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August brings a surge of bird activity as young birds finally venture out of their nests. You’ll spot finches, sparrows, cardinals, orioles, waxwings, and bluebirds all hunting for something to eat.
Summer demands more energy from birds, especially when they’re raising chicks. Tossing chopped apples or pears on a bird table or even right on the grass works well and doesn’t take much effort.
These fruits quickly draw in thrushes, blackbirds, robins, and catbirds. Blackbirds, just so you know, prefer snacking on the ground instead of at hanging feeders.
Sparrows and doves also feed on the ground. While they love seeds, they’ll happily munch on fruit too.
Mixing up fresh or dried fruit with seeds brings a fun mix of birds to your yard. Try apples, pears, blueberries, grapes, or strawberries and see what shows up.
Berries are a big favorite for thrushes, warblers, mockingbirds, and waxwings. If you’re hoping for finches and cardinals, sunflower seeds still do the trick.
Keep bird feeders clean – it’s more important than most people realize. Wash flat feeders with hot, soapy water and give them a good scrub.
When you clean feeders regularly, you help stop diseases from spreading. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds even stopped selling some open bird tables for a while to study their effect on bird health.
Feeding birds on the ground has its perks and its problems. Open spaces feel safer for birds since predators like cats can’t hide as easily.
Don’t put food too close to hedges or thick shrubs, or you might be setting up a trap. Where you place food really does matter if you want to keep birds safe.
Waxwings and orioles, in particular, seem to go wild for sweeter fruits like cherries, serviceberries, and grapes. The types of plants in your garden change which birds drop by.
Trees and shrubs such as serviceberry (amelanchier), crabapple (malus), holly (ilex), dogwood (cornus), and aster offer natural fruit for birds all year. Warblers, especially yellow-rumped warblers, often pick berries from these native plants.
Table of popular fruits and the birds they attract:
| Fruit | Bird Species Attracted |
|---|---|
| Apples | Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Waxwings |
| Pears | Thrushes, Blackbirds, Catbirds |
| Blueberries | Warblers, Orioles, Waxwings, Mockingbirds |
| Grapes | Orioles, Tanagers, Cardinals, Jays |
| Strawberries | Finches, Sparrows, Mockingbirds |
| Cherries | Waxwings, Robins, Bluebirds, Catbirds |
| Oranges | Orioles, Thrashers, Warblers |
Food placement tips:
- Try a mix of bird feeders and just tossing fruit or seeds on the ground.
- Keep food away from hedges, but don’t put it so far from shelter that birds can’t dash for cover.
- Skip salty or moldy food, and don’t let dogs near dried fruit – it’s not safe for them.
Maintaining hygiene is simple:
- Give bird tables and feeders a good clean each week with mild disinfectant or hot, soapy water.
- Brush off old seeds and fruit bits often.
- Rinse everything well and let it dry before filling back up.
Planting fruit trees like serviceberry, crabapple, dogwood, and holly brings in wildlife and gives birds something to eat year-round. Bluebirds, warblers, tanagers, and cardinals all seem to show up more when there’s plenty of berries and safe spots to feed.
If you want more tips about feeding seasonal fruits like strawberries or cranberries, check out year-round guides on what fruits do birds eat. Pick the right foods and spots, and you’ll have a backyard that birds genuinely love.
