It's not necessary. Bird feeding is most helpful at times of when birds need the most energy, such as during temperature extremes, migration, and in late winter or early spring, when natural seed sources are depleted. Most birds don't need your help in the summer.
Why you shouldn't have a bird feeder?
Bird feeders can fuel the spread of avian diseases, alter migratory behavior, help invasive species outcompete natives and give predators, including free-roaming neighborhood cats, easy access to birds and their nestlings.
Will the birds be OK if I stop feeding them?
Birds can be forgiving if a feeder is empty for a few days, but a feeder that is consistently empty won't attract birds. Wild birds won't starve if feeders are empty since they get most of their food from natural sources, but they also won't return to an unreliable food source.
Should I empty my bird feeder?
Reliably filled bird feeders will attract more birds. To get birds coming to a new feeder, you'll want to keep it full and not let it get completely empty. However, once a feeder is established, you may want to let the feeders go empty completely every couple of weeks in order to clean the feeder.
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