So, I arrived at Mr. Neil's today to make use of his writing gazebo, I gave a quick check of the feeders. If you're not sure when it's time to clean your feeders or if you should at all. Let me show you a hint:

This is a photo of some fungusy thistle and chips finch mix. And let me tell you, if you have never experienced the nasal sensation that is moldy sunflower out of the shell--it's powerful stuff. ICK.

I could tell the feeders were bad before I got near them, you could see the whitish fuzz from a distance.

Visible moisture inside the feeder is another sign that it's time to clean them out. If you see that, clean out your feeders--this is a far more likely to keep birds away and even a rogue cat stalking the feeders.

I also learned another lesson today--wasps* love bird seed with dried fruit mixed in. The feeders were loaded, there were dozens if not hundreds. They were so desperate, they were even flying inside the black oiler feeders. I was suddenly regretting the offer to take care of the feeders. I've had problems with these guys with nectar and jelly, but never in a fruit mix, let alone a feeder full of black oilers. I did get all the feeders cleaned out and full of fresh food and only oilers. There are still some lurking, but now they are only after the feeders that had the fruit mix in there and probably can still smell a hint of fruit. Be careful at your feeders, y'all.

* - I am not an insect expert so if this is not a wasp, please feel free to let me know.