Why Your Bird Feeders Might Be Empty in March – And How to Get Birds Flocking Back Again

If your backyard feeder normally brings all the birds to the yard, a sudden drop in visitors can feel a little suspicious. Did the seed go stale? Have the neighborhood cardinals staged a protest? Is someone offering a better bird buffet round the corner?

Here's the thing: if your local birds seem to have gone AWOL this March, you're not alone; many bird lovers notice a sharp drop in feeder activity at this time of year, no matter how avidly they read up on tips for attracting birds to a garden.

The good news? A quiet feeder in early spring is usually a sign that nature is doing exactly what it should...

1. Foraged Food is Back With a Bang

During winter, birds (including, just maybe, your birth month bird) rely heavily on feeders because snow and freezing temperatures make natural foods harder to find. As spring approaches, though, the landscape begins to provide again. Insects start emerging, tree buds appear and leftover seeds from grasses and wildflowers become easier to access.

This shift can make backyard feeders less essential. As the National Audubon Society notes, “more than a hundred bird species supplement their natural diets with foods offered at feeders.”

When natural food becomes plentiful again, many birds simply spend more time foraging elsewhere. In fact, researchers and conservationists often point out that we should start thinking about plants themselves as feeding stations.

As insects return in spring, they provide the protein many birds need during breeding season. And this means, in turn, that “each plant in your landscape you should think of as a bird feeder,” explains entomologist Doug Tallamy.

Consider planting a garden for songbirds ASAP, then.

2. The Great Migratory Reshuffle

Remember that March is also peak migration season across much of the United States.

Many birds that spent the winter visiting feeders (such as dark-eyed juncos or some sparrows) begin moving north to their breeding grounds. At the same time, spring migrants are only just beginning to arrive, which can create a temporary lull while one group leaves and another takes its place.

Activity often picks up again later in spring when migrants like orioles, hummingbirds or rose-breasted grosbeaks start appearing in backyards further north.

3. It's Nesting Season, Baby!

As daylight increases, birds begin shifting their energy toward territory building, nest construction and courtship.

During this time, birds often spend more time in shrubs and trees rather than at open feeders. Their diets also change: insects become especially important because they provide the high-protein food needed to raise chicks.

That means birds may still be nearby; they’re just feeding in different ways. Again, adding native plants, shrubs and trees to your yard (especially this one native tree) can help support birds during this stage of the season.

4. Things Have Gotten Dirty (or Scary)

Birds are surprisingly picky about food quality. Old, damp or moldy seed can quickly drive them away, which is why wildlife experts recommend cleaning feeders regularly with hot water to prevent disease and keep food fresh.

It's also important to remember that cats, hawks and other threats may cause birds to avoid an area for several days until they feel safe again, and even a brief visit from a predator can temporarily empty your feeders. Make sure yours is positioned by protective cover such as shrubs or small trees, then, where birds can quickly hide.

How to Get Birds Flocking Back

Now, look; while you could turn an old juice carton into a bird feeder (it's a lot of fun), you only really need to make a few simple tweaks to get your feathered friends back in the garden.

Offer high-quality foods like black-oil sunflower seeds or nyjer seed, use different feeders for different species (tube feeders, platform feeders, suet feeders), and keep feeders clean and filled consistently.

Don't forget, too, to provide water sources such as bird baths – and, again, plant native flowers, shrubs and seed-producing plants aplenty. Above all else, though, don't panic; a quiet feeder in March rarely means something is wrong. In fact, so long as you keep all of our tips in mind, we're sure the empty feeder you noticed in early spring will soon be bustling once again before you know it.

Good luck...