As the long, warm days of June fully embrace the landscape, many backyard bird enthusiasts notice a curious and often disheartening phenomenon: their once-bustling feeders, alive with chirps and flitting wings, suddenly fall quiet. The vibrant activity of spring seems to have evaporated, leaving behind a perplexing stillness. It’s a common concern, leading many to wonder if they’ve done something wrong or if their feathered friends have simply abandoned them.

The truth, however, is often a fascinating reflection of the natural world and the changing needs of our avian neighbors. It is a common and completely normal occurrence for birds to stop visiting feeders as frequently in June. This June slump (or summer lull) is often due to a combination of natural factors. The good news is that you can adapt your approach to keep them coming, or at least understand why they’re taking a break.

Why Birds Stop Visiting

This is the biggest reason. In June, insects (caterpillars, beetles, spiders, etc.) are abundant, and many native plants are producing fresh seeds, berries, and nectar. For most birds, especially during nesting season, natural food sources are superior for their nutritional needs (particularly protein for growing chicks) and readily available. Your feeder becomes less critical.

Nesting and Rearing Young

Adult birds are incredibly busy building nests, incubating eggs, and tirelessly feeding their nestlings. Baby birds need a high-protein diet of insects and spiders to grow quickly, which seeds often don’t provide in sufficient quantity. Parents prioritize foraging for natural foods during this intense period. The explosion in insect numbers during the early warming summer months is precisely why birds tend to breed at this time. Chicks grow so fast that they need a near-constant diet of protein to build muscles, feathers, and gain weight.

Feeder and Food Quality Issues 

Heat and humidity in June can cause seeds to mold, spoil, or become rancid very quickly. Birds have a keen sense of smell and will avoid bad food, which can be harmful. Seeds that have fallen on the ground are even worse, as they may sprout and then go moldy. Suet can also be a problem as standard varieties will melt in warm temperatures, becoming greasy and potentially fouling a bird’s feathers. The melted mess will also go off and become too unpleasant for them to eat.

Warm, moist conditions are perfect for bacteria and mold to grow on dirty feeders. This can lead to disease transmission. As there are plenty of alternatives with fruit, nectar, and insects available, birds will not come to dirty feeders. The same goes for hummingbird nectar feeders. During warm weather, the nectar ferments rapidly, becoming unpalatable and potentially harmful. Hummers will simply visit flowering plants instead.

What to Do (Practical Steps)

You should schedule to clean your feeders regularly and religiously. Every time you put food out, you should clear away old seeds, seed cases, and droppings. At least every 1-2 weeks, empty and thoroughly scrub all feeders with hot, soapy water (use dish soap, or a diluted bleach solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, followed by extremely thorough rinsing to remove all residue). Let them air dry completely.

The situation is more critical for hummingbirds. Nectar (1 part white sugar to 4 parts water) should be changed at least daily in hot weather, possibly twice a day if temperatures are soaring. Keep it in the shade and clean thoroughly at least once a week. 

Use Fresh Foods, Less Often

Don’t fill seed feeders to the brim. Only put out a small amount of fresh seed that birds can consume in a day or two. This prevents spoilage. Store your main seed supply in a cool, dry, airtight container. The same applies to nectar feeders. Don’t fill the holders to the brim. Half fill in the morning and then top up in the afternoon. By observing how much the birds drink, you can adjust how much you put out so there is not nectar sitting in the warm all day.

Switch Suet

If you offer suet, switch to no-melt suet formulations, or consider removing it entirely until cooler weather returns. Suet is generally more important in the winter months to help birds build fat reserves to stay warm. It can be useful in the summer to support adult birds feeding chicks, but if you cannot keep it solid, then it is best not to use it in the warmer months.

Adapt Your Offerings

If birds are not coming to your feeders for nectar or seeds, then try changing what you offer them to what they are really looking for – protein. Live or dried mealworms are a HUGE draw in summer, especially for insect-eating birds like bluebirds, wrens, robins, and orioles who need protein for their young. Dried mealworms can be put on platform feeders. Live mealworms need to be put out in a dish sparingly when you know there are birds around. 

Peanuts are good too. You can put out shelled or pieces of them to attract chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, jays, and woodpeckers. Orioles, tanagers, and mockingbirds will all be tempted by sweet treats like orange halves or grape jelly. Again, in small quantities and change frequently.

You can still put out seeds, as birds like finches, cardinals, and chickadees will still be attracted to them. Offer it, but in smaller quantities. Also, avoid any seed mixes that include fillers. Cheaper bird seed mixes often contain millet or milo that many desirable birds don’t eat, leading to waste and potential spoilage. Stick to high-quality ingredients.

Enhance Your Yard Beyond Feeders

A great way to attract a wide variety of birds to your garden during the warming days of June is to provide fresh water. This is often the biggest attraction in summer. Shallow bird baths are great. You can use any shallow bowl with some stones at the bottom to allow the smaller birds to perch on. They must be kept very clean, however. Standing water will create a moldy, stagnant mess very quickly. Refill and clean every day. Lots of birds (including hummingbirds) love running water or spray. Add a dripper, mister, or small solar-powered fountain to your bird bath. The sound and sight of moving water are irresistible.

The most sustainable long-term solution to encouraging birds to stay in your garden in June is to give them what they want – native flowering plants that provide nectar and insects. Berry-producing shrubs will also offer natural food sources for fruit-eating birds.

Review Feeder Placement

You might want to change the placement of your feeders as spring moves into summer during June. More open, sunny spots might be great in the winter and spring, but will soon become too hot in June. Move feeders to a shadier location to slow down nectar fermentation and seed spoilage.

Be Patient and Observe:

Understand that bird activity naturally fluctuates throughout the year. June is a time of nesting and natural abundance. As female birds incubate eggs then they will naturally be less active. This means that up to half the birds in your garden will not be visible for much of the day. That is just a natural part of avian activity.

The flip side of that, of course, is that while adults might be less visible at feeders, their fledglings will soon be out and about, and in a few weeks, they’ll discover your feeders! The presence of healthy juveniles in your yard is a good sign.

Final Thoughts

Keep your feeders clean and supplied with fresh food and water. As natural food sources eventually wane later in summer or if weather conditions become challenging (drought, heat waves), birds will quickly return to reliable feeders. By understanding the seasonal rhythms of birds and adapting your feeding practices, you can ensure your backyard remains a valuable and appealing resource for them, even when they seem to vanish in June.