There are no birds at my feeders. Where have they gone?

We frequently receive inquiries about an increase or decline in bird populations. While it is impossible for us to know the cause of each specific increase and decline, there are several common causes for bird population fluctuations.

• Habitat changes frequently affect bird numbers. If there has been any change in your neighborhood–such as trees being cut down or new houses being built–that could be the reason you are seeing more or less birds.
• Natural food supplies–such as pine cones, berries, seeds, and insects–fluctuate from year to year, causing birds to shift ranges to take advantage of food surpluses or to compensate for food shortages.
• Weather fluctuations often cause birds to shift ranges, especially in winter.
• Has a predator moved into your neighborhood? A cat or bird-eating hawk may have scared your birds away. Once the predator moves on, your feeder birds will return.

Bird populations normally fluctuate from one season to the next and from one year to the next. Sometimes, however, there are significant, long-term changes in the numbers of particular birds in certain areas.