Jan 2, 2019 | Featured in: Watching Backyard Birds, December 2018

Dear Birdsquatch: Will Our Feeder Birds Starve While We're on Vacation?

What will backyard feeder birds do when you go on vacation? Birdsquatch has an answer.
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Dear Furry Bird Genius:

My wife and I will be spending two weeks in Ecuador this February. What if there's superfrigid weather while we're gone, or an ice storm? I'm concerned that our feeder birds will starve. Should we hire a pet sitter to come fill our bird feeders while we're away, even though we don't have pets?

—Charles E., Bloomington, Indiana

Dear Chuck:

Ecuador? Wow! I've never been there, but I believe I have some distant cousins down that way, called Wawa Grande, which I believe translates into "large convenience store." As for your question, don't sweat it. Your birds will be fine because birds have wings and are really good at using them to move around to find food. When you come back, you might notice that it takes a few days for the birds to return to your backyard smorgasbord. And if this is a problem for you, then yes, by all means hire someone (or ask a friendly neighbor) to keep the feeders filled during your tropical travels. And if you do hire someone to put out food for birds and wildlife, might I suggest a person who can bake pies?

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About Birdsquatch

Birdsquatch is WBB's tall, hairy, and slightly stinky columnist. He is a bigfoot who has watched birds all his life. His home range is unknown.

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