Common Things You May Be Doing That Could Actually Hurt Birds

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Whether you are an avid birdwatcher and can identify every species or just enjoy whatever feathered friends happen to stop by your yard, you might be shocked to know that you could actually be harming local avian life. How? There are many common things you do around the house and yard in your everyday life that can cause problems for birds. Some of these problems require quite the time and financial investment to fix, while others are as simple as adding a few more tasks to your Saturday yard cleanup.

While there are plenty of birds you don't want to see in your yard, you still want to make sure each one that does visit leaves unharmed. This is especially true if you've spent time turning your garden into a bird haven. Take the time to complete a walk-through of your property with these common mistakes in mind and make a plan to fix them. Even if you've never seen evidence of these mishaps harming birds in your yard before, it doesn't mean that the knock-on effects aren't impacting wildlife all over the region — causing them to become sick and even die elsewhere.

To prevent spreading diseases like salmonella among the birds visiting your yard, you must keep your bird feeders clean. If not cleaned often and well, the seed in the feeders can mold and cause great harm to birds, including death. You should empty your feeders and give them a full clean at least every two weeks. Do this more often if you notice visible signs of mold or you notice the seeds are beginning to clump together. For liquid feeders, like for hummingbirds, change the nectar out twice a week. However, if the water appears murky or has floating debris in it, clean it out sooner.

The best way to kill diseases like salmonella is to soak each part of the emptied bird feeder in a mixture that is approximately 1 part bleach to 9 parts water for roughly 10 minutes. If you prefer not to work with bleach, dish soap and water will also do an adequate job, but it won't kill all the germs as well. Be sure to give the feeder a good scrub with a sponge, or an eco-friendly option like a Mr. Siga Bamboo Palm Brush. The brush's sharp bristles will remove any build-up of mold in the tiniest of crevices.

Many cat owners allow their felines to roam the neighborhood during the day. However, this can be harmful to local wildlife, particularly birds. Even if you keep your cat indoors, you can still take other steps to keep birds safe from the rest of the neighborhood. "Don't have a bird feeder where food falls on the ground, that's close to low bushes, close to the area the cats will hide behind it and jump right out, and the birds don't have a chance," wild bird expert Richard Cole shared on his YouTube channel, ColesWildBirdProducts. "You just need to give that distance so the birds can have warning."

If the only location on your property where you can hang feeders has low bushes near it, Cole recommends a small tweak to make things safer. "Just put some chicken wire that you can hardly see. Just tuck it in around the base of those plants on the feeder side," he continued. "The cat can't run through the bush to get to the birds. It has to come around and give the birds a chance." However, be sure that the chicken wire has small enough loops so curious birds don't get stuck (this Hardwire Cloth from WIRJHSONG is a great example). 

The chemicals you use to treat stubborn pests in your yard tend to cause harm to all living things, not just the intended target. "There have long been concerns that the use of neonicotinoids — a group of synthetic insecticides that have gained popularity in seed coating, foliage spray and soil drenches in agricultural and residential areas in the past 25 years — may harm non-targeted species such as pollinators, birds and mammals, including perhaps even humans," Ruiqing Miao, assistant professor in the College of Agriculture's Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, told Auburn University. A study published by Nature Sustainability even found that neonicotinoid use correlated to reduced bird biodiversity as compared to no neonicotinoid use.

You might be shocked to discover that many of the lawn treatment products you already have at home contain neonicotinoids. It's not just something that shows up on farms. This includes popular options from Bayer, The Scotts Company, and Arysta LifeScience. Before purchasing a new product or using one that you already have, check the label for chemicals such as imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, or dinotefuran, as these are common neonicotinoids. If it contains these chemicals, using it can cause harm to local birds. While avid backyard birders might already not use pesticides, those newer to the hobby are encouraged to make the switch to more natural options for DIY pest control.

While a well-lit home can be great for security, it's not so great for birds trying to sleep. Artificial light during the night can disrupt bird migration and confuse any nocturnal species. Birds tend to rely on the moon to navigate in the evenings, so if they can't see it, studies show that they can get lost during migration, which can lead to their death. Bright lights can also keep birds up well past their bedtimes or wake them too early, disrupting their natural way of life. They may seek resting places elsewhere to avoid the lights, becoming more vulnerable to predators.

