There’s little more disheartening for a backyard bird enthusiast than investing in often expensive birdseed only to find it sitting untouched day after day. You’ve carefully selected a blend, filled your feeders, and waited with anticipation, yet your feathered friends seem to be giving your generous offering the cold shoulder. Is it the wrong kind of seed? Is your feeder in the wrong spot? Are the birds simply boycotting your efforts?
Before you throw in the towel or consign that pricey bag of seed to the back of the shed, take heart. This common dilemma often has simple solutions. If your expensive birdseed is going uneaten, don’t despair – here are immediate steps you can take to turn your bird feeder from an unvisited buffet into a bustling avian diner.
Inspect the Seed – Is It Spoiled?
The first step in this process is the most important. You must check your seed for freshness. Stale bird seed is often the biggest culprit, and even expensive seed can go bad. Start by smelling your seed, and if it smells musty, damp, or rancid, then it is spoiled. Look for mold or clumping. Any visible mold, discoloration, or seeds sticking together means moisture has gotten in, and again, it’s no good. Weevils or other bugs also indicate the seed is old or has been stored improperly.
If there’s any doubt about the freshness, discard the existing seed immediately. Birds are incredibly sensitive to spoiled food and will instinctively avoid it. Don’t try to salvage it; it can make them sick. Mycotoxins are arguably the most dangerous aspect of spoiled seed. When bird seed gets damp or is stored improperly, certain molds (fungi) like Aspergillus flavus can grow on it. These molds produce toxic compounds called mycotoxins, which are highly poisonous. They can cause a range of serious health problems in birds, including liver and kidney damage and immune suppression, making them more susceptible to other diseases (bacterial, viral, and parasitic).
Damp and warm conditions also provide an ideal environment for harmful bacteria to multiply in the seed. Birds ingesting these bacteria can suffer from salmonella, aspergillosis, and other infections, which can lead to food poisoning, diarrhea, and general illness.
What will the Birds Do?
Birds are quite adept at detecting spoiled bird seed, primarily through their senses of sight and touch, and to a lesser extent, smell and taste, combined with their instinctual knowledge and learned behaviors.
Visual Cues
Birds have excellent eyesight, and they can clearly see visible mold. Mold often appears as fuzzy, powdery, or slimy patches, which can be white, green, black, or even pink. They’ll readily spot these changes on the seeds or the feeder itself. They can also see if there are clumps and hard masses. Birds are used to picking up individual seeds, and these solid clumps are an immediate visual and tactile red flag.
Spoiled seeds might also appear darker, shriveled, or otherwise discolored compared to fresh, healthy seeds. If the seeds have germinated and started to sprout, the birds will notice these small shoots or swollen, split seeds. While some birds might eat sprouts, sprouted seeds lose much of their stored energy and are often less appealing than dormant seeds.
Tactile Cues
As mentioned, the feel of hard, sticky clumps instead of loose, individual seeds is a strong deterrent. Mold may also give seeds a slimy or greasy texture that birds will detect with their beaks.
Olfactory Cues
While birds generally have a less developed sense of smell compared to mammals, even songbirds, with their relatively weaker sense of smell, can likely detect strong, musty, or rancid odors associated with mold and spoilage. If the seed has a distinctly ‘off’ smell, it’s a good bet birds will notice it and be deterred.
Gustatory Cues
If a bird does sample a spoiled seed, the taste will likely be off-putting due to the rancid oils, bitter mold, or bacterial byproducts. They’ll quickly drop it and seek other food. Birds learn from these experiences.
Birds instinctively avoid food that appears or smells unhealthy. This is a survival mechanism, and they also learn from experience. If they or other birds in their flock get sick after eating from a particular feeder, or if a particular type of seed always seems to be in poor condition, they will learn to avoid that feeder or seed type. Essentially, birds are very selective eaters. Their survival depends on consuming high-quality food. They’ve evolved to quickly identify and avoid anything that could make them sick, relying on a combination of sensory inputs and learned caution.
Clean Your Feeder Thoroughly
A clean feeder is essential. Platform feeders, in particular, may accumulate bird droppings and seed affected by rain and moisture. For the reasons discussed above, birds will avoid dirty feeders. Start by removing all the old seed, empty every last bit of the uneaten seed, including seed fallen on the ground.
Wash the feeder with hot, soapy water and a brush to scrub all parts of the feeder – inside, outside, perches, and feeding ports. Get into all the crevices where old seed might be stuck. It is optional, but recommended to also disinfect the feeder as well. For an extra layer of cleanliness, you can use a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water).
Whether you use soap or bleach, for obvious reasons, you must rinse thoroughly, making sure all residue is removed off the feeder. Then ensure it dries completely. Let the feeder air dry completely before refilling to prevent new mold growth.
Evaluate Your Seed Choice
Even expensive mixes can contain ‘filler’ seeds that most birds don’t eat (like red milo, flax, wheat, or oats). Birds will often kick these out to get to the good stuff, making it seem like they’re not eating anything and making a mess on the ground below. For most U.S. backyard birds, black oil sunflower seeds (in or out of the shell) are a universal favorite. White proso millet is good for ground feeders, and safflower attracts cardinals, grosbeaks, and doves while deterring squirrels and bully birds like grackles (though some birds need to acquire a taste for it).
If your expensive seed mix has a lot of fillers, consider buying a bag of 100% black oil sunflower seeds for your next refill. It might be a little more upfront, but there’s less waste.
Consider Feeder Placement
Birds need to feel safe from predators (cats, hawks, etc.). If they don’t, they will not visit your feeder regardless of how great the bird seed is. Consider if the feeder is near shrubs or trees (within 10-12 feet) that offer quick escape routes and cover? Too exposed, and birds will be wary. The feeder also needs to be easy for birds to land on and access the food. Generally, 5-10 feet off the ground is good.
Also, look around to see if there are any outdoor cats or signs of other predators (squirrels, raccoons) frequenting the feeder. If so, consider moving it or adding baffles. There may not be predators, but other noise that puts the birds off. Check if the feeder is in a noisy or high-traffic area (busy street, children’s play area). Birds prefer quieter spots.
The best advice we can give is to take a moment to observe your yard from a bird’s perspective. Are there better, safer, or quieter spots for the feeder? Try moving it to a new location.
Refill with a Small Amount of Fresh, High-Quality Seed
Once the feeder is clean and in a good spot, put in only a small amount of fresh, high-quality seed. This minimizes waste if birds are still hesitant and ensures the seed stays fresh. However, if your feeder is new or has been empty/unpopular for a while, it can take birds a few days or even weeks to discover and trust it. You can also try to entice the birds by making your garden or backyard more attractive. Providing a clean, fresh bird bath, for example, is a huge attractant. Birds need water for drinking and bathing, and often visit baths more frequently than feeders.
Final Thoughts
The joy of watching birds visiting our backyard feeders is unparalleled for anyone who loves these feathered beauties. Feeding them not only supports their well-being but also provides us with a glimpse into their lives. Don’t be despondent if your feeders are not being visited. Take a step back and try to see the area from a bird’s perspective. By thinking about their nutritional and safety needs, you can set out an irresistible buffet.
However, even if you do everything right, it may take time for your oasis to be discovered. Patience is key when setting out, closely followed by consistency. Once birds start visiting, try to keep your clean feeder full with fresh, quality seed every day. Good luck!
