Robin Red Breast, Mr. Cardinal and the ugly duckling are back in town and ready to eat. Studies show that some birds dine at bird feeders more often in the spring than in the winter. Birds need more energy in the spring for defending their territories, courting, building nests, laying eggs and feeding their new families, NBS stated. However, natural food supplies are lacking in the spring, with nut, seed and berry supplies having been exhausted during the winter and most insects still dormant.
Birds use feeders in the spring to supplement what food they do find.
NBS reports that 63 million Americans feed birds in their backyards. Feeding birds is second only to gardening as a favorite outdoor hobby. Feeding birds is generally a low maintenance hobby. Each spring, however, bird feeders should be cleaned thoroughly in preparation for the upcoming feeding season. Small window feeders and suet baskets only need to be run through the dishwasher.