Summer might seem like a time of plenty for wildlife. Unfortunately, it often isn’t. In fact, summer can be a surprisingly difficult time for our wild birds and other animals.
In spring, insects begin to emerge. Sadly, insect numbers aren’t what they once were, but they are still incredibly important. Birds need them to feed their chicks in the nest, and plenty of other wildlife relies on insects too. Shrews, for example, mainly eat insects and larvae. They are incredibly energetic little mammals and can need to consume between 80% and 300% of their own body weight every day just to survive!
Then comes autumn. This is when we usually see a much greater abundance of natural food. Fruits and berries ripen, providing valuable food that can carry wildlife through into winter. However, seed- and insect-eating birds aren’t necessarily interested in these foods. So berries and fruit can’t replace the seeds and insects they rely on.
And even this natural food is changing. Our summers are becoming hotter and longer, which means berries can ripen earlier — and sometimes shrivel before they even get the chance to fully develop. This can create a hunger gap, particularly as we move towards winter.
Why Summer Feeding Matters
During summer, insect numbers can be particularly low, especially during the hot, dry summers we are experiencing more often. A lack of water affects the whole food chain, including insects. Plants struggle to grow, berries can shrivel before they ripen. The dry conditions make finding natural food much harder.
At the same time, our seed-eating birds have fewer opportunities to find food in agricultural fields, as there is often little excess grain left behind for them.
This is why supplementary feeding can be incredibly important during the summer.
There is another reason you may notice your garden birds behaving differently at this time of year. From the middle to the end of summer, birds may spend more time hidden away while they go through their annual moult. Different species moult at different times, so you may notice certain birds disappear for a while, while others continue visiting your feeders.
Don’t worry if your feeders suddenly seem quieter. They haven’t necessarily gone elsewhere — they may simply be keeping themselves safe and out of sight while they grow their new feathers.
What Should You Feed?
During the quieter summer months, I would recommend putting out smaller amounts of food more frequently. This helps prevent food from sitting around for too long, particularly in warm weather.
It is still important to have food available, even if you aren’t seeing many birds. As soon as they feel safe and have finished growing their new feathers, they will be looking for easy-to-find, high-energy food.
Good options include:
Seeds
Peanuts
Suet
And don’t underestimate suet in summer. We often think of it as a winter food, but it is just as valuable during the warmer months. Suet provides a concentrated source of energy that birds can really benefit from.
Birds are also remarkably good at regulating their own diets. They know what their bodies need and will choose different foods accordingly. This is why you don’t tend to see birds becoming overweight and unable to fly simply because you provide supplementary food!
Keeping Feeders Clean
If you are feeding seeds during the summer, keep a close eye on what is visiting your feeders.
If you have Greenfinches or Chaffinches, it is particularly important to clean your feeders regularly and move them around the garden from time to time. You don’t need to move them far — even a small change of position can help prevent food and droppings from continually building up underneath the feeder.
If you notice a bird looking subdued, fluffed up or unwell, take your seed feeders down for a few weeks. You can continue providing other types of food, such as suet.
You may find that the birds you were concerned about were mainly interested in the seed and will naturally disperse once the feeder is removed. Give the area a good clean before putting the seed feeders back out.
Good feeder hygiene is one of the simplest and most important things you can do to help keep garden birds healthy.
Don’t Forget the Water
During summer, water can be just as important as food.
Hot, dry weather makes finding natural sources of water difficult for all sorts of wildlife. Providing shallow bowls of clean tap water at ground level and in raised positions can be a real lifeline.
Birds can drink and bathe, while other wildlife can use ground-level water sources too. Small mammals, insects and even Hedgehogs can benefit enormously from having safe, accessible drinking water available.
Just remember to keep water containers clean and refresh the water regularly, particularly during hot weather.
So, while summer might look like a season of abundance, the reality can be very different for our wildlife. By providing a little supplementary food, keeping feeders clean and making sure there is always a safe source of water, we can make a real difference.
Sometimes, a small amount of food and a bowl of fresh water can be the difference between simply getting through the summer and thriving through it.
