By Kathy Singer, Mesa Feed Mart

Many bird watchers believe they should only feed birds in the winter months when resources are scarce due to colder temperatures and the arrival of snow. But the truth is that they can feed birds throughout the year, regardless of season and weather. It’s a treat to experience the different sights and sounds, including the colorful plumage, rituals and possible hatchings in the warmer months and observing habits of the birds that didn’t migrate in the fall and winter.

While there are more natural food sources available in the summer, such as flowers, insects, fruits and natural seeds, parent birds are also overworked trying to provide for their growing babies. Supplementing food with feeders is an easy and convenient way for many summer birds to have the nutrition they need, especially when there are more birds around to compete for the same food sources. The quality of the food that’s provided, however, is important.

Make sure to buy nutritious blends that are most suitable for the birds in your yard. Bird seed mixtures targeted to a wide range of bird species are the cheapest and most wasteful, and they’re packed with fillers like milo. While larger birds, such as quail and doves, will eat milo, it has very little nutritional value, and small birds cannot eat it because of its size. Most birds will pick through the seed, which results in a mess under your feeder. Try to find mixes with protein and mineral-filled seeds, such as sunflower seeds, millet, nyjer, safflower, cracked corn and wheat.

Make sure to keep your seed dry and cool year-round, but especially during the summer months, as heat and moisture can cause mold or moths to get into your food. Move your feeders occasionally and clean them with a mild solution to prevent bacteria. Put suet in the shade. While some companies make no-melt suet, heat from the sun will cause the suet to spoil much faster than cooler temperatures.

You don’t need to worry that feeding the birds will make them dependent on handouts. While many of the same birds will regularly visit your feeder as part of their daily foraging, studies show that wild birds only get an average of 25 percent of their food from feeders.

Happy and healthy birds provide the best bird watching experiences, so keep your bird feeders full with nutritious seed and watch the beautiful birds year-round.