Summer brings long days, blooming gardens, and bright skies—but it also delivers intense heat that can challenge even the hardiest wild birds. While humans can cool off indoors or sip an iced drink, birds are left to endure rising temperatures with limited resources. Prolonged exposure to heat can affect their health, reduce their ability to find food and water, and increase their risk of dehydration.
Fortunately, there are simple and meaningful ways to help local birds survive and even thrive during scorching summer days. By creating a bird-friendly environment in your backyard or community, you can provide much-needed relief while enjoying the presence of these feathered visitors.
1. Provide Fresh, Clean Water Daily
Water is the single most important thing you can offer birds during hot weather. Birds don’t sweat, so they cool off by panting, seeking shade, and bathing. In extreme heat, they can become dehydrated quickly, especially smaller species with higher metabolisms.
Set up a shallow birdbath in a shaded area of your yard and refill it with clean water every day. Shallow dishes, upside-down garbage can lids, or wide plant saucers all work well. Make sure the water is no deeper than 2 inches. For extra safety, add a few pebbles or stones for birds to perch on while drinking.
If you can, place multiple water sources around your space to accommodate different birds and reduce crowding. In especially hot climates, consider adding a small solar-powered fountain or dripper to keep water moving and cooler.
2. Offer Shade and Shelter
Just like humans, birds need a place to cool down and escape direct sun. Trees, shrubs, dense hedges, and even large potted plants can offer much-needed shade. The denser and more natural the foliage, the better—it helps keep temperatures lower and provides protection from predators.
If you don’t have natural shade available, create temporary shelters using patio umbrellas, shade cloth, or even cardboard boxes propped up with sticks. Position feeders and birdbaths under these shaded areas to encourage birds to eat and hydrate safely.
Evergreen trees and tall grasses are especially helpful for maintaining a cooler microclimate and attracting ground-nesting or shy birds.
3. Keep Feeders Safe and Clean
While birds do get much of their summer diet from natural sources like insects and fruit, feeders are still appreciated—especially during periods of drought when food is harder to find.
Use feeders designed to stay cool or ones that can be placed in shaded areas. Avoid metal feeders in direct sun, as they can become too hot to touch. Clean feeders regularly (at least once a week) to prevent mold or bacteria, which can be deadly in warm weather.
If you offer suet, switch to no-melt versions in the summer months or stop suet feeding altogether until cooler temperatures return.
4. Plant Bird-Friendly Landscaping
One of the most lasting ways to help birds beat the heat is to create a natural habitat that offers food, water, and shelter all season long. Native plants are best—they require less water, attract more insects (a great food source), and provide the natural cover birds need to stay cool.
Trees like oak, maple, or pine offer shade and nesting spots. Flowering shrubs and berry-producing bushes like elderberry or serviceberry offer both food and cooling refuge. Layer your landscaping vertically with ground cover, low shrubs, and tall trees to mimic natural forest edges and accommodate various bird species.
5. Add Dust Baths and Moist Soil
Many birds enjoy dust baths as a way to keep their feathers clean and free from parasites. Providing a dry patch of loose, sandy soil can be just as beneficial as a water bath. In extreme heat, birds may also seek out damp soil to cool off.
You can create a small patch of moist earth by lightly watering a corner of your yard or garden. Just be sure it’s pesticide-free and safe from predators. Birds may dig shallow holes and press their bodies against the cool ground to regulate their body temperature.
6. Protect Nesting Birds
If you’re aware of bird nests in trees or shrubs on your property, do your best to leave them undisturbed. Avoid trimming trees or bushes during peak nesting season, as this can expose baby birds to direct sunlight and increase their risk of overheating.
Some birds may nest in birdhouses. Make sure these shelters are well-ventilated and placed in shaded locations to keep them from overheating. If possible, monitor the boxes during extreme heat and provide additional shade using temporary coverings.
7. Reduce Chemical Use
Pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers can harm birds directly or by reducing the number of insects they depend on for food. In the summer, when birds need reliable sources of protein to feed their young, minimizing chemical use can make a big difference.
Choose natural gardening practices, avoid spraying during nesting season, and support local pollinators by planting native flowers and reducing lawn size.