It’s Time for the Summer Bird Feeders

Story and photos by Tom Hodgson

Summer is still a long way off, but our summer migrants are already arriving and will readily visit backyard feeders.

Some like the rose breasted grosbeak will feed on sunflower seeds, but others are looking for something sweeter.

This week, I put out my hummingbird and oriole feeders and I am already attracting a crowd. The oriole feeder features orange halves, sugar water and grape jelly. They do feed on the oranges and sugar water, but seem to prefer the grape jelly.

Although it is advertised as an oriole feeder; it also attracts rose-breasted grosbeaks, scarlet tanagers, catbirds and have even had a visit from a prothonotary warbler.

My hummingbird feeder features a cane sugar solution of one part sugar and four parts water. I am certain that many of the hummers I’m attracting were here last year because, before I put the feeder up they were already flying up to the slider as if to say, “where’s the feeder, it was here last year.” I have the feeders on my deck so I can watch them from my living room.

Because I have a healthy population of raccoons in my neighborhood, I have to bring the feeders in every night. A bit of a pain, but I don’t want to have to refill the feeders every morning, not to mention that the raccoons can destroy the feeders while helping themselves to the contents.

Pictured are some of birds that have enjoyed my feeders.