5 Ways To Keep Wild Birds Happy This Summer

Summer has hit the country hard in many areas. The Pacific Northwest is seeing triple-digit temperatures -- those are usually seen in Arizona! Areas in the Northeast are even under heat advisory warnings. If you're a human with access to air conditioning, you can get through the heat and humidity, but what can you do to help wild birds? 

The team at Magoos Pet has put together a list of 5 ways to keep wild birds happy (happier!) this summer. 

Give them water. If it's hot, the available water sources may have dried up. Put out a bird bath or even a shallow plastic tub to hold water. Check the water regularly to ensure it's still full and that there are no bugs taking up residence. Stagnant water is a magnet for mosquitoes and you don't want them taking up residence in your yard! 

Feed them. You may usually only keep your wild bird feeders full in the winter months to make it easier for those birds who winter near you to easily find food. In these hot months, many of their food sources like berries may have shriveled up and won't provide the nutrition they need. 

Check the suet. Wild birds love suet BUT in extremely hot conditions, the suet can turn rancid and can get wild birds ill. The suet may also attract ants or other bugs you may not want on your feeders. Make a note to check the quality and quantity of the suet regularly and replace it when necessary. 

Give them shade. If you're cutting down any branches, consider laying them around where you have the feeders set up to give them shelter while they are eating and to get out of the sun. 

Keep the pets away. Wild birds are naturally wary -- they need to be in order to survive. Give them a chance to eat in peace. Keep your cats away from the feeders and that goes for keeping your dogs away from the feeders. If you fill the feeders at a specific time and the birds flock there, that is the ideal time to keep cats and dogs away. If you have neighborhood cats who roam free, consider sprinkling used coffee grounds or lemon or lime rinds around the feeders -- it's been said that these items may keep the cats away (and they won't hurt the birds). 

Check out our other blog posts and take a deep dive into all Magoos Pet Outlet has to offer! Magoo's Pets has all the pet-centric items you need to keep your new pet happy and healhy!