To keep your home well-lit and safe but also be considerate of birds, there are a few small changes you can make to your lighting system. The first is to set your security lights to a motion activated program. Instead of the light shining all night long, it will only click on for a short period of time if something passes by. The next is to be particularly mindful of lights during migration season. In the spring, dim your lights in April and May, and again in the fall from August to October. Throughout the year, keep lights angled low so they don't act like a spotlight in the sky, which can confuse birds. Further, don't illuminate trees where feathered friends might be getting some rest. If you do have tree lights, always turn them off when not in use. 

Some bird species nest on the ground and can be accidentally harmed if you don't give your yard a quick once-over before mowing it. While rabbits are known for making nests in tall grass, birds often do, too! Ground-nesting birds native to North America include the mourning dove, horned lark, American avocet, lesser nighthawk, killdeer, western meadowlark, and Canada geese. If you find one of the nests, don't assume the babies are abandoned, even if there isn't a parent around. You might just not see them, or they might have gone out to get food. It's best to leave the nest alone so the parent birds can return to care for them.

If you still need to mow, mark the nest in the grass and leave a wide berth of at least a few feet on either side. You can spray paint around the area or set some stones or flags so you don't accidentally mow over the spot. However, be sure to check your lawn each time you mow! These nests are often hidden well, and without an expert eye, you might miss them entirely — until it's too late, that is.

Having plenty of bird feeders around is one of the easiest ways to attract more birds to your yard. That said, paying close attention to what you put in these feeders is essential to the overall health of local wildlife. Certain seeds are better than others. Cheaper wild bird mixes tend to include a lot of sorghum seeds. Birds will eat these, but they are never their first choice. Because of this, birds will eat around the sorghum for as long as they can. This often leads to these seeds becoming moldy, which can cause illness in birds and contaminate the rest of the bird food. Instead, most birds like other options, such as white proso millet and black oil sunflower seeds. Look for mixes that feature these two heavily, or buy them on their own. The Valley Farms White Millet Wild Bird Seed is a good option, as is the Black Oil Sunflower Seeds for Wild Birds from Happy Wings.

Whatever you do, don't feed birds things like bread. While feeding it to ducks at the pond might be a traditional activity, it can actually really hurt them. Things like bread and crackers can expand in the birds' stomachs, making them feel full and reducing their interest in foraging for natural, nutritious food that'll actually sustain them. If they aren't eating the diet they're naturally intended to, they can suffer from metabolic bone disease (MBD) due to a lack of calcium. 

Bird baths are a great way to attract avian life to your home, but stagnant, dirty water can spread disease among birds. "If you don't take good care of your bird bath, either it will dry out completely, which is no use for birds, or it'll get fetid," Geoffrey LeBaron, director of Audubon's Christmas Bird Count, told The National Audubon Society. "That's when mosquitoes might become a problem." The presence of mosquitoes means that there is a higher risk of salmonellosis, avian pox, and house finch eye disease being spread among the animal visitors. Not only that, but Zika virus and avian flu can also be spread. This is especially dangerous, as these viruses can also harm humans.

Adding a fountain to your bird bath is one of the easiest ways to keep mosquitoes away, as they don't tend to lay eggs in moving water but rather in stagnant places.This Floating Solar Powered Water Fountain from AUTGA can easily be added to an existing bird bath. You can use a mixture of vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 9 parts water) to get rid of any algae or mildew, as even conventional household soaps might disrupt the natural essential oils on the birds' feathers. Placement-wise, don't put it directly under the bird feeders, as all the discarded food will make it dirtier faster.

Both attics and chimneys have vents to allow for better airflow. It is common to leave these vents open so as not to restrict their function; however, this practice can harm birds without you even knowing it. They can fly in seeking shelter and easily become trapped if they can't find their way back out. It can be difficult to get a bird out, and it ends up being a stressful situation for everyone involved. It's better to prevent them from entering in the first place.

To keep this from happening, you need a chimney cap. These protective coverings are usually made of metal. In addition to keeping out birds, they can also prevent rain, snow, and other outside debris from getting inside. You can buy them online, like this Hahaemall Chimney Cap, or at most major retailers like Ace Hardware or The Home Depot. Next, you need chicken wire or another meshed material to cover the vents in your attic. For aesthetic purposes, you can install it on the inside of the attic so it doesn't impact your home's facade. Once placed, air can still move freely, but birds cannot. This makes your attic safer for everyone.

House cats with outdoor privileges are major predators of birds and can decimate the local population. You've probably not thought twice about the dead birds or lizards your cat leaves for you near the backdoor, but these can really add up! In fact, just in the U.S. alone, house cats kill up to 4 billion birds each year. To ensure your cat still gets the enrichment of exploring outside while still keeping birds safe, consider investing in a catio.

There are many home catio ideas available for concerned pet parents. Some are ready-built, like this Outdoor Catio from Kitty City, while others are completely DIY and are custom built to suit the needs of your pet. Have fun while designing it! Be sure to include multiple levels and a few sensory activities. Fluffy will thank you. You can also encourage your neighbors to reconsider letting their cats roam, as it will impact the wildlife in your yard, too. For dog owners, never encourage your dog to go over to birds while playing in the yard, and always obey local leash ordinances when walking in a local park.

Birds need lots of native plants to thrive, as the plants attract insects that the birds feed on. So, one of the worst things you can do for avian life is to have a grass-only yard. While you might appreciate the low-profile look, birds will not have anywhere to build their nests, shelter from predators, or gather food unless you also go out of your way to provide alternate sources for them. That said, a lawn filled with invasive or non-native plants can also cause harm because they will out-compete the native plants that birds rely on for food. Unlike many decorative plants that come from other regions of the world, plants native to your region provide food sources that local birds have already adapted to eat.

Plenty of wild birds are not getting the nutrition they need. "Here in North America, about 80% of suburbia is landscaped with plants from Asia," Doug Tallamy, an entomologist at the University of Delaware, told the National Wildlife Federation. A yard full of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers creates a lively environment where birds can find plenty of food without having to travel far. To find the best native plants that birds love in your region, Audubon has a great interactive tool available.

If you have fruit trees in your yard or keep a vegetable and herb garden, you might use wildlife netting to keep pesky birds from enjoying the food before you get a chance to. However, if not used correctly, these wildlife nets can actually cause great harm to birds, including broken wings, cuts, and even strangulation. The best way to test if the wildlife netting you have is safe for birds is to check the diameter of its holes. Make sure the mesh is less than 5 millimeters across, or roughly .2 inches.

The Fruit Tree Netting With Zipper and Drawstring from Garden Tailor has openings of only .03 inches. It comes with a zipper, making it easier to access fruit without needing to remove the entire net. If you can't find an item with the mesh size listed, look for options that advertise protection against insects. These nets will also have small mesh openings, like this Alpurple Insect Bird Barrier Netting Mesh. By using these alternatives and installing them tightly around your trees, you will prevent curious birds from harming themselves while looking for their dinner.

The best practice for bird feeder placement is a little undecided. Some experts recommend placing feeders right up against windows so the birds are more likely to sense the glass pane — or at least aren't flying at full speed into it, as they're already slowing themselves down to land on the feeder. One study published in  The Wilson Bulletin found that feeders placed more than a meter away from windows tend to increase the rate of collisions, with the researchers reporting no bird fatalities with feeders within 1 meter of the window. Based on this advice, we can assume that the most dangerous proximity to windows seems to be a handful of few feet away, rather than very far away or right next to it. For example, on a deck railing would likely be a danger zone. However, collisions also depend on the bird species.

You might need to experiment a little to discover the best feeder placement for your property. If you have a smaller yard and can't place it far out in the garden, observe how the birds approach it, and if a collision occurs, move the feeder to try and prevent a repeat accident. While there are anti-bird collision windows out there, renovating your windows is a major undertaking and can be very expensive. Instead, a cheaper, more realistic fix is to purchase anti-collision stickers for birds, such as the Mesinurs Anti-Collision Window Bird Stickers or the Eacilles Anti-Collision Window Decals for Bird Strikes.