birdnote q&a: 6 things to do for birds this fall (and 2 for yourself!)

YES, MANY HAVE FLOWN THE COOP—er, the local landscape—heading for milder spots to spend the offseason. But many other birds are arriving, settling in for the long haul alongside year-round garden residents. It’s time, says Ellen Blackstone of BirdNote, the daily public-radio show, for us humans to do a few bird-oriented chores—and also to engage with birds more fully. Here’s how:

In the Q&A that follows, Ellen’s answers contain green links to audio files from BirdNote’s archive that you won’t want to miss. A recap of earlier stories in our ongoing series is at the bottom of the page, along with information on how to get BirdNote daily.

fall bird tasks: my q&a with ellen blackstone

Q. Obviously nobody’s using my nestboxes to raise a family right now—should I take them down?

A. Yes, it’s time to take down your nestbox, at least temporarily, and clean it out. It’s a good idea to wear gloves and a dust mask while you do this. Use hot soapy water and a scrub brush, and rinse it with a pot of boiling water for good measure, to get rid of pests. (Please no pesticides or bleach.) Can you imagine the mess the little chickadee family in the photo below made before they fledged?

After the box is fully dry, tuck it into the garage or shed to protect it from weathering. Or you could put it back out for small birds to roost in during the winter. Listen to or read all the fall nestbox-care details.

Q. What about birdfeeder care?

A. It’s time to clean up the birdfeeders for winter use, too. Snow may not be expected for a long time, but you want to be ready when it happens.

As with the nestbox, a scrub brush and some mild soapy water will do wonders; skip the bleach. (Elbow grease is often the very best cleaner, isn’t it?!) Rinse everything

birds Nature bird sh-t Ellen Blackstone