As summer fades, the prairies come alive with migrating birds and shifting rhythms.

Summer provides a cornucopia of food for birds. As the season slowly transitions to fall, however, there is a decline in the once-abundant source of flowers, fruit, nectar and insects. Late summer and early fall is an especially interesting time on the prairies, as northern nesting birds, especially warblers, pass through on their migration south. Healthy habitats that support an abundance of insects are visited by these birds as they make their journeys south. Observant gardeners and backyard bird enthusiasts who conserve and/or create backyard habitat are rewarded with the opportunity to share their yards, if only briefly, with a wide variety of interesting migrating species.

September brings the inevitable cool-down of temperatures, especially at night, and by mid-month, most of the migrants have moved through and young resident birds (those hatched earlier in the season) are completely independent of their parents.

With the earth gradually transitioning into fall, those who enjoy feeding birds turn more serious attention to bird feeding. While many folks keep hummingbird feeders topped up over the summer, not all offer other supplemental feed during this peak season. September is the ideal month to bring out and fill up the bird feeders!

Resident birds are the most common feeder patrons. Some will visit familiar feeding stations throughout the year, and, if they nest in the area, will often bring their young to the feeders in late summer – a bonus for both the birds and their human admirers. They may also set up their winter territorial boundaries to include favourite feeding stations. Watch for skirmishes at the feeding stations as birds establish a feeding hierarchy. This hierarchy, in which older birds and larger species birds dominate the younger and smaller ones, is fascinating to watch.

A common concern is that well-stocked feeding stations might disrupt normal migration patterns. However, birds migrate based on cues such as hours of daylight and hormonal changes, which are unrelated to food availability. Therefore, feeding stations can actually provide crucial additional nutrition during this period, especially for migrating native sparrows.

The best feeder foods to offer in the fall and throughout the winter include shelled and unshelled sunflower seeds, sunflower chips, peanuts and other nuts, and any of the high-quality Mother Nature’s blends.

Many sparrows (including juncos) eat millet, so choose millet blends for fall feeding and spread these seeds in protected areas on the ground. If cats are an issue, encircle ground feeding stations with wire.

Suet is not usually offered in the summer, so fall is a good time to start setting out suet – either raw or in small pre-made cakes. Check out the high-quality suet made by Pine Tree Farms.

Don’t forget to add a water source. A simple bird bath, kept topped up with clean water, will be visited by both migrants and resident birds for drinking and bathing. Adding a small bubbler will not only create beautiful sound, but it acts like a magnet for both migrants and residents!

Enjoy fall feeding!