Do birds remember where feeders are
Most animals in the wild have a memory, much like humans, but really its all a matter of how long a wild birds memory lasts.
Birds do remember where feeders are so will continue to come back to the location to feed on the food you replenish daily. To stop feeding birds will only see them move to new grounds. As backyard birds memories have shown to last up to 6 months, you won't have an issue providing you keep feeding them.
Not very long I grant you but wild birds do have a memory, suggested to be 6 months only - give or take a month depending on the bird species in question.
But this data can be used for common bird feeder eaters such as Bluebirds, Finches and Sparrows, among many others.
Birds do eventually take bird feeder for granted mind you so its always best you continue to feed them in your backyard all year round.
Birds use this ability for granted to remember where they've been feeding on bird feeders in backyards, so can return in the morning, as well has up until late in the day.
Its a vital ability as wild birds not only need their memory to find feeders, but its needed when raising young on the nest in nature or in the bird house.
So, as birds remember feeder locations its important you don't force them to go elsewhere - by not replenishing feeders daily.
As soon as they've come, wild birds will soon disappear if failing to create a reliable food source in your yard... so do keep it up.
Birds do remember
Birds that commonly visit our backyards, much like pet birds - do have some form of memory, so can remember the locations of bird feeders.
Its not known how long a wild birds memory can last, but recent research as suggested up to 6 months with a study on Nutcrackers and Chickadees in the US.
Lab tests showed these birds remembered the location of bird seeds for up to this time period only.
The same common backyard birds will come back too our yards time and time again to land on what is a reliable food source.
Its not so much the feed in use the birds remember, but will more so associate the shape and style of feeders as a source of food.
And while a wild birds memory can vary from species to species; there's no telling just how long each bird remembers things.
Birds remember feeder locations
Its therefore safe to say American backyard birds who make use of bird feeders in our yards, do in fact remember where it is.
While up to 6 or so months can pass before they visit again, it can be them eventually losing site of their previous feeding grounds - as a long time as since lapsed.
Birds who visit our backyards are usually local, so its likely we can see them come back to bird feeders in our yards, without realising they used to feed in our yards once before.
Birds remember feeder locations because its always within reach, but too far to travel could see them forget bird feeders, while seeking out more local locations.
However, much like people and other animals, wild birds can loose their memory in due course so forget where your bird feeders are.
Solution to that of course is to continuously refill the bird feeder to stop birds finding a new backyard to use.
Continue to return if replenished
You must continue to feed wild birds in your yard if you want them to return everyday, failing that will see them gradually disappear.
Now it has to be said as soon has you've replenished the bird feeder once again, they will turn up in numbers in due course.
But to allow the bird feeder to dry up will see them finding more reliable feeders to use.
Its not so much to do with forgetting where your feeders are, as to why they've disappeared, but it can be a problem to have them return again as they did previously so well - as numbers could be fewer and far between.
So do continue to replenish bird feeders with nuts, seeds and fat balls or your returning feathered friends will be sure to go elsewhere.
Go elsewhere if neglected
Remember its not always about wild birds remembering where feeders are, but it can be your fault if you forget to refill feeders yourself.
To feed common birds everyday, or to never allow feeders to empty is recommended to stop birds forgetting about their current reliable feeding location in your yard, well not being forced to go elsewhere.
And as I've previously said, if you find it difficult to get birds to come to your yard already, you are going to have a task on your hands to get them to return.
Once wild birds rely on a new location, their instincts, much like their memory - would see them arriving at the new location like clockwork.
Its only when your neighbors have stopped refilling their feeders, they just might come back to your traditional bird platform feeder or bird feeding station with assorted feeders.
Conclusion
For sure, wild birds in American that feed on bird feeders in backyards do in fact have some memory, however short it might be.
Remember a little birds brain is only so small, so their memory is contributed to that.
However, its safe to say wild birds do remember where feeders are, and so can forget about the location if they stop visiting for whatever reason.
Most common reason is the homeowner or person in charge of replenishing the bird feeder, forgets to refill them regularly or by not bothering at all.
You'd then see birds stop visiting your yard all together as they've probably found a new backyard to visit daily.
While research as shown wild birds do have memory, the finding of bird feeders is one of many tasks they can carry out through memory alone.
Share this article:
