Fall is a good time, as well as periodically throughout the year, to do maintenance on your birdhouses, birdfeeders and bird baths. Maintenance will help protect birds from some pests and diseases, and from unwanted visitors.
This Squirrel destroyed should be arrested for vandalism! (ha, ha – just kidding)
BIRD HOUSES / NESTING BOXES
- Inspect your bird house and repair if possible.
- Also, clean out your nesting boxes. Make sure the drainage and ventilation holes are open. Sometimes you’ll also have to clean it out again in late winter / early spring if a mouse has occupied your nesting box over winter. Click here for more information:
Cornell Nest Watch Maintenance and
Educator’s Guide to Nesting Boxes (Sections Tips for unwanted guests).
A Red-breasted nut hatch, junco and many other birds take advantage of my electric birdbath during this dry 2012-2013 winter.
BIRD BATHS
- Also clean your bird baths periodically when using and right before storing. Some birdbaths may crack during winter if the water it collects freezes. If you have an electric bird bath for winter, you may need to clean this out periodically too. More information can be found here:
AUDUBON’S: HOW TO CLEAN A BIRDBATH AND WHY
CORNELL’S NOTES ON PROVIDING WATER FOR BIRDS
BIRD FEEDERS
- My local bird store expert also recommends periodic cleaning of bird feeders, including the hulls on the ground,to prevent the spread of disease.
Visit AUDUBON’S 3 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR FEEDER DISEASE FREE or CORNELL’S HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BIRDFEEDER website for more information.
Here’s a great article about WINTER BIRD FEEDING
BTW: There are also non-bleach products specifically for bird house and bird feeder cleaning , but I have not tried this yet. If you tried any, would you recommend them?