Bird Nerd Podcast Ep. 10
Sep 5, 2026 · 16 min · 13 segments
Questions, events, and topic suggestions can be sent to aroephoto3@gmail.com. Check out our sponsor Birds & Beans Coffee! Check out…
Sep 5, 2026 · 16 min · 13 segments
Questions, events, and topic suggestions can be sent to aroephoto3@gmail.com. Check out our sponsor Birds & Beans Coffee! Check out…
Austin RoweHost
September is a great time to start preparing your yard for fall migrants and winter residents.
One of the things that I always like to do to begin preparing for fall migrants is to prepare my feeders.
After a few months off, since I don't feed through the summer because a lot of birds switch to insects at this time, one of the first things I do is clean my feeders.
If you're able to take them apart, that is best to ensure that you're cleaning as much as possible.
This should also be done about once per month to ensure that there is no spread of illnesses or disease.
As one of the top feeder visitors, it is important to make sure everything is nice and clean to avoid the spread of this disease.
This is a great time to feed hummingbirds as they store up energy for their long migrations.
Hummingbirds have been known to stay at feeders too long and get caught in some cold weather that they struggle to survive.
If you've never installed bird feeders and would like to get started, I recommend starting with feeders that allow you to feed high-fat foods such as suet, black oil sunflower seeds, or Niger thistle seeds.
Be sure to only buy enough seed to feed for about a week, especially for the Niger.
Any longer than a week and the oils on the seeds will dry up and the birds won't eat it.
Thistle seeds require their own type of feeder that is typically some form of a tube, round or square and it has much smaller holes so the seeds don't spill everywhere.
Not only can you enjoy the process of making something yourself, but when the birds use something that you built, it can bring even more joy.
September is a great time to start preparing your yard for fall migrants and winter residents.
One of the things that I always like to do to begin preparing for fall migrants is to prepare my feeders.
After a few months off, since I don't feed through the summer because a lot of birds switch to insects at this time, one of the first things I do is clean my feeders.
If you're able to take them apart, that is best to ensure that you're cleaning as much as possible.
This should also be done about once per month to ensure that there is no spread of illnesses or disease.
As one of the top feeder visitors, it is important to make sure everything is nice and clean to avoid the spread of this disease.
This is a great time to feed hummingbirds as they store up energy for their long migrations.
Hummingbirds have been known to stay at feeders too long and get caught in some cold weather that they struggle to survive.
If you've never installed bird feeders and would like to get started, I recommend starting with feeders that allow you to feed high-fat foods such as suet, black oil sunflower seeds, or Niger thistle seeds.
Be sure to only buy enough seed to feed for about a week, especially for the Niger.
Any longer than a week and the oils on the seeds will dry up and the birds won't eat it.
Thistle seeds require their own type of feeder that is typically some form of a tube, round or square and it has much smaller holes so the seeds don't spill everywhere.
Not only can you enjoy the process of making something yourself, but when the birds use something that you built, it can bring even more joy.
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