Traditionally suet has been fed to birds almost exclusively in the winter.  This is partially because it spoils and melts more rapidly when temperatures soar above 70º Fahrenheit.  Surveys have revealed, however, 32% of us that feed birds during the summer offer suet to our backyard bird neighbors.  In fact, suet ranks third behind sunflower and mixed seed as the most popular foods offered birds in the summer.

       One of the reasons why I feed birds suet in the summer is that it will attract bird that normally would not visit my feeders.  This past summer, for example, brown thrashers, Carolina wrens, gray catbirds, eastern bluebirds, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees, downy and hairy woodpeckers all dined on suet in my backyard.

       Now that summer is rapidly approaching, you are going to have to decide whether suet will be on the menu at your bird café.  If you are worried about suet melting, suet that supposedly does not melt is now on the market. Also, the spoilage and melting can be reduced by placing suet feeders in the shade or even refrigerate it at night.  If you store your suet in the refrigerator, you will eliminate raccoons, opossums and black bear from raiding your suet.