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.
Share:

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?

Did you know that Watching Backyard Birds is the only magazine in North America devoted entirely to backyard birds? Subscribe today and receive a heaping helping of backyard content year-round! »



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.

What do you think? Tell us!

New On This Site

The Latest Comments

  • Re: On Thistle and Goldfinches in Winter » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    I’ve been enjoying goldfinches eating coneflower/ echinacea seeds in my new pollinator garden! I will leave the plants out all winter for them if the seeds keep that long? Or should I deadhead and put them in a dry area? Im in CT and thought they migrated, but didn’t know they put in winter coats! What do they eat in winter without bird feeders?
    by Anne Sheffield, Sat, 04 Sep 2021
  • Re: Ask Birdsqatch: Feeder Marauders » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    Hi Gary, I will pass your question along to Birdsquatch next time I see him. He knows infinitely more about nocturnal wildlife than I do. Where do you live? That's pretty important in figuring out the answer. But the thief could be raccoons, deer, or flying squirrels. Do you live in the woods? Are there trees near your feeder, or must the culprit climb a shepherd's hook or pole? Dawn Hewitt, Watching Backyard Birds
    by Dawn Hewitt, Mon, 30 Aug 2021
  • Re: How Much Seed in a Pound of Seed? » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    This breaks my heart. God strengthen your spirit and comfort your heart.I am fortunate to be taking a vacation next month, hopefully before sky high inflation hits and I can no longer afford it.
    by Ironweeds, Fri, 27 Aug 2021
  • Re: Ask Birdsqatch: Feeder Marauders » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    What is emptying my jelly feeder overnight.
    by Gary Vandervest, Wed, 25 Aug 2021
  • Re: Ask Birdsquatch: Angry Birds! » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    Thank you, Dawn. I'm close enough to Ohio (Ann Arbor, Michigan) that I went ahead and took my tubes down and scoured clean all my bird baths. I won't put up my tubes this winter, just my trays and safflower only just to keep the bullies away for a while.
    by Pat Moore, Mon, 09 Aug 2021