While many people focus on feeding birds during the winter months, summer bird care is just as important. From hungry fledglings learning to forage to adult birds seeking relief from the heat, birds rely on access to fresh water, safe shelter, and nutritious food throughout the season. By practicing proper summer bird care, homeowners can help local bird populations thrive while enjoying more wildlife activity in their landscapes.
Whether you’re an avid bird enthusiast or simply enjoy watching wildlife in your landscape, a few simple additions can transform your yard into a welcoming summer habitat.
Water: The Most Important Summer Resource
When temperatures rise, fresh water becomes essential for birds. A reliable water source helps birds stay hydrated, cool down, and maintain healthy feathers through bathing and preening.
Consider adding:
- Bird baths
- Decorative fountains
- Ponds and pondless waterfalls
- Shallow water bowls with stones for perching
- Bubblers or moving water features
Moving water is especially attractive to birds. Once they discover a dependable source, they’ll often return daily.
When selecting a bird bath, keep water depths between 2 and 3 inches. Adding a small flat stone can create a shallower area for smaller songbirds. Regularly refreshing the water not only keeps it clean but also prevents mosquito larvae from maturing.
Summer Feeding Tips
Birds remain active feeders throughout the summer, especially as parents gather food for growing young. Proper feeding is an important part of summer bird care, helping both adult birds and their young find the nutrition they need during the busiest season of the year. Most species feed from dawn until dusk, with cardinals often making evening visits before sunset.
To keep birds healthy:
- Clean feeders every few weeks during hot weather
- Position feeders in shaded or partially shaded locations
- Place feeders near shrubs, trees, or hedges that provide quick shelter
- Offer a variety of feeder styles to attract different species
Popular feeder options include:
- Platform and tray feeders
- Tube feeders
- Nyjer (thistle) feeders for finches
- Hummingbird feeders
- Oriole feeders
You can also supplement with seasonal treats like orange halves, apple slices, banana slices, or small amounts of jelly for species such as orioles, robins, and woodpeckers.
One important note: avoid using peanut butter during the summer months, as heat can cause it to spoil and mold quickly.
Explore bird feeders, houses, and accessories in our Birding collection!
Create a Natural Habitat
A beautiful landscape can do much more than add curb appeal—it can become a thriving sanctuary for birds throughout the summer months. By incorporating a diverse mix of trees, shrubs, vines, and flowering perennials, you create layers of habitat that support birds at every stage of life. These plants provide natural food sources such as berries, seeds, and insects, while also offering nesting sites, shade from the summer sun, and protection from predators. The more diverse your landscape, the more likely you are to attract a wide variety of bird species and encourage them to return year after year.
Some of our favorite bird-friendly plants include:
- Serviceberry
- Chokeberry
- Honeysuckle vine
- Coneflowers
- Other pollinator-friendly flowers
Many of these plants attract insects, which become an important natural food source for birds during nesting season.
If possible, leave a small section of your yard a little wild. Allow grasses to grow longer, postpone trimming hedges, and leave some garden areas less manicured. These spaces create valuable habitat for insects and other creatures that birds depend on.
Another often-overlooked feature is a dust bath area. A patch of dry, loose soil gives birds a place to clean their feathers naturally.
Encourage Birds to Stay Year-Round
Providing the essentials of food, water, shelter, and nesting opportunities encourages birds to make your landscape part of their daily routine. When birds know they can consistently find the resources they need, they are more likely to return day after day and even raise their young nearby.
Bird houses, nesting shelters, feeders, and reliable water sources all work together to create a healthier habitat and a more vibrant backyard ecosystem. These features not only support local bird populations but also provide endless opportunities to observe a variety of species up close throughout the season.
With a little planning and a few thoughtful additions, your landscape can become a welcoming sanctuary for birds in every stage of life. The reward is a yard filled with color, song, and activity not just during the summer months, but throughout every season of the year.
Effective summer bird care starts with the basics: fresh water, reliable food sources, protective shelter, and bird-friendly plants. By incorporating these elements into your landscape, you’ll create a healthier habitat that supports birds all season long.
Whether you’re just getting started with backyard birding or looking to enhance an established habitat, our team is here to help. Stop by and talk with our knowledgeable experts for advice on bird feeders, bird houses, water features, bird-friendly plants, and everything you need for successful summer bird care. With the right combination of food, water, shelter, and habitat, you’ll be rewarded with a vibrant backyard full of feathered visitors all summer long.
