Bird feeding is popular, so we get a lot of questions related to the ins and outs (for a general reference, click here). Often, worries about feeders come up as temperatures get colder; however, birds are actually quite hardy and have the gear and the know-how to withstand it. Still, does easy access to bird feeders cause birds to not migrate in the fall?
Unlike the short burst of spring migration, fall migration happens over several months; some species leave Arctic breeding grounds as early as mid-June. Most birds migrate (or don’t) based on a combination of factors unrelated to food, such as the length of the day, so leaving feeders up is fine as long as they are being maintained! Here are two examples:
Many birds take advantage of feeders to easily fuel up for their journey (photo by Lesley Haven).
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the only hummingbird that breeds in Wisconsin. During migration, many fly nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico. For that reason, we can help them prepare by keeping hummingbird feeders up for at least two weeks after the last bird visits. This hasn’t been shown to delay migration, and even a wayward hummingbird migrant could benefit from a place to refuel. Michael and Kathi Rock, who taught our “All About Hummingbirds” course, generally keep their feeders up until at least Thanksgiving.
Sandhill Crane migration begins around October, but it’s not unusual to see them stick around into December. In autumn, they’ll begin to flock in large groups (also called "staging"). Flocks can often be spotted in agricultural fields, or even at feeders, eating easy-to-find spilled grain or corn to build up their energy stores. Not to worry—cranes have been migrating on a similar route for thousands, if not millions, of years—their instincts tell them when to leave.
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Cover photo: A Ruby-throated Hummingbird stops to drink sugar water from a feeder (via Pixabay).
