feeding hummingbirds, change nectar every one to two days in hot weather to prevent fermentation.

For a modern solution, consider using a smart bird feeder like WoBirdy smart bird feeder with camera. It not only dispenses food reliably but also sends reminders to refill or clean, ensuring your backyard birds always get fresh, safe meals. Its dry-wet separation design also helps prevent moisture from affecting seeds, keeping food fresh and safe for longer.

Keep Bird Feeders and Baths Clean

Hot weather isn't fun for anyone, including birds. It makes bacteria and mold grow like crazy, and that can make birds sick. So, if you want your backyard to be a safe place for birds, keep those smart bird feeders clean – at least twice a week in the summer.

Wash them with warm water and a bit of vinegar to get rid of old gunk and seeds. Rinse well and let everything dry before refilling.

Bird baths take a bit more work but are worth the effort. Try to clean them every day or two. Algae grows fast, especially in sunlight. Stagnant water gets gross, which isn't healthy for the birds.

Support Nesting Birds in Summer

While most birds tend to raise their young in spring, a considerable number still go on to have families during the summer. They might appreciate it if you could give them a few safe places, such as birdhouses or special quiet areas in your yard.

In case you come across a nest, do not tamper with it. Cats and other predators should be kept indoors or far away places where birds nest. Also, the dense growing of trees and shrubs provide birds with safe places to hide during the nesting period. Remember that in hot weather baby birds reach out to us for help and your help could be the difference between their staying alive and dying.

Extra Tips for Bird Safety in Summer

When the weather gets crazy hot, it's not just us humans who suffer—birds really struggle too. So, here's what you can do to lend them a hand:

First, ditch those metal feeders and bird baths. They soak up heat from sun. Those metal things can get hot and could easily burn a little bird. Stick to plastic or ceramic instead.

Instead, set up a bunch of water spots and feeding areas. It’s better if they can find food and water in several spots and, most importantly, make sure at least some of them have shade, or are cool.

Let your yard get a little wild. Don't mow everything super short. Leave some patches of tall grass and bushes. These act like cool little hideouts where birds can escape the sun's direct heat.

Now, if you happen to have those fancy bird feeders that connect to your phone, you’re in luck! Keep an eye on those alerts that tell you when the water or food is getting low. That way, you can top them off quickly and keep the birds happy and hydrated.

Look, it doesn’t take much. Doing these simple things can really make a difference in helping birds get through scorching weather safely.